18 Oct Protect Your Business from These Common Social Media Security Risks
Because of the volume of information online, social media security is more crucial than ever. With the world being more connected, this presents opportunities to access people’s and business’ information. When that information falls in the wrong hands, things can go terribly wrong.
That being said, giving up social media as a business is no longer an option. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other platforms have proved invaluable to fostering brand awareness and audience engagement. On the other hand, it is important to acknowledge that social networks are not automatically secure. In order to take steps to protect your company from social media security risks, you first need to be able to identify the most common risks out there.
Common social media security risks
Unattended social media accounts: An unsuspecting business’ idle social media page is often a prime target for hackers, who can start posting false messages under your account. If a social media account goes unmonitored, hackers can send anything once they gain control. This includes false information that is damaging to your business or virus-infected links that cause serious problems for followers. As a business owner, the last thing you want is to only notice a problem once customers start reaching out for help.
Human error: Humans aren’t perfect, and everyone is susceptible to make mistakes. In the hustle of today’s world, it is almost too easy for any employee to accidentally expose their company to online security threats. Scammers often use phishing on social media to deceive people into handing over private information such as passwords, banking details, or other business information. As hackers become more sophisticated, simply clicking the wrong link or downloading the wrong file has the potential to wreak havoc on your company’s systems.
Third-party apps: You may have your own social accounts secure, but hackers may also be able to gain access to your account through vulnerabilities in connected third-party apps.
Imposter accounts: These types of accounts pretend to be your company in order to target your customers so they provide confidential information, tarnishing your reputation in the process. Imposter accounts may also try to trick your employees into giving login information for your corporate systems.
Unsecured mobile phones: Mobile devices are the most popular way to use social media platforms, as mobile apps make them accessible in just one tap. While this is certainly convenient, it can pose as a security risk if your phone leaves your possession. Protecting your mobile device with a password lowers this risk, but more than half of users continue to leave their phones unlocked.