When utilized effectively, social media is a fantastic method for staying connected in a remote world. Likewise, it can be a source of harm for your business if precautionary measures aren’t implemented. Social media phishing attacks continue to be on the rise, with Facebook being one of the most commonly impersonated platforms. Hackers are now employing more sophisticated tactics to steal personal data from social media users. To keep your data safeguarded, follow these tips to secure your business from unwelcomed hackers.

Passwords

The first step in securing a social media account is to create a strong password which typically should include numbers, symbols, and capital letters. Avoid using the same password for each account; this is a common tactic that hackers will try when attempting to hack into your social media profiles. Additionally, you should change your passwords at least once a quarter, and when an employee with access to your social media accounts leaves the company. Lastly, avoid signing-in to multiple accounts through one social media account. Facebook allows you to sign-in to Instagram and various other platforms; rule of thumb – don’t sign-in to anything from your Facebook account other than Facebook! Hackers can take over your Facebook account through third-party services to which you’ve given access to your profile; make sure to double-check what you have approved.

Here’s what you need to do: Go to Settings > Apps and Websites to view and manage third-party services that use Facebook to log you into the accounts you have with them.

Two-factor authentication

We always advise our clients to implement two-factor authentication across all platforms, this ensures that employees are required to input a PIN sent to the account owner via an app, SMS, or email. This will not only protect your organization from having your social media platforms compromised, but also holds accountable the employee and person in charge of managing the accounts. Furthermore, Facebook can help you monitor who’s accessing your account and from where.

Here’s what you need to do: On a Mac or Windows computer, click on the down arrow located at the upper right corner of your Newsfeed, and select Settings and Privacy. Then click Settings > Security > Login to get more information.

Management

It’s important to periodically sweep your account to see who has access, and make sure that all roles are appropriately assigned. Though you should limit the number of people who have access to your accounts, more than one person should know the password. If only one person has access to an account and they leave the company, it will be a hassle to regain control of the account. Most social media platforms allow you to add admins or managers to the same business profile so you can protect your page's account information but allow others to access the profile through their own account. It’s a smart move to create an email address exclusively for social media management. That way, if a social media account for the company is compromised, the hacker won't be able to access any other sensitive data. Since many of us are continuing work in remote locations, it’s important to remember that public Wi-Fi connections at restaurants, libraries, airports, and other places of business lack the protections to keep social accounts secure. Cybercriminals easily gain access to passwords and other data on these types of wireless networks. Managers should ensure that their team is aware of this, and follow all precautionary measures when utilizing these networks.

Here’s what you need to do: Explicit rules should state who has access to the accounts and expectations for how to prevent security threats. The policy also should provide information about whom to notify if social media accounts are compromised. All usernames and passwords should be stored in a secure location and updated periodically by management.

Whether you’re working remotely or not, social media will always remain a prominent part of engagement between your business and your community; reach out to Lloyd to learn more on how you can safeguard your entire online presence.