Archives - Privacy


Avoid wrong password entry and lockouts by toggling password visibility

Most of the time, when you enter a password it shows up as a bunch of dots to obscure what’s actually being typed. Unfortunately, this setup makes it hard to know if you’re actually entering the right characters. Assuming no one is looking over your shoulder, consider toggling the visibility setting – it usually looks […]

Treat everything as public information

A good way to protect yourself is to limit the amount of personal information you post to social networks. This recommendation applies not only to information in your user profile, but also to any comments or photos you post. It is important that you consider information that you post about yourself and about others, particularly […]

Download your Facebook information

If you use Facebook, it’s a good idea to periodically download your data so that you have a copy in case anything were to ever happen to the site or you decided to leave the platform. You can do so from Settings -> Your Facebook Information -> Download Your Information.

Log out of your Facebook account on devices you’re not using

Facebook provides a way for you to see when and where you logged into the site/app. If you are still logged in from a browser or device you haven’t used in days or weeks, it’s prudent to log out so that someone else doesn’t gain access to your account.

Know all your apps

Be sure to review and understand the details of an app before downloading and installing it. Be aware that apps may request access to your location and personal information and determine what information you want the app to be sharing or transmitting. Delete any apps that you do not use regularly to increase your security.

Take a pass on that online quiz

Companies like BuzzFeed have turned online quizzes into a cultural phenomenon. Which “Game of Thrones” character are you? Do you remember these 90s TV shows? Before you answer either of those questions via a quiz, consider doing almost anything else – these quizzes are designed in part to harvest your data and sell it to […]