Alev Akkoyunlu, Operations Director of Bitdefender Antivirus Turkey distributor Laykon Bilişim, states that users make mistakes that will harm their security and privacy without being aware of many dangers in social media, and shares 6 ways for social media users to protect their digital identities.
"62,5 Million social media users are under threat"
Social media users who do not have sufficient knowledge about the threats posed by the digital environment or are overconfident may encounter identity theft, impersonation and privacy problems. Stating that 62,5 million social media users are exposed to many dangers in the digital environment, Alev Akkoyunlu, Operations Director of Bitdefender Antivirus Turkey distributor Laykon Bilisim, said: "Although social media provides a suitable environment to develop your relationships or career online, it can be affected by privacy issues, cyber attacks and It can make users targets against bullying. Therefore, acting with awareness of the current risks protects you and your loved ones against the dangers of the digital environment.” He made a statement and shared 6 ways for social media users to protect their digital identities as follows:
”Limit the time you spend online as much as possible. Spending too much time in the digital world invites exposure to hacking, social engineering attacks, harassment or reputation-compromising conversations. Considering the frequency of internet use in Turkey, reducing social media use keeps users away from possible threats. Avoid sharing personal information. Personal information should not be shared or made public unless for online shopping, internet banking or registration for certain services. Sharing email addresses, phone numbers, home addresses and other identifiable personal information makes users targets of cyber attackers. Protect your online accounts with strong passwords. Protecting accounts with strong passwords containing uppercase and lowercase letters and containing at least 8 characters is a deterrent measure against cyber threats. It is important to review accounts frequently and keep the latest privacy settings and features up to date. At the same time, using 2FA and MFA solutions for account logins provides an additional layer of security against the possibility of passwords being revealed. Never let your guard down. Be wary of scams and other social engineering schemes spread through social media or other platforms. It is important to examine disturbing conversations in detail, not to click on suspicious links and not to contact people promising money. Don't take risks when sharing. Sharing videos and photos that could leave the person and family members vulnerable, such as location or travel plans, invites cybercriminals. In this way, attackers can use sensitive information against the person, which can damage the reputation and expose them to various damages in the digital or physical world. Don't share everything with everyone by checking the privacy settings of your accounts. Use basic etiquette and be a responsible user. It should not be forgotten that all communication rules that apply in daily life are also valid in the online world. "Not spamming, not sharing fake news or sensitive media content, and avoiding behavior that may disturb others are among the important factors in creating an ideal internet environment."