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Protecting Your Online Privacy on Social Media
Social media users worry about having little control over their personal information.
This is due to lack of faith that common communication methods, especially social media tools, are secure.
A survey by the Pew Research Center found that many adults know about government surveillance programs, and many Americans think the government should put more limits on advertisers. In addition, consumers don’t believe sharing personal data helps them much, but they’ll do it anyway to use free services.
1. Understand Online Privacy Protection Measures
Privacy usually means being alone without anyone watching or bothering you. But when you’re online, even by yourself, you’re still being watched and interrupted – by ads and companies tracking you.
Online privacy means controlling your personal information and what companies can see about your online activity. This includes deciding if and when companies can collect your data or track what you do online.
It matters for both your safety and how technology evolves. Poor privacy can lead to real harms like identity theft, stalking, and hacking. You probably don’t want robbers to know when you aren’t home. Or scammers using your details to pretend to be you and steal your money. So good privacy protections keep you safe.
Online privacy gives you control over your personal information. Without control, companies can use your identity however they want, like selling you things or stealing from you. Your privacy also impacts your family, friends, and colleagues. What you post publicly can affect how others see you. So protecting your privacy helps more than just you.
2. Maintain Control of Your Digital Footprint
A digital footprint is the trail of data you leave behind online. It includes things you actively share on social media, online profiles, and blogs. But it also consists of passive data collection – browsing history, purchase patterns, location data, and other information gathered by websites and apps, often without your knowledge.
Maintaining control over your records and information is crucial for protecting privacy online.
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Data minimization involves only collecting the essential user data needed for services.
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Extra unnecessary data poses privacy risks.
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Records accessibility allows people to view, modify, and delete their stored data easily.
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Data protection refers to encrypting information and transmitting data securely to prevent leaks.
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Retention policies involve deleting user records after periods of inactivity since outdated data can create liabilities.
This passive data makes up a huge part of your digital footprint. And with billions of people online today, digital footprints have grown massive.
3. Know the Different Privacy Risks on Social Media
Your identity, accounts, and money can be at risk the more you share on social media. Here are some of the biggest social media privacy problems:
Hacking
Hackers can get clues to guess or trick you into giving your passwords by looking at the personal info you post.
Phishing Scams
Scammers send fake messages to get you to click on bad links or share info. 12% of clicks on phishing links are from social media.
Location Sharing
Location data on your posts and photos can let stalkers or thieves track you.
Identity Theft
Scammers only need some info from your profiles, like your address, to steal your identity.
Policy Changes
When social media sites change rules, sometimes private stuff accidentally becomes public.
Employers Checking
70% of employers look at candidates’ social media, and over half have found things that made them not hire someone.
Harassment
“Doxxing” is when hackers share your info to help others bother or threaten you.
Cyberbullying
Public accounts let bullies easily target you with mean messages.
Romance Scams
Scammers make fake profiles and trick you into relationships to get money or information.
Third-Party Apps
Logging in with social media can give your data to apps with bad security.
Malicious Links
Scammers send fake messages with bad links that can infect your device or steal your login info.
Data Collection
All your social media activity builds a “digital footprint” that advertisers buy to target your ads.
4. Follow Online Privacy Practices on Social Media
No one can eliminate their digital footprint today. However, following online privacy best practices greatly reduces risks and exposure from everyday digital activities.
Check Your Privacy Settings: Review each social media profile and ensure your privacy settings limit who can see your posts and information. Change any defaults to “Friends Only” or stricter options. Only share things publicly if you’re OK with anyone seeing them.
Share Less Personal Info: Be very selective about posting your address, phone number, birthday, relationship details, hometown, family name, and any other info an identity thief could use. Show some photos selectively. What seems harmless to share could give scammers clues to hack you.
Use a VPN: A VPN encrypts your internet traffic to keep what you do online private. It prevents websites from tracking your browsing history and hides your location. Many free and paid VPN options are available.
Review Third-Party App Permissions: Check what data access you have approved for any third-party apps connected to your social media accounts. Remove access to any unfamiliar apps or apps you no longer use.
Keep out Ad Targeting: Find the ad preference settings on social media sites and disable options for serving your targeted ads based on your activity or interests. This limits your digital footprint for advertisers.
