Social network risks

Criminals are always looking at ways to get hold of your personal data. Social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn open more avenues for criminals to obtain your personal details.

Social sites build networks and communications between individuals and encourage you to share personal information about yourself. Whilst these sites can be a lot of fun, there are risks in placing personal information online.

This information can be used to obtain products and services without your knowledge. The more information you give about yourself, the more vulnerable you become to fraud.

You should be careful about the type of information you make public and the people that you share your information with.

Protect yourself

Consider these basic principles before you decide to post information online:

• Never post personal details such as telephone numbers, date of birth, address or employment details
• Research the site's security and privacy features
• Ensure you set the site's security and privacy features to a level that you are comfortable with
• Consider who you 'friend', who joins your network, and who can see your data
• Also, keep in mind that employers are increasingly looking at social networking sites for information on potential candidates