Remove These 5 Things From Facebook Right Now!

Many of us share a ton of personal information with others via our Facebook profiles and timelines. Could any of this information be potentially harmful if it fell into the wrong hands? The answer is yes.

Let's look at several pieces of personal data that you may want to consider removing from your Facebook profile.

1. Your Birth Date

"Happy Birthdays" are nice and all that, but listing this tidbit of information helps would-be identity thieves gather one of the 3 to 4 pieces of the puzzle they need to steal your identity.

Is helping your friends remember when your birthday is so they can leave an impersonal "happy birthday" on your timeline worth having your identity stolen?

If you absolutely can't stand not having your birthday out there for your friends to see, at least remove the year to make things a little harder for ID thieves.


2. Your Home Address

You're taking a pretty big risk by listing your home address on your Facebook profile. If you "checked in" somewhere while on vacation, thieves will know that you're not at home and they'll also know exactly where to find your house since you listed it in your profile.

Don't rely on friendss only" permissions to keep your address safe from harm, as one of your friends may have left their Facebook profile logged in at a shared computer in a library or cyber cafe where any stranger could potentially view your profile from his/her unsecured account. It's best to leave your address completely out of your Facebook profile.

3. Your Real Phone Number

Much like your home address, your personal phone number could potentially reveal additional information about your location.

If you want your friends to be able to get a hold of you via telephone, consider using a free Google Voice phone number as a go-between so that you can route incoming calls to your "real" phone number without giving that number out.

You can find out detailed information on how to use a Google Voice number to protect your identity by checking out our article: How to Use Google Voice as a Personal Privacy Firewall.



4. Your Relationship Status

"It's complicated", what does that even mean? Well, your stalker might think that it means they have the green light to resume stalking you since you changed your status from "in a relationship". It may also help creepy folks using the scary Facebook Graph Search tool to find you as a potential target for their affection.

Is this something you would feel comfortable divulging to a complete stranger? If not, just leave it out of your profile altogether.

5. Work-related Information

You may be very proud to be an employee of company XYZ, but that company may not want its employees to put company-related info on Facebook. Your innocent status post about how excited you are to be working on an upcoming product or project might give your competitors an edge if they are trolling social media searching for competitive information.

If you have your company information in your profile, then you may be seen as a representative of that company, and your boss might not appreciate that association, especially if you've posted an embarrassing drunken photo with you wearing a shirt with your company's logo on it.

In addition to leaving the above information out of your profile, you should periodically review your Facebook privacy settings to see if Facebook has changed any of your settings to something more public than you are comfortable with. Check out our Facebook privacy section for more helpful information.

How Hack-proof is Your Wireless Network?

You set up your wireless network many years ago and then you forgot about it because you don’t want to mess with something as long as it’s working. As the old saying goes: “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, right? Wrong!
When you set up your router initially, you remember setting a password, perhaps turning on wireless encryption, but your memory is hazy and you don’t really know the exact settings.
So here we are. Your wireless network router is doing its thing in a corner, gathering dust, but you really don’t know if it’s even hacker-resistant.
Let’s take a quick quiz and see just how secure your wireless network is. Answer the following questions and at the end of the article we’ll tell you what your security posture is and what you can do to improve it.
Give yourself a point for every question you answer yes. While no network is truly "hack-proof" we'll tell you how we think you're doing at the end of the quiz.
1. Does Your Wireless Network Have WPA2 Encryption Turned on? (+1 point if Yes)
Your wireless network needs to have encryption turned on in order to protect data traversing it, as well as providing a way to keep unwanted users from freeloading. The type of Wi-Fi security used makes a big difference.
If you're using outdated WEP encryption, then you are highly vulnerable to having your network cracked by even the most novice hacker. WEP is extremely vulnerable to compromise and there are tools available on the Internet that can crack WEP encryption in a matter of minutes.
If you aren't using WPA2 encryption, you should be. Check out our article: How to Encrypt Your Wireless Network for details on implementing WPA2.
2. Does Your Router Offer a Firewall Feature And is it Turned on? (+1 point if Yes)
Most modern wireless routers have a built-in network firewall that can help protect your network from unwanted traffic attempting to enter and/or leave your network. This can be a valuable tool if configured properly. Check out our articles on How to Configure a Firewall and also How to Test Your Firewall to see if it's doing its job.
3. Do You Have a Strong Password For Your Wireless Network? (+1 point if Yes)
A strong network password is essential in preventing brute force password attacks. Check out our article on How to Change Your Wi-Fi Password if you think yours might not be a strong enough password.
4. Did You Change Your Wireless Network Name to Something Unique? (+1 point if Yes)
Using a simple, common, or default wireless network name can also put you at risk for getting hacked. Read our article: Is Your Wireless Network Name a Security Risk to find out why it might be.
5. Are You Using a Personal VPN Service To Protect Your Network? (+1 point if Yes)
A personal Virtual Private Network (VPN) can be an excellent tool for protecting the data on your network and can also provide features such as anonymous browsing. Learn about the many benefits offered by personal VPNs in our article: Why You Need a Personal VPN.
6. Is Your Wireless Router's Firmware up to Date? (+1 point if Yes)
If your router's firmware is out of date then you may be missing out on security patches that could help fix router-related vulnerabilities. You may also be missing out on new features that are sometimes offered in updated firmware. Check with your router manufacturer to see if there is any updated firmware available for your specific model.
Your Score.
If you answered "yes" to all 6 questions, then your network is about as secure as they come. 5 out of 6 isn't bad either. Less than 5 would indicate that you may have some security issues that need to be addressed soon so that you are better equipped to sustain a wireless hacking attempt. Try to implement all 6 items to give yourself the best odds of not becoming a wireless hacking victim.

McAfee Mobile Security

McAfee's newest mobile security application, McAfee Mobile Security, protects your Android smartphone or tablet from the latest malware threats. Recent Android attacks have affected many Android users. With McAfee Mobile Security, you can protect yourself from attacks that include:

Hidden Device Admin

Android Master Key Exploit

Jay-Z's Magna Carta Holy Grail Fake App

McAfee Mobile Security provides the following features for Android users:

Locate and track device -- If you misplace your device, you can locate it on a map and send a text to prompt its return.

Device alarm/scream

Remote lock and wipe -- If you're device is lost or stolen, you can protect your privacy by remotely deleting your data on your device and SD card.

Backup and restore -- You can backup your data on demand or set your backup process on a specific schedule. Use your backup to restore your data on a new device.

Manage your security in the cloud -- You can manage your mobile security through a web portal or by SMS text using any smartphone or tablet.

Click here to learn more about McAfee Mobile Security, including a review, full list of features, and premium and basic packages.