Your social media security is at risk. What are you doing to protect yourself?

1 Use strong passwords

One of the most basic but essential steps to protect your social media accounts is to use strong passwords. A strong password is long, complex, and unique, meaning it has at least 12 characters, a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols, and is not used for any other account. You can use a password manager tool to generate and store your passwords securely, or you can create your own using a passphrase or a mnemonic device.

3 Review your privacy settings

Your privacy settings determine who can see your posts, profile, and personal information on social media. You should review and adjust your privacy settings regularly to make sure you are not sharing more than you intend to. For example, you can limit your audience to your friends, followers, or contacts, or you can create custom lists for different groups. You can also turn off location services, disable third-party apps, and opt out of facial recognition features.

4 Be careful what you post

Even with the best security and privacy settings, you should still be careful what you post on social media. Remember that anything you post online can be copied, shared, or used against you by hackers, scammers, or malicious actors. Avoid posting sensitive information, such as your address, phone number, bank details, or passwords. Also, avoid posting anything that might harm your professional image, such as inappropriate comments, photos, or videos. Think before you post, and delete anything that you regret or no longer need.

5 Watch out for scams and phishing

Scams and phishing are common tactics used by cybercriminals to trick you into giving them your personal information, money, or access to your accounts. They can use fake emails, messages, or links that look like they come from legitimate sources, such as your social media platforms, your clients, or your colleagues. They can also create fake profiles, pages, or groups to lure you into joining or following them. To avoid falling for these traps, you should always verify the identity and authenticity of the sender, the message, and the link before you click, reply, or share. You should also report and block any suspicious activity or content on your social media accounts.

6 Use reliable tools and apps

As an administrative assistant, you might use various tools and apps to manage your social media accounts, such as schedulers, analytics, or automation. While these tools can help you save time and improve your performance, they can also pose security risks if they are not trustworthy or updated. You should only use tools and apps that are reputable, secure, and compatible with your social media platforms. You should also keep them updated and review their permissions and access regularly. If you are not sure about a tool or an app, you should do some research or ask for recommendations from other professionals.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?