The adivse below is good at any time of the year. This is from "Broadcast Dialogue" Magazine web page.
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December 17, 2011
Security Consulting Firm Warns Against Posting Holiday Travel Plans on Social Media
Risk Management Advisors Inc., a corporate and personal security firm, is warning holiday travelers to avoid posting their travel plans on social media sites, such as Facebook, to avoid their homes being targeted by burglars. Similarly, shoppers should resist the urge to broadcast their location on Twitter or through “geotagging” which posts the users exact location on Facebook and other sites.
“Parents need to be especially vigilant in watching what their children post on social media websites. Kids might brag about going on a ski vacation or post their current location as home alone while the parents are out shopping. This is dangerous information if it falls into the hands of the wrong people,” said William B. Connors Jr., founder and CEO of Risk Management Advisors, which for two decades has provided security and protection to leading corporations and figures both in the United States and overseas.
“As we saw the hacking of Mr. Zuckerberg’s own Facebook page, there is no such thing as 100 percent privacy on social media websites, and even so-called friends may not really be friends. It’s best to not put anything on the Internet that could be used to find you or your home.”
RMA offers the following tips for using social media safely:
1. If traveling out of town, wait until you return home to post photographs and details about your trip. Don’t do it while you are away. Criminals search for personal information on Facebook profiles and may discover an opportunity to burglarize your empty house.
2. If you or your children are home alone for the day or the weekend, never post it as a status update on Facebook or tweet it.
3. Thoroughly examine all the privacy options Facebook offers for the accounts of everyone in the family and choose the most restrictive settings. Review with your children who is on their friend’s list and verify they are truly friends.
4. Do not post dates of birth and other sensitive personal information. Be aware not to accidentally publish answers to security questions, such as mother’s maiden name, the town you were born in or your favorite movie. Also avoid giving out information that could help narrow down your location, such as which high school a student attends.
5. Turn off “geotagging” on Twitter and other social media sites to avoid telling strangers where you are and where you are not.
About Risk Management Advisors Inc.
Risk Management Advisors Inc., based in Rockland, Mass., is a global security company helping clients prepare for worst-case scenarios, prevent crises, and protect themselves, their employees and their property for nearly 20 years. The team of professionals at RMA provides security, protection and investigative services to corporations and individuals who want to identify and manage risks to personnel and property. For more information about RMA, visit http://www.RMAprotect.com