PLEASE! PLEASE!! LOOK AT YOUR PROFILE INFORMATION

Bill shares some tips on staying safe online. I hate filling in "Profile Information" anyway but NOW it is even more important to be careful with your sharing.

Serious Scammer Warnings are in the news. The more information you divulge on your "Profile" the better the scammers like it. I can look at a list of people, on my Facebook page, giving their birthday information. This is one of the main items of information that you will be asked for as proof that 'you, are indeed' you!

You can get into your profile and change the details, usually on a menu with the word "Privacy" as a key. What I find to be easier is to 'NOT' fill in the boxes to begin with. My privacy settings are very restrictive of whom is allowed to see my information. ME!  Despite that there isn't much to see, anyway. I do wish my friends a "Happy Whatever", but it does give a niggle, in the back of the brain, when I'm so doing.

Today's news is that Facebook groups are being taken over by Criminals bent upon having the contents of your bank account for themselves. They get into the Administration details and replace the admin information with their own information and passwords. From then onward the group is under their control and cannot be accessed by the original admin people. Unfortunately, Facebook, the company, aren't very interested in sorting this out and, until they are, we must try to limit the damage that these scammers may do.

This warning isn't JUST for Facebook. Any time that you fill in a form, online or otherwise, it is best to provide only the information that is asked for as "Essential" and the next time that you hear that a company or organisation has been hacked you should be able to rest in the knowledge that you have done your utmost to protect yourself.

If you need any support on digital contact t one of our community hubs across the city. AreaDIHubMar23.pdf (sunderland.gov.uk)