What are social networking sites?

Social networking sites are places on the web to meet and interact with people. The purpose of using networking sites can vary from person to person. Some people access them to make friendship or business connections and others use them to share information on a range of topics.

Social networking sites such as MySpace, Facebook, Bebo and Linkedin may differ but they all allow you to give your personal information in profiles, forums, chat rooms, email, instant messaging etc, where you go to connect with other people. Some sites let you search or browse for people and other sites require you to be ‘introduce' to new people. Essentially the sites are a way to meet people with similar interests, hobbies and so on.

How much information you choose to share with friends you make at these websites is a judgement call. It is good idea to understand that whatever information you share on the

Internet remains on the internet and could be used inappropriately, either now or sometime in the future. This information includes items such as a photos, videos or detailed personal information. There are a few simple security rules to remember and to help you act smart and be safe when visiting social networking sites.

How should I protect myself online?

Top tips

• Think about the amount of personal information you share online —do not post information that would make you vulnerable (e.g. your address, information about your schedule or routine). Adjust your privacy settings to control the amount and type of information you want to share, so that people you don't know very well can only see certain parts of your profile.
• Actively manage your public messages noting you are in a public space —delete old messages and only put information on the website you are comfortable with anyone seeing. This includes information in your profile, in blogs and other forums. Once information is online, it is not easy to remove it. Even if you remove the information from a site, saved or cached versions may still exist on other computers.
• Be wary of strangers —the internet makes it easy for people to misrepresent their identities and motives. It is a good idea to limit the people who are allowed to contact you on these sites. If you interact with people you do not know, be cautious about the amount of information you reveal and don't agree to meet them in person.
• Be sceptical —don't believe everything you read online. People may use false or misleading information about various topics, including their own identities. This may be unintentional, with malicious intent or just a joke. Take appropriate precautions and try to verify the accuracy of any information.
• Check the sites privacy policies —some sites may share information such as email addresses or user preferences with businesses. This may lead to an increase in spam. Also, try to locate the site's policy for handling referrals to make sure that you do not unintentionally sign your friends up for spam.

For information on how to protect children online see NetAlert—provides information for parents; information on chatting online; cyber bullying; cyber stalking and more.

Identity theft and social network sites

Identity theft is stealing and using personal identifying information to pretend to be another person, generally for illegal purposes such as financial fraud.

Personal information such as name, address and age details that are posted on social networking sites can be used to create an ‘identity package'. A false identity package can be used to open or close bank accounts and steal and transfer money. Once an identity has been falsely assumed it can be used for any number of reasons including financial fraud and damage to reputation.

What should I be cautious of?

You need to provide a certain amount of personal information to connect to social networking sites. The type of information required by sites varies. Some may need an email address, a name and password. Other sites may require more information. When deciding how much information to reveal when online, you may not be as cautious as when you meet someone in person, because:

• The internet provides a sense of anonymity.
• The lack of physical interaction provides a false sense of security.
• Information is generally intended for friends to read, forgetting that others may see it.
• Some want to offer insights to gain a wider network of friends or associates.

While the majority of people using these sites are not threatening, there are criminals who are attracted to them because personal information is available on the sites. The more information criminals have about you, the easier it is for them to take advantage. Predators may form relationships online and try to physically meet you. By using information that you provide about your location, hobbies, interests and friends, a criminal could impersonate a trusted friend or convince you that they have the authority to access other personal or financial data.

In addition to the risk of identity theft, viruses and malicious software may be embedded in the banners and advertisements that you see on social networking sites. The way social networking sites are set-up can mean that the owners of the site may not be aware of ‘rogue ads’ on their site. These rogue ads may contain software designed to harm your computer or steal your passwords.