Tips to Protect Your Online Privacy

Between Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and the numerous blogs out there, your online privacy is getting harder to protect. Not long ago Facebook made changes to its privacy policy that had everyone using it susceptible to having their personal information shared with online marketers. Though Facebook retracted my of these policies, it still begs the question, how much do you put out there and what are the risks? This article will take some of the most common mistakes online users make and show you some simple tips to keep your personal information safe.

Protecting Your Online Privacy in a Networking World
If your one who enjoys the online experience, catching up with friends on Facebook, reading and commenting on blogs as well as Twitter, here are some tips for you:

1. Check Your Privacy Settings on Any Social Networking Site You Belong
Remember the saying; keep your friends close and your enemies closer. That doesn't work here. Make smart decisions on who sees what you post and what others post about you. Try to avoid the situation where your boss or a distant cousin finds unflattering photos of you. It is probably not a good idea to discuss your sex life on a blog comment that could be found by your significant other.

2. Keep Everything You Do Online Legal
No photos of underage drinking. Naked baby photos might be all right as long as they are babies. Any older and you could face legal issues. Avoid references to drug use or even implying it could be grounds for dismissal if your boss found out.

3. Nobody Needs to Know How Old You Are Online
Your birthday month and day are all you want to have posted online. Having the year or making reference to how old you are makes online theft easy. Many banks use your birthday and birth year as a security question.

4. Public Wireless Networks Are Not Safe
Recently, Starbucks has offered free Wi-Fi access at many of their stores. You will find that many malls are offering that free service as well. A public network means just that. The public as a whole is invited to use the service. When using a public wireless network, avoid logging on to sites that have your personal information. Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and online banking are many of the sites you should refrain from visiting.

The Test of Sharing and Protecting Your Online Privacy
If your unsure about what you should share and still protect your online privacy use this test, before posting a status update or commenting on someone's blog:

1. Is this something that I would tell to a random stranger or someone I just met at a party?

2. What if any benefit do I get for sharing this photo, status update, or comment?

3. Is what I am about to share really a reflection of who I am as a person?

Keep Tabs on Your Online Presence to Protect Your Privacy
It is important to keep track of where you appear online. Setting up a Google Alert with your name and filling out the forms at google.com/alerts will help. The alerts will pop up in your email when your name is published online. Click the link to the site where your name appears and decide if you are comfortable with what is displayed. If not, find out the website's privacy policy and see if you can have it removed.