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1. Lock down your privacy settings our Instagram is set to “public” by default, allowing anyone to see yourposts.Toprotectyour privacy, set your account to “private” so only followers you approve can see your posts, make comments, and send you direct messages. On Facebook, while you can never hide your profile pictures or cover photos, you can hide almost everythingelsefromthose outside your friends list throughyoursettings.

3. Keep track of third-party apps

Over time, you have likely connected several thirdparty applications to your Instagram account. You should regularly review these applications to ensure no suspicious connections have been made and delete any you do not recognise or no longeruse.

4. Only buy from verified profiles and brand accounts

6. Decline friend requests from anyone you do not know

Get in the habit of declining friend requests from anyone you are not familiar with. The more friends you have that you do not know, the higher the risk you will be approachedwithascam.

7. Never click on suspicious links sent to you or respond to unsolicited messages

2. Use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication

Oneoftheeasiestwaysto prevent unwanted logins onyouraccountsistouse strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication.Withthisin place, anytime someone tries logging in from an unrecognised location or device, they will also have toenteraone-timecodein addition to your username andpasswordsenttoyour phone.

Before you buy anything on social media, check to makesuretheaccountyou aredealingwithisverified. All legitimate brands on Instagram and Facebook are verified with a blue circle checkmark next to theirname.

5. Search regularly for accounts in your name

To avoid the damage of someone cloning your accounts and using these fake accounts maliciously, get into the habit of regularly searching Facebook and Instagram for your name. This only takes a minute and is an easy way to identify and reportimpostoraccounts.

Whether it is a phishing emailoraprivatemessage from a friend, avoid clicking on unsolicited videosorlinks.Ifyouthink a friend sent you something, double-check with them before clicking. Especiallywhenwhatthey sent you involves compromising information about you or says something like, “OMG! Is this you?” or “Have you seenthisyet?!”.