Social Media Account Protection in 2024

Social media has become an essential part of our daily lives. It’s how we keep in touch with family and friends, build professional networks, and access news and information. Platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok continue to reconfigure the way we interact with the world. But most people use these platforms with a feeling of relative safety and little concern about social media account protection for their security or information privacy.

People of all ages freely post their activity and vacation whereabouts, pictures and information about their homes and their children, personal contact information, and more, unwittingly broadcasting vulnerabilities to discerning cybercriminals.

Do you have adequate social media protections in place?

As millions more sign on to the wide array of social media platforms daily, the need for stringent social media protective measures is ramping up.  We all need to safeguard our digital identities and personal information from malicious actors. As we move further into 2024, the importance of social media protective measures cannot be overstated, especially considering predicted cybercrimes that threaten to compromise our accounts and privacy.

Social Media and Cybercrime

In recent years, cybercrimes targeting social media accounts have been on the rise. Hackers are becoming more savvy and more creative in the tactics they’re using to gain unauthorized access. From phishing scams and malware attacks to brute force password guessing and social engineering techniques, cybercriminals are constantly devising new ways to exploit weaknesses in social media platforms and exploit unsuspecting users. Here are a few of the cybercrimes predicted for 2024:

• Identity Theft: With so much personal information shared on social media, identity theft remains a common and ongoing threat. Cybercriminals may use stolen credentials to impersonate individuals, commit financial fraud, or tarnish reputations by posting harmful content under the victim's name. With AI development, even biometric identification is under attack.
  

• Ransomware Attacks: Ransomware attacks targeting social media accounts are expected to increase as well. Hackers may encrypt account data in a DDos (distributed denial of service) attack or threaten to release sensitive information unless a ransom is paid, causing significant distress and reputational damage to victims.
  

• Data Breaches: Social media platforms store a huge cache of user data, making them prime targets for data breaches. In 2024, we can anticipate an uptick in breaches resulting from vulnerabilities in platform security.
  

• Deepfake Manipulation: The growing proliferation of deepfake technology poses a unique threat to social media users, enabling the creation of fake but highly convincing videos or audio recordings. In 2024, we may see an increase in deepfake manipulation aimed at spreading disinformation, manipulating public opinion, or defaming individuals.
  

• Account Takeovers: Social media account takeover attacks are expected to become more prevalent in 2024. Once compromised, attackers may exploit the account to spread malware, conduct phishing campaigns, or engage in other fraudulent activities, posing significant risks to both the account owner and their contacts.

Your Social Media Account Protection

Putting protective security measures in place is essential to safeguard your social media accounts and preserve your digital privacy. Here are some proactive steps you can take today to enhance your security posture:

1. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Implementing 2FA adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to provide a secondary form of verification, such as a code sent to their mobile device, in addition to their password when logging in. Multi-factor authentication is even better.

2. Regularly Update Passwords: Regularly updating passwords and using strong, unique passwords for each social media account can help mitigate the risk of unauthorized access through brute force attacks or credential stuffing.

3. Exercise Caution with Third-Party Apps: Be cautious when granting permissions to third-party apps or services that request access to your social media accounts. Limit access to only trusted applications and review permissions regularly to revoke access from unnecessary or suspicious apps.

4. Watch Carefully for Phishing Attempts: Be wary of unsolicited emails, messages, or links supposedly from social media platforms, even if they look real, as they may be phishing attempts aimed at stealing login credentials or spreading malware. Red flags should wave if the message sounds too good to be true, is poorly written, or creates some sense of dire consequences or urgency to act immediately. Verify the authenticity of communications directly through known official channels. Don’t click any links! (Until it stops happening, we have to keep warning about it!)

5. Monitor Your Account Activity: Regularly review your social media account activity and settings for any signs of unauthorized access or suspicious behavior. Social media platforms are free to add new features whenever they want to – it’s up to you to control permissions. Report any unusual activity to the platform's support team and take prompt action to secure your account.

Here’s our List of 21 Ways to Protect Your Social Media Accounts.

Make social media protective measures a priority today. It’s essential for safeguarding your accounts and personal information from becoming targets for cybercrime. Pay attention, follow best practices for account security, and stay informed about emerging threats so that you can be empowered to enjoy the benefits of social media while minimizing risk. Gold Comet stands ready to work with you to create a safer and more secure online environment for your information privacy.