Internet safety

Social networking is a phenomenon that appears to be only getting stronger as modern technology advances. Yet despite its benefits, there are privacy concerns.

Recently, four Missouri legislators and one legislative staff member became victims of cyber hacking.

Representative Donna Lichtenegger, R-Jackson, who uses her Facebook account to communicate with her constituents, is one of the legislators to have a Facebook account hacked.

While Lichtenegger typically uses the House's secured Internet connection, she recalls logging into the Capitol's public connection the day the fraudulent post was made on her account.

While Internet security risks to do exist, Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster recently outlined a few steps that individuals can take to protect themselves from cyber criminals.

Check your settings, and those of your children, on social networks and wireless connections. Settings for social network mediums can be changed to only allow certain information to be publicly available over the Internet.

Koster warns that making one's picture, home address, telephone number and e-mail address publicly available may precipitate online security problems. Additionally, listing one's birthplace on a social network or providing a pet's name is not advised, as this information is often used to verify one's bank account identity.

Posting vacation updates online can be an invitation to burglars. And potential employers may frown upon some information posted online, possibly preventing one from being hired.

Using wireless Internet connections also comes with risks. Koster notes that individuals should change the default router hardware identifier and password to prevent hackers from breaching the network. Using a router encryption feature is also advised. Individuals should also be aware that public Wi-Fi connections are not always secure. And always use anti-virus and anti-spyware software as a firewall.

Modern technology can be a blessing, but if prudent measures are not taken, it can also be a nightmare.