How to Protect Your Identity on Social Media: A Complete

Protect your identity on social media by following simple safety tips and using privacy settings smartly.
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How to Protect Your Identity on Social Media: A Complete
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2 min read
12 Apr 2022

Key TakeAways

  • Small mistakes can lead to identity theft
  • Protecting your identity on social media from identity theft is easy
  • Limit your personal information on social media

Social media has become an integral part of our lives to connect with our friends and family. With the access to announce the major and minor events of our lives and send quick messages to our co-workers, social media has become significant portion of our life. While most of us have an idea about maintaining privacy, some don't keep any filters and compromise with their privacy settings. Well, let us tell you that protecting privacy holds significance in more ways than you can ever realize.

With the rise of identity theft in the digital world, people have been wondering how they can protect their identity on social media sites . As the percentage of people using the internet nowadays has increased significantly, so have cyber-crimes. Your one mistake can allow the scammers to steal your identity and harm you in numerous ways.

Motives behind identity theft on social media

According to recent research, millions of people are affected by social media fraud each year. The scammers' tricks can tarnish your reputation as the ones connected with you might think that you are committing the crime or promoting hate speeches.

While many of them can do this for money, other scammers might want to push hate messages or can do this for personal reasons. The motives are multiple, but the main thing is to know how to protect your personal information on social media.

Be aware of how to protect the identity on social media

Use multi-factor authentication:

It is no longer challenging for hackers to access your social media sites. Today, username and password are not enough to safeguard your account. It would help if you always opt for multi-factor authentication to log in to your account.

Keep your personal information personal:

Omitting your personal information is better rather than sharing it on social media. Providing the information can help the scammers track your location. As a result, it makes it easy for hackers to retrieve the account.

Update your privacy settings:

Do not forget to update the privacy settings of your social media account. In this way, it will be hard for scammers to hack your account or get access to any personal information.

Delete the accounts that you no longer use:

Why keep the account active that you no longer use? Sometimes, you don't delete your old accounts and make new ones. But this is not recommended as scammers can get access to your old accounts. It is always recommended to delete anyaccounts that you no longer wish to use.

Better to keep your account locked:

You must have heard the saying ‘prevention is better than cure’. Well, you should stick to this if you want your identity on social media to be safe. Once you learn how to protect your personal information on social media, you will be at the reduced risk of losing your critical personal information on social media.
Likewise, if you are approached by someone pretending to be a Bajaj Finserv employee on social media, do verify before giving out your details.


Savdhaan Rahein. Safe Rahein.

Disclaimer

1. Bajaj Finance Limited (“BFL”) is a Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC) and Prepaid Payment Instrument Issuer offering financial services viz., loans, deposits, Bajaj Pay Wallet, Bajaj Pay UPI, bill payments and third-party wealth management products. The details mentioned in the respective product/ service document shall prevail in case of any inconsistency with respect to the information referring to BFL products and services on this page.

2. All other information, such as, the images, facts, statistics etc. (“information”) that are in addition to the details mentioned in the BFL’s product/ service document and which are being displayed on this page only depicts the summary of the information sourced from the public domain. The said information is neither owned by BFL nor it is to the exclusive knowledge of BFL. There may be inadvertent inaccuracies or typographical errors or delays in updating the said information. Hence, users are advised to independently exercise diligence by verifying complete information, including by consulting experts, if any. Users shall be the sole owner of the decision taken, if any, about suitability of the same.

Frequently asked questions

What are the risks of sharing personal info on social media?

Sharing personal info online can expose you to identity theft, phishing, stalking, or financial fraud. Scammers may use details like your birthday, location, or job to impersonate you or hack accounts. It can also affect your privacy, security, and even employment opportunities if misused.

How can I check if my social media accounts are secure?

Check your social media account security by reviewing login activity, enabling two-factor authentication, and updating passwords regularly. Look for unrecognised devices or locations and verify recovery settings. Ensure your email is secure too, as it’s often linked to account recovery options.

What kind of personal data should I avoid posting online?

Avoid posting your full address, phone number, birthdate, ID numbers, financial details, and travel plans. These can be misused for scams, identity theft, or tracking. Even seemingly harmless posts can reveal patterns or personal information that fraudsters can exploit.

How do privacy settings help protect my identity?

Privacy settings control who can see your posts, profile, and contact information. They help limit access to personal data, reducing the risk of misuse or identity theft. By adjusting them, you can prevent strangers from viewing or sharing your content without permission.

What are signs that my identity might be stolen online?

Signs include unfamiliar login alerts, password change notifications, unauthorised transactions, or messages sent from your account without your knowledge. You may also receive bills for accounts you didn’t open. If friends report suspicious activity, it’s a red flag to check for identity theft.

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