by Alex Kelley

Created on: July 07, 2009

Whenever you're typing something on your keypad and sending it over an Internet connection you're communicating something and enriching your on-line presence. It is easy to say too much about yourself, to give that one detail that will make the difference towards insecurity.

Here you'll find a few words of advice in what to say and what to not say in your on-line communications, in order to preserve personal security as well as security of personal information.

Social networking sites: Of course this category is at the top of the list. It is fun to have friends see your profile, your thoughts, your pictures and so on. Most such sites allow the user to set security preferences and thus limit the information that is available to people that are not directly connected to you. However, you should think twice before posting something too personal on-line, even if it is protected by the profile settings. That doesn't guarantee to the extreme the situation in which one of your connections isn't who you think it is, or has hidden intentions.

Forums and blogs: Nothing wrong with maintaining a blog, or with participating in various discussion forums. Talking about your experience or hobbies, giving advice about certain things you're familiar with, or simply writing some ideas that have been going through your head recently that's why you have the Internet. Just make sure you don't accidentally mention that you're single, live on ABC street and that you'll be away for a two-month vacation, or you just invited a couple burglars for a quick visit.

Although Twitter is more part of the social networking sites, the recommendation referring to it falls under the "forums and blogs"category. It is easy to get caught up in constantly updating your followers where you are and what you're doing to the point that anybody following you on-line knows your routine perfectly.

E-mail: See that e-mail from John that says Re: haven't talked to you in a while? Well, if you don't remember an original e-mail sent to a John, you probably don't want to open this one. Say you did make the mistake of opening it your anti virus that hopefully is up to date may start flashing that you let some trojan in. Even if it doesn't, don't respond. You really don't have to give a complete stranger any details about your life.

To say that the Internet is simplifying our lives is to greatly understate it. However, it pays to be careful about private information. There is always the option to put forward only a part of you, and save the rest for your immediate family and friends.

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