Does your user name choice affects your privacy? - Blog About Life Experiences

Does your user name choice affects your privacy?

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Does your user name choice affects your privacy? -

secure usernames Regarding the safety and protection of your privacy online, we put a heavy emphasis on creating strong and effective passwords. While this is certainly an important step to take, passwords are only part of the puzzle that is changing the identity of the Internet. For each password you create online, you are also usually necessary to create or select a user name to go with it. The password may be the key that opens the door to your online account, but your user name is the door itself -. And what type of door (or username), you choose has a great effect on the security of your online presence

Why my username case?

Some sites, such as Facebook or Tumblr, use the email address you provide when you register for an account as your user name. Others, such as Twitter and Instagram, ask you to create a unique user name from a combination of letters and numbers. Unlike passwords, a user name can not be duplicated in a given site, so that your first choice may not be what you end up with. Because user names basically become your online identity, many people are protective of their own and want to use the same across the Internet. If you have already become well-known as "BobLovesCats" on Twitter, then you might also want to pull "BobLovesCats" on other social networks and email accounts as well. This allows you to connect with an audience across multiple platforms under a singular identity. - But it can also make it easier for people to follow your online activity

Many people search sites are now adding an option to search for someone by username. Spokeo and Pipl both have this option. Pipl takes a step further and connect people to their user names when you search a person by name and surname. This exposes all social media, blogs, photos and other accounts that could potentially belong to that person, meaning your account "hidden" Facebook might not be so much hidden.

Be smart when choosing user names

Since it is so easy to create that identity online with your username, it is essential to understand how to maneuver your name user so it works in your favor and help protect your identity.

1. Be aware that accounts with the same username can be easily linked. While you can use the same username for social media accounts to create a singular identity, keep in mind that this has drawbacks. First, a search that username can give someone an insight into everything you do online. This might not be a big problem when it comes to friends or random strangers, but an unprotected Twitter stream could spell disaster when it comes to getting the job you really want. As research sites more advanced people and include user names, it is good to think about which accounts you would not interconnected.

2. Do not include identifying information in your user name. This may seem obvious, but people still use their names, dates of birth and other identifying their user names information. It may be helpful to have an email address that uses your full name, especially when conducting business, but try to avoid including your first name or date of birth. This gives potential identity thieves too much information about you from the outset the bat. In addition, birth dates are often used in the password or account recovery - this is information that you are better to keep you

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3. Make sure your passwords are unique. Let's say you use the same username for your email, bank account number and social media sites. If someone manages to crack your password on an account, he or she could then try the same password with other accounts that also have the same username. It is worth to try their hand, especially considering 45% of Americans admitted to reuse the same password in a 2014 AARP study. Do not fall into the temptation to use the same password, especially for any account that shares the same user name as another. Instead, create strong, unique passwords for each online account you create -. And change them regularly

The protection of your privacy and online identity is not easy, but if you think about the big picture when creating two user names and passwords, you will already be a step forward.