So you are using a device to read this blog. Who else is seeing what you are doing on that device?
Welcome to the first of 3 blogs for National Cyber Security Awareness Month NCSAM.
The first theme is:
Own IT
For this I want to look at 3 things specifically:
- Social Media – best uses, or, how not to tell the world everything !
- Privacy Settings – how to stop the snooping by big corporates, or at least click the buttons you need to in order to tell them, “hand’s off my data!”
- Apps – useful ways to think about Apps
Social Media
Firstly, let me get this out of the way … I want you to keep using social media. I love it … but, a bit like everything in life, it’s better when you have some boundaries.
What do I mean by social media. There are the obvious ones, Facebook Twitter and Instagram, but social media also includes other platforms such as LinkedIn, Snapchat and WhatsApp.
There are just so many horror stories about social media, I’m surprised anyone goes on them to be honest. But if you think about that ex you looked up once, they probably looked you up too.
Tip 1: only put PUBLIC what you NEED to put public.
Your friends can see you balancing a spoon on your nose .. the world doesn’t need to see it. If you’re posting for the likes then think about the appropriateness of that content. While you are at it, check your Privacy Settings to make sure you’re not telling people your name, address, date of birth, contacts (like you mother and her maiden name) … all of that !!
Tip 2: In every photo there is a background … what else are you showing off
when you see it
by infunny
Tip3: We’ve already seen Cambridge Analytica try and rig elections through social media so be careful what you read. Think to yourself “why am I seeing this”
Here is a fantastic resource from the UK Government: Don’t feed the Beast : https://sharechecklist.gov.uk/
- Source: Make sure that the story is written by a source you trust, with a reputation for accuracy. If it’s from an unfamiliar organisation, check for a website’s ‘About’ section to learn more.
- Headline: Always read beyond the headline. If it sounds unbelievable, it very well might be. Be wary if something doesn’t seem to add up.
- Analyse: Make sure you check the facts. Just because you have seen a story several times, doesn’t mean it’s true. If you’re not sure, look at fact checking websites and other reliable sources to double check.
- Retouched: Check whether the image looks like it has been or could have been manipulated. False news stories often contain retouched photos or re-edited clips. Sometimes they are authentic, but have been taken out of context.
- Error: Many false news stories have phony or look-alike URLs. Look out for misspellings, bad grammar or awkward layouts.
Tip4: Who owns what
Most social media platforms legally (by the Ts and Cs) take complete ownership of the content you put into it and you give them the rights to do with that data whatever they like.
Got a really nice photo of a sunset, amazing family photo … well your social media platform now completely owns everything ….
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/jun/11/smith-family-photo-czech-advertisement
Privacy Settings
OK … I am not going to go into the ins and outs of each app and which button to press to secure your data. Each website is different and each app is different depending on so many different things from platform to paid-for versions.
So I want you to get curious. Pick one of your social media platforms … any of them. Don;t change anything but just go into the settings and see how it is set at the moment. Is everything set to public? Are you over-sharing your data.
Remember … you are sharing this with friends .. that’s the social bit. Sharing with strangers just is a bit odd!
Apps
OK … go get your phone.
- Unlock it.
- Look at each app and ask yourself if you use it … don’t delete it just yet though, just write the name down on a piece of paper
- When you get to the end draw a line under that list.
- Go back to the start and for each app now ask the question is this useful to me … again, don’t delete it, just write it down.
- When you get to the end draw a line under that list.
- Final time through – note down apps that give you a migraine because they are too horrible – either the other people aren’t healthy to be around, the content isn’t great and write these down.
Before you delete anything, go into each app and ensure you completely change your data before deletion. Delete any content you have provided and once you’ve done that you are safe to delete. This means that you are leaving a legacy footprint of scrambled data for yourself that is useless if it gets compromised.
- Your first list will be easy to remove as you don’t use them anyway!
- That second list
You’ll do the same, but you might want to replace those apps with better apps, newer apps. be sure to do your homework and check with new apps if they are asking for permissions to stuff that you wouldn’t expect them too e.g. why does a torch app need access to your location and contacts.
- The final list is about your own mental well-being – looking after yourself.
If you are having welfare issues caused by using a certain app then remove it. Why put yourself through the pain points just to use an app. Look at your connections, are they toxic? Consider removing them from other apps too.
Now your device:
- will have more space as you’ve removed out some apps.
- Your settings are correct
- You’ve left dead data with app providers you no longer use
- You’ve got rid of stuff that was potentially a pain to use
- Maybe found better apps
- Those apps that were causing you mental pain are gone, and most importantly …
- You’ve removed toxic connections too
When you get a chance, look at your laptops, desktop computers and tablet computers and do the same !
So there we have it … Hope you found that useful and can use those simple tips to get you started this month. Plenty more tips to come …
Share your own tips below and see if you make the 4th blog I’m doing … Readers Tips !!
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