The rise of social networking sites like Facebook has caused many problems with identity theft. Many people today do not realize the consequences that come from ignorantly displaying too much information on social networking sites. With all of the identity theft problems that have risen with regards to social networking, I would like to believe that most people would understand that the internet is not a safe place. There are many people who have the knowledge to take your information and wreak havoc on unsuspecting online users. Most sites even have security settings to protect users from possible theft but the majority of people either don’t know about it or just do not use it.
With just a little bit of research, users can protect themselves from online threats. Most people are not aware of the safety controls or security settings that social networking sites have. These simple settings can protect you from potential identity theft. Some people even know about these settings and are just too lazy or don’t want to use them. Well, if you choose not to access these settings then how do you expect to protect yourself online? Linda Crindle, an internet security consultant, said that “There is a significant shortage in people who know how to stop online predators and that the internet is a valuable tool and we have the right to use it safely”. People must use the tools available to them to protect themselves from identity theft.
Although learning to use the tools is a very important way to protect oneself, limiting the amount of information on social networks is just as important if not more. Adding your location, age, and other personal information is not necessary for use of these sites, so why add it? It seems to me that placing private information on the internet for all to see is just asking someone to steal your identity. According to PCWorld.com, at least one third of people on social networking sites like Facebook contain at least three types of personal information on their profiles that would make them an easy target for identity thieves. Also a poll taken on PC World indicated that 80% of people said that they were concerned about their privacy on social networks, and 60% said they had no idea what their privacy was and who could access their personal information.
These are some frightening statistics and with just a little bit of research people can find out just how bad this problem has become and what they can do to avoid it. Even though it seems as though online criminals can get just about any information they want, you can make it harder for them by erasing a lot if the information you post on social networking sites. Only post the information necessary to communicate with friends and family. Sitting back and waiting for someone to solve this problem is not the solution. We must all contribute in order to stop these online thefts from happening and make the internet a safer place to access.
Christopher Amanatidis
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