So THAT is what a hacker looks like.

Google the above sentence, and it’s clear I’m not alone. It felt icky and personally invasive that unbeknownst to me I was recommending diet and cleaning products to all of my friends, but luckily, the damage was minimal, and a new password did the trick.

Cyber-security is a hot topic of late, one of those matters of prudence which is easy to overlook when distracted by the excitement and possibility of new technology.

I’ll trust your organization has a crackerjack IT department keeping your computing network safe from intruders, but social media profiles are yet another point of vulnerability to be mindful of.

It’s a bit of a “no duh,” but the same rules that apply to protecting your personal online identity should likewise be applied to that of your organization.

Tips we already know, but don’t always follow:

• Use different passwords for different sites – 33% of people use the same password for every site! And don’t fret, there are a variety of nifty solutions on the market for managing that endless collection of passwords.
• Don’t use actual words as your password. Pick something difficult that combines letters and numbers
• Be aware of current hacker scams and hoaxes by following security news. Facebook’s official security page and Wired Magazine’s Threat Level are good places to start.

The silver lining:

In the case one of your organization’s profiles were to be hacked, the good news is that most people will recognize any ensuing oddball communiqués as hacking – “Why is the Ad Council pushing diet pills on me? Do they think I’m fat!?” – and once the situation is resolved, be sympathetic to your plight.

Your fans, friends and followers are equal participants in the social media space, and understand its particular vulnerabilities. After all, hacking can happen to the best of us.