Bitesize guide: Protecting yourself

This bitesize article covers some the key areas that I regularly discuss and provide for my high profiled clients with regards to protecting themselves from being discovered online.

Use different names

Many of us are on multiple social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter.  If you want to reduce the chances of your online profile being found by strangers or people who you do not want to interact with it is recommended to use different variations of your name or pseudonyms.

If we use the name Sophie Jefferson as an example, I would recommend having one account under the name Soph J, another account S J or Sophie.  Alternatively if the account is not a professional account like LinkedIn, why not make up a new name completely like Superwoman J or Jammy Dodger.  This fits in with Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter where profiles are informal and by using a commonly used phrase or name you are more difficult to find.

It is important to protect your name as it is easy to search and find someone by their name.

Use different usernames for accounts

Similar to above, this applies to the usernames (aka handles) you create for your account.

Sticking with the Sophie Jefferson example.  If Sophie uses Instagram her username can be @Iloveburgers or her twitter handle could be @PinkyDelight.  You can be as creative as you like.

Different e-mail addresses for different accounts

Not only is it easy to find people by name, there are sites like www.pipl.com that highlight all the accounts registered with an e-mail address.  It is recommended to create a one-off e-mail account for the different SnapChat, YouTube, Tumblr account because a possible adversary could find many of your profiles from your e-mail address.

Switch off geolocation

Those who use social media will know sites like Facebook will notify followers when you enter certain places like train stations or theme parks.  For me personally, I had a meeting with a high profile client when they received a text message asking "What are you doing at the Dorchester?"  When my client asked me how their friend could know this, it was because on their smart phone my client left their location services switched on and Facebook was instantly pinging this information to all their followers.

It is advisable to switch off location service (keep it disabled!) and do not let your apps sync with your geo-location.  This is especially important if you do not want certain people in your life knowing your every movement.

Pictures

I have written previously about images in other blog entries but here’s a recap on the importance of protecting your pictures.

Reverse image searches are just as powerful as key word searches.  By searching your Match.com dating profile picture could lead me to your Facebook profile if you have used the same picture.

To avoid yourself being tracked by your pictures, do not use pictures you have used on Instagram on a dating site or your anonymous Badoo profile.