Connect safely with family
Sharing photos and updates with loved ones should bring joy, not worry. Simple steps protect your profile from strangers and spot suspicious messages.
Three rules for sharing
Protecting your personal information starts with simple daily habits. Keep these three core safety rules in mind whenever you log on.
Verify old friends
Lock your profile
Skip viral quizzes
Adjust your platform settings so only approved friends can see your family photos, daily updates, and personal posts.
If a friend suddenly sends an unusual message asking for money or urgent help, pause. Call them directly to check.
Fun online games often ask for your childhood pet or birthplace. Scammers use these answers to guess your passwords.
Spot the red flags
Accepting every request
Double-check the sender
Approving friend requests from strangers exposes your phone number, location, and family details to potential scammers looking for targets.
Only connect with people you already know in person. If an existing friend sends a new request, verify it first.
Answers for families
Why do strangers add me?
What if I clicked a link?
Some accounts are automated bots or scammers trying to gain access to your friend list. Declining unknown requests keeps your network secure.
Do not panic. Immediately close the window, change your social media password, and run a quick scan with trusted security software.
Are online games safe?
How do I spot fake accounts?
Most simple games are harmless, but quizzes asking personal questions are designed to harvest security answers. It is safest to skip them.
Fake accounts often have very few photos, post repetitive links, or send urgent messages immediately after you accept their request.