Many online users mistakenly think that there’s a line between their real life and virtual life, but this is one big (and dangerous) lie. Social networking has significantly blurred that line into oblivion the moment you signed up with them with your name.

We are constantly hearing of scams and frauds perpetrated online and more often than not, we simply shrug them off because of the it’s-unlikely-to-happen-to-me mentality. But the truth is, everyone that has a presence online (which is pretty much everyone) can be a victim; and the worst that can happen to you is to get caught off-guard.

Let’s do some reality check on our most notable online account – Facebook – and start cleaning up our online act:

• Do not reuse passwords. This is like an unwritten rule on the web that we are all aware of but can’t be bothered to follow. Simply having the ‘ultimate unique’ password is not going to be much of a security if you use that for all your online accounts. In our mindset, it is too much trouble to keep track of many difficult passwords. But think of the nasty consequences if your Facebook password is revealed and you’re using the same on your PayPal account. That’s not entirely impossible so better to secure your sensitive accounts early on. (At the very least, have a different one for use in your social networking accounts and those ones associated with serious business.)
• Personal information should remain as such. Facebook profiles offer to display your contact details so friends can easily reach you just in case they don’t feel like a quick Facebook message would cut it. The only problem is (admit it or not), not everyone on our ‘Friends’ List are really personal friends. It only takes the ‘Confirm’ button to add a complete stranger to that list. So if you’re not comfortable with someone you don’t know trying to call or send you a message, do not blame the site, just stop posting information you don’t want others to see.
• Add/Accept only those you really know. Social networking is created primarily (I’d like to think, anyway) to connect with friends and loved ones. But as it is, the possibility of appearing as a popular person is very tempting for others (partly because they want to look famous and partly because they cannot do it in the real world). This tendency of people to mindlessly confirm every friend invitation (because they are flattered) is taken full advantage of scammers. Those creative fraudsters make charming personas online and add multitudes of people as friends; then they’ll just have to see who the easy picks are.
• Think twice before posting an update/photo. People desperately want to keep up with the fast-paced online world so they post updates (that are often nonsense, anyway) every chance they get (e.g. going to work!) or post pictures every time they are out. You may not realize it but aside from coming across as a complete vain or an ultimate Facebook user, you are also giving away information on your everyday life. This can be used against you and cause nasty consequences.  Like an employee who called in sick but was found healthy enough to post updates on her Facebook wall every hour. Or the student who bragged about how he managed to cheat on a Physics exam, temporarily forgetting that faculty members can read his updates.

The general rule has always been: If you’re not willing to share it to a random stranger you meet in the street, do not post it online. Remember, the moment you post something online, there’s no taking it back.