Today I want to speak to you humans about cyber security and safe surfing habits.

Since Facebook is the most used social media platform, I’ll be talking mostly to all you Facebookers out there. So let’s get started…

Your account security is your responsibility. Choose a DIFFICULT and unique password and please, do not use the same password that you use for your email account. Do not use the same password for multiple social media accounts. If you do and your password becomes compromised then the Script Kiddie that acquired your password now has access to ALL YOUR ACCOUNTS!

Since most of you already have Facebook accounts and likely use the same password for multiple accounts, I would STRONGLY suggest that you change your password immediately.

Now that you’ve created a unique and difficult to guess password let’s explore some of your account settings on Facebook.

Tap Settings…Security and Login…Where you’re logged in… if you see any locations that are not you after you tap “See All” then immediately Tap “Log Out of All Sessions”

Use “Two-Factor Authentication”, when you turn this on and someone attempts to log-in to your account from a device or browser that Facebook doesn’t recognize FB will send you a notification of the attempted login and ask you to confirm if it was you or not.

You can choose to get these alerts via “Notifications,” “Private Message,” and/or “Email.”

Now let’s talk about Script Kiddies that “clone” accounts.

These hacker wannabes will create a new account that looks like yours. They will use your own photos on their new clone account in their effort to impersonate you to your friends. They they will send friend request to YOUR friends. Many times they will make a public post of their clone account that you had to make a new account for some lame reason or another.

How can you help prevent this? Well, I’m glad you asked. For starters you should make your “Friends’ List” viewable by YOU ONLY not PUBLIC. Then the Script Kiddie is less likely to take the time to clone your account because they can’t see your Friends List, meaning they have no way to target your friends with bogus friend requests, so they will move on to the next user whose friends’ list is viewable to the public.

So…set your Friends’ List to be viewable by YOU ONLY and not PUBLIC…same goes for “Mutual Friends” they should be viewable by YOU ONLY and NOT PUBLIC.

While we’re talking about Friend Requests…don’t blindly accept friend request from anyone. Confirm their identity by asking them a question, that only that person would know the answer to, in a “Public Post” on your profile page. If they fail to respond or reply with some idiotic answer…I would think twice before accepting their friend request. Personally…I’d block them, but that’s just me.

Be cautious of videos and other links sent to you regardless if it’s in email or Private Message. Malicious code can be disguised in such communications. If you get a message or email that seems to be just begging you to “click here” I would certainly be hesitant of “clicking there”.

Remember…If I can get you to “click here” on your device, as soon as you do…your device is now my device and everything that’s on your device is now at my finger tips.

Perhaps Lanier County News would consider giving me a whole page to educate you humans on different ways to stay secure online, complete with pictures. I wonder if a local business owner or two would be interested in sponsoring it? Come on! Help a monkey out…my babies need shoes. wink

You are invited to “Like” and “Follow” Valdosta Monkey on Facebook