Warning: Facebook May Be Hazardous to Your Privacy, Your Job and Your Marriage

Facebook is not only popular with people who want to meet new people, re-connect with former friends, keep in touch with family and launch their own business at no cost. It's also very popular with people who have less desirable intentions.

Facebook's high public profile and popularity make it a natural target for the freaks and geeks who create computer viruses, "hackers" and even legitimate marketers who want to profit from using your personal information.

Your Security Comes First

Unfortunately, Face Book is far from secure. It has "bugs" and technical flaws in security and other areas ... just like any other online entity. Leaks of personal and private information do occur and once they happen, there's very little you can do about it.

That's why your security needs to be your first and foremost concern. You need to be extremely careful about your settings on Facebook, but more importantly about the information you post.

Facebook Is Not Your Friend

Facebook is not a warm and cuddly free social networking site started by a couple of well-intentioned college kids. It's a multi-billion dollar business looking to make even more money. The more people who use Facebook, the more information they post and the less private they make their lives ... the more potential Facebook has to make even more money.

This means that the person who has to protect your security and the privacy of your information is you..

The Rule of Thumb

While Facebook does a great deal to protect your privacy and offers you different settings to safeguard your information, the ultimate responsibility rests with you. Here's a simple rule of thumb: "if you don't want the world to know it ... don't post it on Facebook or anywhere else online".

10 Things Never to Put On Facebook

You can still have fun on Facebook and still protect the privacy of you and your family. Just follow the rule of thumb and never post anything you don't want everyone in the world to know. Here are 10 things you never want to post:

Your Personal Contact Data

It's not wise to post your home address, home phone number, cell phone number, work phone number or work address. Anyone can obtain this information easily.

Your Spouse's Contact Data

Protect your spouse's or significant other's privacy the same way you do your own. Never post your spouse's cell phone, work phone or work address.

Information About Your Children

It's no secret that child predators and other undesirable people roam the internet, social networking sites included. Unfortunately, it's almost impossible for authorities to do anything to control this situation and protect the innocent.

The internet is not a safe place to post information about your children. This includes your children's names, cell phone numbers, where they attend school, local clubs or activities they participate in, medical problems they have or any other personal data.

Parents also need to be cautious about the photos they post of their children. It's a good idea not to post photos with background information such as landmarks or signs identifying a location where your children normally play. It's also a smart idea to avoid tagging children's photos with too much information about what your children are doing in the photo. Predators will use any piece of information they can to lure an unsuspecting child.

Travel Plans

Saying you're going away on vacation, business or a romantic weekend getaway tells the world "I'm not going to be at home for a few days." Leaving an empty house is something you don't want to advertise to the world. Professional burglars use the internet to look for such opportunities.

Information About Your Employer

Never discuss business you, your spouse or significant other are working on. You probably will be violating your employer's confidentiality policy, client non-disclosure agreements and other legally binding agreements. More than likely, you signed one or more of these when you were hired. Not only will you be compromising your company ... you could lose your job.

Many companies now routinely check employees Face Book and other social network pages. (No this is not violating individual privacy, you voluntarily opened a Face Book account and chose what information to make public on the Internet). A growing number of companies also check social networking sites to gain "business intelligence" and get competitive information.

Extracurricular Business Activities

If you're freelancing, moonlighting, working on a second job, starting a home-based business or pursuing a multilevel marketing venture while you're working for another employer, don't post this information online. Once again, most employers don't look favorably on these activities and it could get you into trouble and cost you a promotion or even your job.

Complaints About Your Employer or Job

It isn't safe or smart to complain about your company, your boss or co-workers on your Facebook page. Chances are, It can and will get back to the wrong person ... especially if you have enemies on the job ... or a boss who is looking for an excuse to terminate you.

Relationship Data

Going through a divorce? Don't discuss it on Facebook ... or anywhere online. Don't bash your ex-spouse to be or discuss any details about the settlement being negotiated, your social life, sexual exploits or how you're spending your money Your spouse and his or her attorney have access to this information. They and probably will use it against you.

Family members, friends and others you may not want to know all the gory details of your break-up also will have access to what you post. Remember, even your children can find out what you put on Facebook.

If you're having an extra-marital affair, don't do it online where your spouse and the world can see it. It's the easiest way to get caught.

Sex, Drugs and Rock & Roll

Posting photos portraying yourself as a scantily clad party animal with a joint in one hand and bottle of Jack in the other can be dangerous to your career. Prospective employers, as part of pre-hiring background checks, very often check you out on Facebook and Google. What you post is what they see.

Recruiters constantly warn job applicants to be careful of what they post anywhere online. Too many people have not gotten jobs they've applied for ... or progressed further in the interviewing process because of what prospective employer saw on Facebook.

Posting the wrong photos can also be damaging to potential new relationships. Imagine you meet the "right person" and he or she sees these photos of you. This could end a beautiful relationship before it ever gets started.

Illegal Activities or Plans

Never post any photos of yourself engaged in illegal activities or discuss your intent to engage in them. This of course includes the obvious activities like drugs, pornography and prostitution. But it also includes the less obvious like threatening to kill or get even with someone ... even if only in a momentary fit of anger or in jest. You also need to be careful not to slander anyone on line, something which is very easy to do.

Remember that local, state and federal authorities can and do monitor online postings. Things you say and do online can and will be used against you, if anything illegal is ever discovered.

An Ounce of Prevention

It's better to be safe than sorry. A little common sense goes a long way.

If you set your privacy settings for the greatest degree of security and never post anything you don't want the world to know, you can enjoy Face Book and the experience it offers.