Episode 11

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Published on:

23rd Sep 2023

Ep11: Staying Safe on Social Media

In this episode, Marc David speaks with social media expert Nia Jordan about best practices for staying safe on social platforms including:

  • Tightening up default privacy settings to restrict who can see profile info
  • Using strong unique passwords and enabling two-factor authentication
  • Avoiding scams involving money transfers, malware links or fake prizes
  • Not linking accounts across platforms or via third party apps
  • Vetting friend requests and connections to avoid impersonation risks
  • Monitoring children’s accounts and guiding them on security practices
  • Having ongoing conversations about oversharing and permanent content
  • Applying thoughtful precautions when interacting with strangers digitally

For more bite-sized cybersecurity tips, visit bytesizedsecurity.show or subscribe to the podcast. See you next time!

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Transcript
Marc:

Welcome back to another edition of Byte sized Security, your source

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for byte sized cybersecurity lessons.

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I'm Mark David, and with me

today to discuss social media,

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safety is expert Nia Jordan.

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Our profiles contain a wealth of

personal information, making social

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platforms a goldmine for cybercriminals.

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Nia joins me to share best practices

for tweaking your privacy settings,

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securing accounts, avoiding scams,

and building connections safely.

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Whether you're on Facebook, Instagram,

LinkedIn, or Twitter, or X, as it's

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called now, you'll walk away with tangible

actions to enhance your protection.

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Let's dive in.

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Nia, great to have you on the show.

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Can you start by giving an overview

of key social media security risks

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and how criminals exploit them?

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Nia: Glad to join you, Mark.

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Social platforms contain a huge trove

of personal data, photos, contacts,

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and posts that criminals covet.

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LAC's default privacy settings

allow scraping public info.

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Weak account security enables

hacked profiles for financial fraud.

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Clicking scams spreads malware, and fake

connections facilitate social engineering.

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Staying vigilant defends against these.

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Marc: Let's start with privacy settings.

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What configuration changes do

you recommend to limit exposure?

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Nia: The key is locking down who

can view your content, especially

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for profiles public by default

like Facebook and Twitter.

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I suggest enabling the strictest

audience options for posts, photos,

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contacts, and biographical info.

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Remove anything you wouldn't

want strangers accessing.

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Limit visibility of past

posts if possible, and opt

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out of data gathering for ads.

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Restricting access protects you.

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What

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Marc: security advice do you

have for locking down social

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media accounts themselves?

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Nia: Make sure you set strong,

unique passwords for each profile,

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and enable two factor authentication

using an authenticator app for account

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recovery if passwords are lost.

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Remove any saved browser

passwords for automatic logins.

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Be cautious of third party apps

requesting access to accounts.

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And know how to report impersonation

profiles or hacked accounts to platforms.

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Treat social accounts like your email.

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Crucial to securely control.

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Marc: Scams are also a major

threat on social platforms.

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How can users avoid risks like

fake prizes or malware links?

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Nia: The biggest scam indicators

are too good to be true offers,

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high pressure urgency, or requests

for financial information.

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Social platforms themselves

will never message you to share

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private data or transfer money.

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Be skeptical of prize messages and

job offers directing you off site.

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Delete messages demanding

money transfers immediately.

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And never click links promising celebrity

photos, game cheats, free events,

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and the like which spread malware.

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Savvy browsing defends against tricks.

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Marc: What about the connections

we make on social platforms?

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Any risks when linking profiles

between sites or accepting friend

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Nia: requests?

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I'm cautious about linking

social media accounts under one

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identity, which expands access.

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Never link accounts via third

party apps, which can scrape data.

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Vet connections against your real

relationships before accepting

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requests to avoid social engineering.

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Ask contacts directly if you're

uncertain of a request's validity.

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On LinkedIn especially, check

work connections against

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profiles of actual colleagues.

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Impersonation is common, so verify before

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Marc: connecting.

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For parents and educators listening, are

there particular safeguards you recommend

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implementing for children on social media?

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Absolutely.

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Nia: Set profiles to private

and disable location tagging

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to limit exposure among kids.

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Remind them to only approve

connections from people they

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actually know in real life.

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Install protections like Bark or

Circle to monitor concerning activity

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and cyberbullying across platforms.

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Have open conversations about

limiting oversharing and the

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permanence of content posted online.

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And set clear guidelines for healthy usage

habits and enforcing periodic breaks.

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Ongoing involved guidance keeps kids safe.

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Marc: Final words of wisdom for

our listeners looking to boost

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their social media security?

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Nia: Just remember that diligent

awareness, smart privacy habits,

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and genuine connections go a

long way in enhancing safety.

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Apply the same precautions on social

media that you would in the physical

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world when interacting with strangers.

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Your vigilance remains

the ultimate protection.

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Marc: Outstanding tips, Nia.

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Thank you for sharing your

social media security insights.

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Thank you for having me, Mark.

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That wraps up this edition of

Byte sized Security focused on

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defending your social media presence.

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Lock down settings, secure accounts,

avoid scams, and vet connections.

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Stay safe out there on social platforms

by being informed and vigilant.

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For more cybersecurity lessons, keep

listening to Byte sized Security.

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See you next time.

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Byte Sized Security
Snackable advice on cyber security best practices tailored for professionals on the go
In a world where cyberattacks are becoming more commonplace, we all need to be vigilant about protecting our digital lives, whether at home or at work. Byte Sized Security is the podcast that provides snackable advice on cybersecurity best practices tailored for professionals on the go.

Hosted by information security expert, Marc David, each 15-20 minute episode provides actionable guidance to help listeners safeguard their devices, data, and organizations against online threats. With new episodes released every Monday, Byte Sized Security covers topics like social engineering, password management, multi-factor authentication, security awareness training, regulatory compliance, incident response, and more.

Whether you're an IT professional, small business owner, developer, or just someone interested in learning more about cybersecurity, Byte Sized Security is the quick, easy way to pick up useful tips and insights you can immediately put into practice. The clear, jargon-free advice is perfect for listening on your commute, during a lunch break, or working out.

Visit bytesizedsecurity.com to access episodes and show notes with key takeaways and links to useful resources mentioned in each episode. Don't let cybercriminals catch you off guard - get smart, fast with Byte Sized Security! Tune in to boost your cybersecurity knowledge and help secure your part of cyberspace.
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Marc David

Marc David is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and the host of the cybersecurity podcast, Byte-Sized Security. He has over 15 years of experience in the information security field, specializing in network security, cloud security, and security awareness training. Marc is an engaging speaker and teacher with a passion for demystifying complex security topics. He got his start in security as a software developer for encrypted messaging platforms. Over his career, Marc has held security leadership roles at tech companies like Radius Networks and Vanco Payment Solutions. He now runs his own cybersecurity consulting and training firm helping businesses and individuals implement practical security controls. When he’s not hosting his popular security podcast, you can find Marc speaking at industry conferences or volunteering to teach kids cyber safety. Marc lives with his family outside of Boston where he also enjoys running, reading, and hiking.