Cybersecurity · Beginner level

Beginner level · Module 4: Safe Browsing and Data Privacy · Lesson 3 of 3

Social Media and Personal Data Privacy

Control who sees your information and think before you share.

In this lesson you will

  • Adjust social media privacy settings
  • Limit personal information exposure

Key concepts

privacy settingsoversharingpersonal datadigital footprint

The lesson

Social media settings control who sees your posts, friends list, phone number and location. Review them regularly — defaults change.

Oversharing helps attackers: birthdays, family names, travel plans and workplace details are used to guess passwords, answer security questions and make scams convincing.

Treat others' data with care too: do not share photos or details of colleagues or beneficiaries without permission.

Step by step

  1. Search for yourself online.
  2. Review privacy settings on one account.
  3. Remove or restrict over-shared details.
  4. Write a personal sharing rule.

Practice activity

Review and tighten privacy settings on one social media account.

Expected result: Settings adjusted and public information reduced.

Check your understanding

  1. How can overshared details help an attacker?

    Show answer

    They help guess passwords, answer security questions and make scams convincing.

  2. Why review privacy settings regularly?

    Show answer

    Defaults and features change.

Taught live by an instructor — online or in person. Free course lessons are for self-study and do not lead to a certificate — see registration options.