Device Security Tips for Social Media Startups and Marketers

  • Date: 31 August 2020
  • reading time: 3 Minutes
  • Blogger: Brad Smith


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Here are some effective security tips all Social Media Startups and Marketers should look into.

You spend most of your time every day on your digital devices, both at and off work. But have you been paying enough effort to properly secure your devices? Since the mass adoption of the internet at the turn of the century occurred, social media marketing has taken over. Beforehand, small and large businesses had to rely on newspapers, the radio, and TV stations for advertisements. Today, with low budgets, promotions can be run on social media for firms of all sizes.

 

Nevertheless, the unpleasant part of adopting the internet came attached to its benefits. Cybercriminals started targeting social media startups and marketers. Since social networks collect a lot of data about individuals, they make juicy targets. In the case of a hack, the information would be sold to malicious individuals or corporations.

Data Breaches of Social Networking Websites

Some high profile social media websites have had sensitive amounts of data stolen from them. In July 2020, cybercriminals accessed Twitter’s administrative tools to hack prominent accounts. Over $100,000 in cash was lost because of the hack.

In September 2018, at least 50 million Facebook accounts got compromised. Allegations were made stating that the data breaches were used to influence elections in the United States. As a result, some firms and individuals distanced themselves from the social media company.

If you run a social networking website firm or you’re a social media influencer, follow the tips below to boost your digital security.

Measures to be used in Protecting your Social Media Accounts

1. Protect your CRM Platform

If you run a startup that is based on social media, your firm most likely uses a Customer Relations Management (CRM) platform. CRM platforms save a wealth of customer data, mostly for advertising. Hence, hackers are attracted to them, like bees to honey.

Utilizing strengthened and secure passwords wouldn’t be enough to secure that amount of sensitive data. First, your team would need to undergo rigorous training on cybersecurity. Administrative access to the CRM platform would also have to be restricted.

If possible, your firm can embed tracking software to observe which accounts login to the platform. Logins to the admin dashboard should also be made only from work devices.

2. Use a VPN before Accessing your Account

laptop and a woman

A Virtual Private Network is a tool that establishes a sheltered connection to a different network from your device. This way, hackers would not be able to view your social media passwords when you attempt to login.

Social media marketers are always on the go and sometimes use public Wi-Fi. Some cybercriminals are consistently connected to free Wi-Fi, searching for data to steal. Without this tool, the hacker could spy on your login details.

On the other hand, if you download a VPN app for use before connecting to hacked public Wi-Fi, the criminal would be unable to snoop on your data. Everything you do would be protected, even from your Internet Service Provider.

Social media firms also need this tool to log in remotely. If your firm has a freelance worker accessing the administrative dashboard from another location, you’ll need to make sure he/she is protected.

3. Create A Strong Password

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Avast, an antivirus firm, in research conducted in 2019, stated that 83% of US citizens use weak passwords to protect their accounts. Passwords that can easily be guessed can allow ease of access to a hacker.

If you’re a social media influencer or social networking company employee, your digital security is critical. Chances are you’ll be targeted for attacks more than the rest of the population. Create a complex password with a mix of lower and uppercase letters and symbols.

If you’re not good at creating and storing passwords in your head, utilize a password manager.

Conclusion

Startups and marketers that are focused on social media naturally become targets of hacks. This is because of the massive amounts of customer data they hold. Some startups fail in the early stages because of hacks since consumer trust gets lost.

To protect your accounts, you can use a VPN, create strong passwords, and limit access to your CRM platform.

Would you like to learn more about social media marketing, sales funnels, and marketing in general? Then our Social Media Gids Community might be worth checking out. On this platform, you can access all our training material and discuss your progress with like-minded entrepreneurs. Contact us for more info, so we can tell you precisely what you can expect from your subscription.

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  • Blogger: Brad Smith
  • Technology Expert at TurnOnVPN
  • Brad Smith is a technology expert at TurnOnVPN, a non-profit promoting a safe and free internet for all. He writes about his dream for free internet and unravels the horror behind big techs.
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