Delete Old Accounts: If you don’t use a social media platform anymore, delete or deactivate the account entirely if possible. This removes another place where outdated personal data could be exposed or hacked.
Think Before Posting Anything: Always use discretion when posting updates publicly or privately — even to close friends. Only share what would be harmless if publicly leaked.
5. Use Multi Factor Authentication and Keep up the with the Latest Updates
It’s important to use multi factor authentication to protect your passwords. Don’t forget to update your devices (apps, software, etc) and do not share sensitive information on social media. Following these basic precautions greatly reduces your risks from online tracking, hacking, fraud, and identity theft. Make privacy protection part of your regular social media routine. By taking responsibility for your social media presence and activities, you can improve safety for yourself and your loved ones.
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Why Malia Obama Received Major Criticism Over A Secret Facebook Page Dissing Trump
Given the divisive nature of both the Obama and Trump administrations, it’s unsurprising that reactions to Malia Obama’s alleged secret Facebook account would be emotional. Many online users were quick to jump to former President Donald Trump’s defense, with one user writing: “Dear Malia: Do you really think that anyone cares whether you and/or your family likes your father’s successor? We’re all trying to forget you and your family.”
Others pointed out the double standard held by those who condemn Trump for hateful rhetoric but praise people like Malia who speak out against her father’s successor in what they believe to be hateful rhetoric. Some users seemed bent on criticizing Malia simply because they don’t like her or her father, proving that the eldest Obama daughter couldn’t win for losing regarding the public’s perception of her or her online presence.
The secret Facebook situation is not all that dissimilar to critics who went after Malia for her professional name at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. In this instance, people ironically accused Malia of using her family’s name to get into the competitive festival while also condemning her for opting not to use her surname, going by Malia Ann instead.
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Best Practices for Data Center Decommissioning and IT Asset Disposition
Data center decommissioning is a complicated process that requires careful planning and experienced professionals.
If you’re considering shutting down or moving your data center, here are some best practices to keep in mind:
Decommissioning a Data Center is More than Just Taking Down Physical Equipment
Decommissioning a data center is more than just taking down physical equipment. It involves properly disposing of data center assets, including servers and other IT assets that can contain sensitive information. The process also requires a team with the right skills and experience to ensure that all data has been properly wiped from storage media before they’re disposed of.
Data Centers Can be Decommissioned in Phases, Which Allows For More Flexibility
When you begin your data center decommissioning process, it’s important to understand that it’s not an event. Instead, it’s a process that takes place over time and in phases. This flexibility allows you to adapt as circumstances change and make adjustments based on your unique situation. For example:
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You may start by shutting down parts of the facility (or all) while keeping others running until they are no longer needed or cost-effective to keep running.
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When you’re ready for full shutdown, there could be some equipment still in use at other locations within the company (such as remote offices). These can be moved back into storage until needed again.
Data Center Decommissioning is Subject to Compliance Guidelines
Data center decommissioning is subject to compliance guidelines. Compliance guidelines may change, but they are always in place to ensure that your organization is following industry standards and best practices.
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Local, state and federal regulations: You should check local ordinances regarding the disposal of any hazardous materials that were used in your data center (such as lead-based paint), as well as any other applicable laws related to environmental impact or safety issues. If you’re unsure about how these might affect your plans for a decommissioned facility, consult an attorney who specializes in this area of law before proceeding with any activities related to IT asset disposition or building demolition.
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Industry standards: There are many industry associations dedicated specifically toward helping businesses stay compliant with legal requirements when moving forward with projects such as data center decommissioning.
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Internal policies & procedures: Make sure everyone on staff understands how important it is not just from a regulatory standpoint but also from an ethical one; nobody wants their name associated with anything inappropriate!
Companies Should Consider Safety and Security During the Decommissioning Process
Data center decommissioning is a complex process that involves several steps. Companies need to consider the risks associated with each step of the process, and they should have a plan in place to mitigate these risks. The first step of data center decommissioning is identifying all assets and determining which ones will be reused or repurposed. At this point, you should also determine how long it will take for each asset to be repurposed or recycled so that you can estimate how much money it will cost for this part of your project (this can be done through an estimate based on previous experience).
