Privacy tips

As Facebook continues to grow, users' privacy settings undergo frequent changes. If you open your own profile's settings by clicking on 'Account' at the top right of the FB menu, then selecting 'Privacy Settings', you will find dozens of options. DW's Interactive Team has come up with five tips to help you stay in control.

1. First of all, here's how to avoid having unwanted guests come to your events. Anyone can create an event, by clicking the Events tab on the left side of their homepage (if it doesn't appear there, just search for 'Events' in the search area at the top of your homepage). Then click on the tab '+ Create an Event.' On the first screen that comes up, uncheck the option "Anyone can RSVP and come to this Event (public event)." It is pre-checked by default, so it is important to do this every time.

2. Control how much of your profile friends – and strangers – can see it. When you go to your privacy settings, you will find four different configurations for who can view your profile: 'Everyone', 'Friends of Friends', 'Friends Only', and 'Recommended'. All users start out at 'Recommended'.

It takes a few steps to change the default settings. First, click the small blue 'Customize settings' tab at the bottom of the rubric. That will take you to a new window. Once you make your changes, you have to click on the 'Back to Privacy' tab at the top of the page. Lastly, click 'Apply These Settings' to put them into effect.

Among the fields in the Recommended configuration, you might want to change the three things Everyone – even people who are not your friends – can see: 'Your status, photos and posts,' 'Bio and favorite quotations,' and 'Family and relationships.' You might also want to change 'Places you check into.' That's another can of worms, but you can investigate this option by clicking the 'Customize settings tab' at the bottom of the Privacy Settings rubric.

3. Know your apps. Among the coolest innovations on FB are apps that let you play games, post classified ads, and do a variety of other tasks. Some apps cull information from your profile or make regular posts to your wall. To control what information you are sending and receiving, go here: Privacy Settings > Apps and Websites > Edit your settings.

4. FB now lets you access your profile with a secure connection known as HTTPS. This kind of link is designed to protect your data even when you are using an insecure connection like a public Wi-Fi signal. To enable HTTPS on FB, click on the Account tab at the top right of the FB menu and select Account Settings. Then open the Account Security tab and put a check in the box for 'Secure browsing (HTTPS).'

5. Check your privacy settings regularly. Since FB regularly modifies the options, it's a good idea to visit this part of your profile every few weeks or so. That may seem like a chore, but it's well worth the trouble as long as the World Wide Web remains akin to the Wild, Wild West.

Author: Shant Shahrigian

Editor: Nicole Goebel