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|---|---|---|
 Donald Trump | ||
Pennsylvania |  Joe Biden |
Keep your guard up when using Twitter and Facebook
— -- You're careful about what you post online. You know Facebook and Twitter posts can harm your dating and job prospects. And thieves can use the sites to target you.
But there's much more to maintaining your security and privacy. Criminals and marketers have found new ways to use Twitter and Facebook. If you're not paying attention, it's easy to get taken. You'll find links to the sites mentioned here at www.komando.com/news.
Don't be fooled by shortened URLs
Twitter limits posts to 140 characters. So, shortened URLs (Web addresses) are common. You'll also see them on other sites. URL services create the shorter addresses.
Unfortunately, unless you take extra steps, you don't know where the link leads without clicking it. You could be sent to a porn site or worse — an attack site.
TweetDeck, a desktop program, will protect you. Or use the Long URL Please add-on for Firefox. Both reveal full URLs. Sites Untiny and PrevURL show full URLs in any browser.
Beware 'friends' in need
Unsurprisingly, criminals are stealing Facebook log-in credentials. Accounts contain sensitive information, but there's an easier way to profit.
Criminals send messages to your contacts, pretending to be you. You were mugged while traveling overseas, they say. You need money to get home. They hope to milk your contacts.
Expect to see variations on this scam. For example, a similar e-mail scam targets grandparents of military members.
A quick call can expose such a scam. To protect your contacts, keep your security software current and guard your passwords.
Watch out for applications
Facebook applications make the site more entertaining but pose an unexpected risk.
They can access your profile. The developer can read your wall posts or collect your contact information.
Your applications see everything on Facebook that you can. You could be exposing your contacts' data. Or, your contacts could expose yours.
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