Here’s the thing: no one is giving away free Ray-Bans on Facebook. Or even discounted ones.
That $100 Kroger gift card? It’s a fake. Ditto the Aldi’s discount.
You’ve probably noticed spammy links clogging your newsfeed or posted on your wall by a friend. Those spammy links lead to phishing scams, hacks and malware. How can you avoid getting sucked in?
Don’t click those links. Just don’t. Be cautious about any links you click, even if they appear to be from a friend. Poor grammar, sensational content and outrageous discounts all scream spam. Clicking that link could unleash malicious scripts on your computer and turn it into a spambot, compromising your reputation.
Don’t accept duplicate friend requests. If you see a friend request from someone who is already a friend, don’t accept it. Alert your friend that their account has been compromised.
Change passwords frequently. Change your social media passwords frequently, across all of your accounts. Don’t use the same password for multiple accounts, either, as tempting as that may be.
Clean up those third party apps. If you’ve taken a quiz or played a game on Facebook, you’ve probably given a third party permission to access your account in some way – including your friends list. Now’s the time to go through that list and clean up access. These instructions will walk you through the steps.
Resist the urge to take that quiz. Quizzes can be fun, especially if all your friends are taking them. Is discovering that your unicorn name should be Sparkle McGlitterpants really worth compromising your security? Probably not. Those quizzes are often just a way to gain access to your info and spread malicious links. Avoid them.
Scan your computer for malware. Regularly scan your computer for viruses and malware using software from a credible source.