新闻来源：www.foxnews.com
原文地址：From TikTok to trouble: How your online data can be weaponized against you
新闻日期：2024-09-18
在这个时代，我们的在线存在似乎总是在不断受到攻击。但其实我们完全可以在某种程度上控制局面。虽然我们无法阻止所有恶意行为，但可以让它们的工作变得更加艰难。这就是关于掌控数字足迹的全部信息。无论您需要从搜索引擎中擦除自己的信息、投资专业数据删除服务还是更加明智地在网上分享内容，都可以采取步骤来保护自己。记住，您的在线形象不仅仅是社交媒体上的点赞，它还可能影响到求职前景和个人安全。因此，我们不妨仔细审视一下自己的网络存在，问自己：这是否真正为我们带来了便利，还是成了一个潜在的隐患？
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原文摘要：
Let’s talk about something that’s becoming a real headache these days: your online presence and how it can come back to bite you. A stark example of this occurred when 20 teachers from Great Valley Middle School in Malvern, Pennsylvania, fell victim to student impersonations on TikTok using information found online. Yikes. It’s time we face the music: Sharing our lives online, especially on social media, is riskier than ever. Social media platforms have become an integral part of our personal and professional lives. However, they also expose us to various risks that can have serious consequences. Sure, you can’t stop someone from trying to mess with your reputation, but you can make it a whole lot harder for them. GET SECURITY ALERTS, EXPERT TIPS – SIGN UP FOR KURT’S NEWSLETTER – THE CYBERGUY REPORT HERE How your online data can sabotage your reputation and safety Having your online reputation damaged can hurt your chances of something as small as making friends in a new neighborhood, to something much more serious, like landing the job you’ve always dreamed of. According to a Career Builder study, every two out of three hiring managers screen candidates’ social profiles before hiring. But it gets worse. Other statistics reveal that more than half of recruiters rejected a candidate because of what they found on their social media. However, the risks of having your personal data online don’t stop there. The list includes: These issues are more common than you might think. The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) estimates that around 10% of Americans were victims of identity theft within the year prior to their research. For 1 in 5, it has happened at some point in their lifetime. A recent data breach at National Public Data – a data broker – might have exposed the Social Security numbers of every American. BJS further reports that 3.4 million Americans were stalked in one year and 69% of those cases involved the use of technology. And that only includes reported incidents. The FBI confirms that cyberstalking is on the rise. Being anonymous online isn’t just about comfort. It’s about safety. Fortunately, you can take steps to protect your personal information on the web. HACKED, SCAMMED, EXPOSED: WHY YOU’RE 1 STEP AWAY FROM DISASTER ONLINE Erase your digital footprint and protect your privacy You’ve probably heard the saying, “Once you put something on the internet, it’s there forever.” But that’s not entirely true. Disappearing from the internet is possible, though it’s not easy, especially if you try to do it on your own. Fortunately, some professional services can help. These services not only assist in deleting your existing data but also help prevent new information from resurfacing online. Here’s what you can do to remove your digital footprint from the web. 1) Remove yourself from people search sites If you want to take on the task yourself, you’ll need to be prepared to put in some work. Most of your data is stored on what’s called people search sites. These are large databases of personal information, with some containing more than 300 million individual records. People search sites publish highly private information, starting with your contact details and extending to your family, colleagues and even your sexual orientation. That data is often used by scammers. And the less your information is out there, the more difficult it is for bad actors to exploit you. The good news is that you can request the removal of your personal data from these sites. Each site has its own process, but they generally follow a similar pattern: 2) Invest in professional data removal services It’s best not to leave anything to chance. While opting out from data brokers yourself is technically possible, the sheer number of brokers makes this a monumental task. Moreover, protecting your privacy online isn’t a one-time effort. It requires continuous monitoring and frequent opt-out requests, as data brokers are constantly collecting personal information. Even if you successfully remove your profile, it could reappear later. Check out my top picks for data removal services here. PHARMA GIANT’S DATA BREACH EXPOSES PATIENTS’ SENSITIVE INFORMATION 3) Remove yourself from Google search results However, to fully protect yourself from cyberstalking, you also need to address the images associated with your online identity. If someone wants to hurt your reputation, knowing your name and home address might only be part of the puzzle. The other piece could be finding your images. Using personal details like your childhood home address, school or past employers, stalkers can unearth potentially damaging content and use it to harm your online reputation. But images aren’t the only thing you should address. If you want to leave no trace on Google, make sure to: Unfortunately, you can’t remove content from Google search results directly. You can submit a removal request, but Google must approve it first. For more details, refer to my previous post on how to remove yourself from Google searches. If your request is denied, you’ll need to contact the site owner and ask them to take it down. However, your options here are limited. Once bad actors get hold of your data, it’s difficult to regain control. That’s why it’s so important to stop stalkers from accessing your information in the first place. Additional tips to safeguard your online reputation 1) Be cautious about sharing personal information on social media. Adjust privacy settings to limit what’s publicly visible. 2) Monitor your digital footprint regularly. Set up Google Alerts for your name to stay informed about new mentions online. 3) Strengthen your passwords and enable two-factor authentication on all accounts to prevent unauthorized access. Also, consider using a password manager to generate and store complex passwords. 4) Exercise caution with links and attachments. Don’t click on suspicious links in social media posts, emails or messages as they may lead to phishing sites or malware downloads. Verify the source before opening any attachments, especially from unknown senders. When in doubt, contact the purported sender through a separate, trusted channel to confirm the legitimacy of the link or attachment. Additionally, use strong antivirus software and keep it updated to provide an extra layer of protection against potential threats. The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe. Get my picks for the best 2024 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices. TAKE BACK YOUR PRIVACY WITH THIS IPHONE SAFETY FEATURE Kurt’s key takeaways From fake TikTok profiles to data breaches, it seems like our online presence is constantly under siege. But here’s the thing: While we can’t stop every bad actor out there, we can definitely make their job a lot harder. It’s all about taking control of your digital footprint. Whether it’s scrubbing yourself from people search sites, investing in professional data removal services or being more mindful of what we share online, there are steps we can take to protect ourselves. Remember, your online reputation isn’t just about social media likes; it can impact everything from job prospects to personal safety. So, maybe it’s time we all took a good hard look at our online presence and asked ourselves: Is it really serving us or is it leaving us vulnerable? What role do you think social media platforms should play in protecting your privacy and preventing impersonation or harassment? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact. For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter. Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you’d like us to cover. Follow Kurt on his social channels: Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions: New from Kurt: Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
