Limit Your Exposure to Facebook Spam & Scams by Beefing Up Your Account’s Privacy Settings

With the amount of survey scams, malware-laden links and hoaxes roaming around Facebook, users are scrambling to stay informed about the latest threats to minimize their chances of getting tangled in a scammer’s web of lies or going to war against a malicious program that’s found its way onto their PC.

While it’s important that folks stay up-to-date on the latest threats lurking in the shadows of Facebook, it may be time that they adjust their account privacy settings to prevent evil-doers from sending them bogus messages demanding they confirm their identity to avoid their account from being closed or harvest personal data by telling them they’ve won a fake Facebook lottery.

Update Your Private Settings to Change How You Connect

Changing your privacy settings is not hard, although Facebook is well known for making it confusing on folks.

Here’s how you can reach the privacy settings that will help you hide from ill-willed Facebookers:

1. Click the arrow in the top right corner of the page and select ‘Privacy Settings.’


2. Click the ‘Edit Settings’ link next to ‘How You Connect’


3. Adjust the settings for each option available to minimize the chances of spam or scams reaching your account:
   
   
   
   • Who can look up your profile by name or contact info? Change this to either Friends or Friends of Friends to keep cybercrooks from tracking you down on Facebook to include you into their latest spam or scam campaign.
   
   
   • Who can send you friend requests? I recommend changing this to ‘Friends of Friends’, especially if you’re receiving a lot of friend request spam. You can always send someone that’s outside your circle of friends a friendship request as necessary.
   
   
   •  Who can send you Facebook messages? Change this to ‘Friends of Friends’ to limit your chances of having your inbox filled with spam messages.
   
   
   • Who can post on your Wall? Unless you’re one to accept random friend requests from people who turn around and flood your Wall with junk, there’s no reason to worry about this setting – you can leave it be to allow Friends to post on your Facebook Wall.
   
   
   • Who can see Wall posts by others on your profile? This setting applies more to general privacy rather than keeping spammers away. If you don’t want random people seeing what your friends are posting on your Wall, then its best you set this one to ‘Friends’ or ‘Only Me’.
   
   
   
   


4. Once you’ve changed everything to reflect your desired settings, press ‘Done’.

There you have it! Now not only do you have a better understanding of what is allowed on your Facebook account, but depending on your set preferences you should have lessened your chances of experiencing a run-in with a Facebook scammer.

Of course, it’s still up to you whether or not that suspicious link is clicked or your personal data is shared through some survey in hopes of receiving some gift card or whatever other special prize is being promoted.

Always remain skeptical of free offers and proceed with caution when clicking links leading to videos on external websites as you may be entering scam or malware territory.

Be sure to follow us on Twitter at @hyphenet or “Like” us on Facebook to stay up-to-date on the latest computer security threats – whether they’re on or off Facebook.

Photo Credit: dkalo