“Secure your information like you secure your home!” That was Troy Glancy’s message at the Social Media Club Virginia Beach meet-up on May 10. Troy is an IT expert and owner of Laris Technologies in Chesapeake, VA. He spoke to the SMCVB crew about online security and Facebook privacy. His presentation was packed with truly eye-opening information and included valuable reminders about basic internet security. Here’s some of his expert advice!

Get Better Security Tools! According to Troy, some lesser-known security programs and tools are better than the big names we are used to. Troy recommends the following:

• Kaspersky.com (Troy says it’s the best)
• ABGantivirus.com
• PCTools.com
• OpenDNS.org

Follow Your Competition! Want to know what your competition is up to, yet keep them from knowing what you are up to? Follow your competition’s fan pages, but use Facebook privacy settings to block their view of your wall. Go to Account, Privacy Settings, Personal Information and Posts, and then Posts By Me. Then, select “custom” to specify who can’t see your information.

Facebook sells your info! Did you know Facebook sells your demographic information to market research companies? One way to limit this is to deactivate Facebook’s “Instant Personalization Pilot Program.” At the top right of your Facebook profile, click the following in this order: Accounts, Privacy Settings, then Applications and Websites. At the bottom of the page, edit your setting for Instant Personalization Pilot Program.

Reduce the Threat of Key-Loggers! If you don’t secure your personal info on the Internet, you make yourself vulnerable to key-loggers. They are hackers who infect your computer with spyware allowing them to see a record of every key you type, including usernames, passwords and other account information. To prevent this, keep your anti-virus/anti-spyware software up to date. Don’t ignore those update messages you receive!

Blackberry Fun Fact! Troy says Blackberry is the most secure mobile device on the market! Another reason to justify your blackberry addiction!

Don’t Forget the Basics!

• Delete emails that ask for account or login information. They are phishing scams!
• Secure your wireless internet network! In layman’s terms, that means creating a password for your wireless router!
• Don’t post pictures of your kids - or their names - on the Internet! It puts your children’s safety at risk from predators, both online and offline.
• Don’t forget - once you put something on the Internet, it’s there forever! Choose wisely!