We all know the drill—social media makes life easier. Whether you’re reconnecting with long-lost pals, promoting your side hustle, or watching endless cat videos, it’s where we spend hours. But here’s the kicker: hackers love it, too. They don’t care if you’re just posting pics of your dog in a sweater or tweeting about the latest episode of your favorite show. They want your account, and they’ll find any weak spot to get it.

Anyway, I’ve been there. You know, the feeling when you log in one morning and—boom—your password’s been changed, and some mysterious stranger is posting about crypto scams on your feed. Yikes, right? Well, after a couple of those heart-racing experiences, I figured out a thing or two about how to keep your social media profile secure from hackers. So, buckle up, because we’re about to dive into some steps to keep your accounts locked down.

Why Should You Care About Social Media Security?

It might seem obvious, but let’s break it down. Social media isn’t just for fun—it’s a treasure trove of personal info. You’ve got everything from your date of birth to your favorite brunch spots. For businesses, it’s even worse: an account hack could tarnish your reputation, mess with customer trust, and, well, cost you a ton of business.

I learned the hard way that being complacent with security is like leaving your front door wide open for burglars. Seriously. Just ask my cousin Craig, who once had his Facebook account hijacked by some random dude who posted weird messages about buying magic beans. (Long story, but the moral is: take security seriously.)

1. Set Strong, Unique Passwords

Let’s talk passwords, shall we? If your password is something like “password123” or, heaven forbid, your pet’s name followed by your birth year, you’re basically inviting hackers over for a free pass. So yeah, a strong password is step one. I mean, come on—password security is literally your first line of defense.

Here’s what I’ve learned:

• Length matters—longer is better. Aim for 12-16 characters.
• Get creative—throw in a mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols. It’s like building a secret fortress with a moat around it.
• Avoid personal info—you don’t want to use something like “summer2023” (trust me, that’s too obvious).
• Password manager: They’re not just for tech nerds. Trust me, you don’t want to be the person who uses “password123” for every site. A password manager will generate, store, and autofill your passwords—simple as that.

Look, I learned this the hard way. My first social media hack? I had used the same password for three accounts. Big mistake. Don’t do what I did.

2. Activate Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Alright, so imagine this: You’ve got the strongest password known to mankind. But still, you can’t rest easy. Hackers can still brute-force their way through, right? Well, that’s where two-factor authentication (2FA) comes in. Think of it like adding an extra lock to your door—and a secret handshake that only you and the app know.

I swear, when I set up 2FA for the first time, I felt like a tech genius. Here’s the lowdown:

• What’s 2FA?: It’s a second layer of security. Once you enter your password, you get a code sent to your phone or an authentication app. If someone doesn’t have access to your phone, they’re locked out. Simple.
• How to enable it: On Instagram, for instance, go to Settings > Security > Two-Factor Authentication > Turn it on. Trust me, it’s worth the effort.

Now, I know, at first, it can feel like a pain. But after a few rounds of “Hey, that’s not me trying to log in from Thailand!” you’ll get used to it. Plus, your friends will be impressed by your newfound tech savvy.

3. Watch Out for Third-Party Apps

Let me tell you a quick story: Once upon a time, I installed a third-party app to “improve” my Instagram game. I thought it was harmless, just something to help me organize posts. But guess what? A week later, I got an email saying that my account had been accessed from an unknown device. That app was a hacker’s dream come true.

Here’s the moral of the story:

• App Permissions: Always check what apps have access to your accounts. If you don’t use it anymore, revoke access.
• Stick to the trusted apps: Only download apps from official stores. Be wary of apps that offer too-good-to-be-true promises like gaining 10,000 followers overnight. Uh-uh, no thanks.

This is one of those times where I wish I had listened to my gut. Pete’s Hardware down the road sells legit stuff, but some apps? Yeah, not so much. Lesson learned.

4. Don’t Fall for Phishing

Look, phishing scams are sneaky. They’ll come at you like an old-school con artist, pretending to be from a legit source—your bank, Facebook, or Instagram. They might even sound like they’re offering you free stuff or help with your account. And before you know it, you’ve clicked a link, handed over your details, and bam, hackers are in.

Here’s a simple rule of thumb:

• Check the links: Always hover your mouse over a link before you click it. If the URL seems off (like, really off), don’t click.
• Free stuff? Nope: If they’re offering “free” things that sound too good to be true, you’re right—it’s a trap.
• Look for typos: Sometimes, phishing emails have a wonky tone—maybe even a random spelling mistake. Red flag, folks.

I learned this after receiving an email from “Faceboook Support” (yeah, with three o’s). I thought, “Eh, what’s the worst that could happen?” Big mistake. Now, every time I see a suspicious link, I’m like, “Nope, not today, Satan.”

5. Regularly Update Security Settings

Fast forward past three failed attempts to change my security settings. Yeah, I get it. But really, updating your settings regularly? It’s a game-changer.

Here’s what I do:

• Login alerts: I get an email if someone tries to log into my account from an unknown device. Not ideal if you’re a night owl, but worth it.
• Active sessions: I review the list of devices logged into my accounts every couple of weeks. Trust me, you don’t want to leave a device in your ex’s basement with access to your accounts. That’s a whole other mess.
• App permissions again: I’ve learned to periodically revoke app access, especially after realizing I gave my old pizza delivery app permissions to access my Facebook.

Anyway, get in the habit of checking your settings. It only takes five minutes, and it’s worth it.

6. Keep Public Wi-Fi Out of Your Social Media Plans

Alright, so you’re at Starbucks, sipping your iced caramel macchiato, and the Wi-Fi is chef’s kiss perfect. But here’s the thing—public Wi-Fi? Yeah, it’s a hacker’s playground.

• Don’t log in: If you’re using public Wi-Fi, don’t log into any accounts. Simple as that.
• VPN: Virtual private networks (VPNs) are your best friend in this case. They encrypt your traffic and hide your identity.
• Turn off sharing: File sharing on public Wi-Fi is basically like leaving your social media accounts wide open. Don’t do it.

I learned this lesson after a close call while using public Wi-Fi at my favorite coffee shop. Ever since, I always use a VPN when logging into anything important. (And also, my order of a large latte is now accompanied by the phrase “No Wi-Fi for you!”)

7. Keep an Eye on Links and Attachments

I’m not proud of this, but once I opened an attachment from a “friend” who accidentally sent me a link to something “super funny.” Fast forward 15 minutes, and my account was flooded with weird posts. Yep. Phishing. Lesson learned.

• If it’s weird, don’t click: Never click on links or attachments from people you don’t know. Even if they look legit, be cautious.
• Attachments from “friends”: Sometimes your account can be hacked, and they’ll use it to send phishing messages to others. Don’t fall for it.

Now I triple-check everything. If I get a message that doesn’t seem right, I message the person directly before clicking. Safety first, y’all.

8. Secure Account Recovery Options

Let’s say the worst happens. You get locked out of your account. What then? If your recovery options are weak, hackers can take advantage of that. So, it’s critical to set these up correctly.

• Email: Use a secure, encrypted email. Make sure it’s separate from the one you use for social media.
• Phone number: If you’re using your phone number for recovery, make sure it’s not easy to guess or hack.
• Security questions: Use tough, non-obvious answers. “What’s your favorite color?” is not a good one, trust me.

“Garden Mishaps & Miracles” (1998) actually has a whole chapter on securing accounts. Seriously, it’s great for those random tech moments when you need a refresher.