Facebook is not your friend.

I think one of the most-used and least-safe social media apps is Facebook. There are endless numbers of stories circulating the internet about people who tried to buy or sell things (much like Craigslist in the past) and wind up with nothing or worse. Facebook takes no steps to protect the privacy of their users. There are privacy functions, but you have to seek those out on your own and figure out what you believe is necessary or what is simply paranoia. To the best of my knowledge, discovered through years of working with scambaiters and performing my own research when asked, none of it is paranoia. Facebook is a dangerous place, where people believe only their friends and families will see the personal information they choose to share. Not at all.

Even if you choose to see me as reactionary, I urge everyone who still uses Facebook to take a few steps to protect yourself and your loved ones.

1. Do not leave your friends list public.

2. Do not allow non-friends to view any of your posts. Many of you will have already seen the bitcoin and romance scammers who show up in your replies to try and trick you into believing they're interested in something other than money. It is always money in the end.

3. Don't respond to personal ads in Facebook. I don't care if they're offering cars, clothing, puppies or furniture--the odds of you ever getting what you pay for are awful, and Facebook offers no protection or recourse when you are scammed.

4. DO NOT USE YOUR FULL NAME. Even those you consider as friends (or at least familiar) can use the information you give away against you. People who are your friends now might not always be, and whatever personal information you've given them (name, address, birthday, anniversary, other family members, even pets) some people will be very willing to either sell this information or use it for nefarious purposes of their own.