The Internet makes it easy for people to distort their identities and intentions. Consider restricting the people who are allowed to contact you on these social sites. If you interact with people you do not know, be careful about the amount of information you reveal or especially agreeing to meet them in person.

Instagram allows you to restrict a user, which is effectively a shadow-ban. Once restricted, their comments can’t be seen by anyone else. The restricted user gets no indication that they’ve been limited, making “restrict” often a better option than “block,” since the latter results in them noticing they can’t see your feed.

People of all ages need to be wary of strangers and those appearing to be your friends or loved ones online. It is too easy for criminals to hide their true identity and appear trustworthy. If someone asks to be your friend on a social media platform, only accept their request if you know them. […]

Links in email, social media posts, texts, and online advertising are often how cybercriminals try to steal your personal information. Even if you know the source, when in doubt, throw it out. Definitely don’t click on a link from a stranger. Employ an email scanning software that scans your email for suspicious emails.

In order to stay protected from cybercriminals, try to leave the smallest digital footprint possible. The size of your digital footprint will depend on your overall internet activity, including how many online profiles you have. Personal pages on legacy sites like Myspace or Friendster typically contain personal data. So if you’re not using those sites […]

By searching Google and scanning social media sites, cybercriminals can gather information about your partners and vendors, as well as human resources and financial departments. Employees should avoid oversharing on social media and should not conduct official business, exchange payment, or share personally identifiable information (PII) on social media platforms.