Why Now’s the Perfect Time to Rethink Your Social Media Security

Last week’s Meta outage was a stark reminder of our dependence on digital platforms. While the technical glitches were temporary, they once again highlighted the utmost importance of online security, especially for businesses that rely heavily on social media.

Here’s how to ensure your social media accounts remain secure, even during unexpected disruptions.

Fortify Your Accounts

The first line of defense will always be robust account security. As much as it is the easiest route to take, you should avoid using the same password for multiple accounts at all costs. Utilize complex passwords with a combination of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. If you use the same password for everything, then all it takes is for someone with bad intentions to know the password of one of your social media accounts to ruin everything. Consider password managers to generate and store strong passwords securely.

Moreover, enable Two-factor authentication (2FA) on all your social media accounts as this adds an extra layer of security by requiring a secondary verification code beyond your password during login attempts.

Stay on alert for possible Cyber Attacks

Ever see those suspicious links and attachments you get on emails and messages? Don’t ever click on them. Suspicious links or download attachments from unknown senders should be included on your red flags list for possible social media security breaches, even if they appear to be from colleagues or social media platforms.

In addition, always verify information independently. Confirm requests or account changes by contacting the platform directly through official channels, not through links embedded in messages.

While not a security attack in general, the Meta outage should still serve as a valuable learning experience on what it means to be locked out of your business’s social media accounts. By prioritizing account security and staying alert to scams, you can ensure your social media presence remains resilient and secure, even in the face of unforeseen disruptions. Digital security is an ongoing process, so always stay informed of new ways to secure your social media accounts and adapt. (GFB)