The second step involves removing any hazardous materials from electronic equipment before it’s sent off site for recycling; this includes chemicals used in manufacturing processes like lead-free solder paste adhesives used on circuit boards made from tin-based alloys containing up 80% pure tin ingots stamped out into flat sheets called “pucks”. Once these chemicals have been removed from whatever device needs them taken off their surfaces then those devices can safely go through any other necessary processes such as grinding away excess plastic housing material using high pressure water jets until only its bare frame remains intact without any cracks where moisture might collect inside later causing corrosion damage over time due too much moisture exposure.
With Proper Planning and an Effective Team, You’ll Help Protect Your Company’s Future
Data center decommissioning is a complex process that should be handled by a team of experts with extensive experience in the field. With proper planning, you can ensure a smooth transition from your current data center environment to the next one.
The first step toward a successful data center decommissioning project is to create a plan for removing hardware and software assets from the building, as well as documenting how these assets were originally installed in the facility. This will allow you or another team member who may inherit some of these assets later on down the line to easily find out where they need to go when it’s time for them to be moved again (or disposed).
Use Professional Data Center Decommissioning Companies
In order to ensure that you get the most out of your data center decommissioning project, it’s important to use a professional data center decommissioning company. A professional data center decommissioning company has experience with IT asset disposition and can help you avoid mistakes in the process. They also have the tools and expertise needed to efficiently perform all aspects of your project, from pre-planning through finalizing documentation.
Proper Planning Will Help Minimize the Risks of Data Center Decommissioning
Proper planning is the key to success when it comes to the data center decommissioning process. It’s important that you don’t wait until the last minute and rush through this process, as it can lead to mistakes and wasted time. Proper planning will help minimize any risks associated with shutting down or moving a data center, keeping your company safe from harm and ensuring that all necessary steps are taken before shutdown takes place.
To Sum Up
The key to a successful ITAD program is planning ahead. The best way to avoid unexpected costs and delays is to plan your ITAD project carefully before you start. The best practices described in this article will help you understand what it takes to decommission an entire data center or other large facility, as well as how to dispose of their assets in an environmentally responsible manner.
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Massive Volatility Reported – Google Search Ranking Algorithm Update
I am seeing some massive volatility being reported today after seeing a spike in chatter within the SEO community on Friday. I have not seen the third-party Google tracking tools show this much volatility in a long time. I will say the tracking tools are way more heated than the chatter I am seeing, so something might be off here.
Again, I saw some initial chatter from within the SEO forums and on this site starting on Friday. I decided not to cover it on Friday because the chatter was not at the levels that would warrant me posting something. Plus, while some of the tools started to show a lift in volatility, most of the tools did not yet.
To be clear, Google has not confirmed any update is officially going on.
Well, that changed today, and the tools are all superheated today.
Google Tracking Tools:
Let’s start with what the tools are showing:
So most of these tools are incredibly heated, signaling that they are showing massive changes in the search result positions in the past couple of days.
SEO Chatter
Here is some of the chatter from various comments on this site and on WebmasterWorld since Friday:
Speaking of, is anyone seeing some major shuffling going on in the SERPs today? It’s a Friday so of course Google is playing around again.
Something is going on.
Pages are still randomly dropping out of the index for 8-36h at a time. Extremely annoying.
Speaking of, is anyone seeing some major shuffling going on in the SERPs today? It’s a Friday so of course Google is playing around again
In SerpRobot I’m seeing a steady increase in positions in February, for UK desktop and mobile, reaching almost the ranks from the end of Sep 2023. Ahrefs shows a slight increase in overall keywords and ranks.
In the real world, nothing seems to happen.
yep, traffic has nearly come to a stop. But exactly the same situation happened to us last Friday as well.
USA traffic continues to be whacked…starting -70% today.
In my case, US traffic is almost zero (15 % from 80%) and the rest is kind of the same I guess. Traffic has dropped from 4K a day to barely scrapping 1K now. But a lot is just bots since payment-wise, the real traffic seems to be about 400-500. And … that’s how a 90% reduction looks like.
Something is happening now. Google algo is going crazy again. Is anyone else noticing?
Since every Saturday at 12 noon the Google traffic completely disappears until Sunday, everything looks normal to me.
This update looks like a weird one and no, Google has not confirmed any update is going on.
What are you all noticing?
Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.
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