October is Cyber Security Month and every day through social media hackers are given a chance to see more than family photos or selfies.

Leah Brownridge with the Better Business Bureau says whether people are using social media for news or to connect with family, there's still risks involved.

From changing passwords to thoroughly going through privacy settings, there are many steps that can be taken to help lessen the possibility of identity theft.

Brownridge says a common mistake is sharing too much information.

"Don't post your birth date, your home address, your phone number, any kind of financial information," she says. "Those things are private and should be kept private and if you do post them they can be used to steal your identity."

Brownridge says people should also be careful they don't fall victim to clickbait.

"Scammers try to use pictures and other content to peak your emotions, tug on your heart strings," she says. "This could be pictures of animal abuse, sick children, victims of natural disasters, and what ends up happening is they're using malicious apps as phishing tools to get that personal information from you."

It's also recommended personal records and statements are checked regularly to make sure no strange activity has taken place.

To help keep social media users safe, the Better Business Bureau offers the following tips:

Hazard #1: The TMI (Too Much Information): Don't post your birth date, place of birth, home address, home/private cell phone numbers or personal account information (banking, credit cards, etc).  Identity thieves can use this data to open bank accounts, credit card accounts and even take out loans using your identity.  Other information, such as the name of your high school, sports teams or clubs, can also be used to steal your identity.

Hazard #2: Password Passivity: It's easier to keep the same password for all of your social media accounts, but if one of those accounts becomes compromised, chances are your other accounts will be too. Keep hackers at bay with different and strong passwords for each account.

Hazard #3: The Third-party Hijack: Have you ever clicked on a video or article only to be asked to download an app in order to view the content? Some third-party apps act as gateways for scammers to access and steal your personal information.

Hazard #4: Clickbait: Unfortunately, sometimes pictures that tug at the heartstrings (animal abuse, sick children or victims of natural disasters) belong to scammers using malicious apps as phishing tools to access info for identity theft and other illegal activity. Check before you click.

Hazard #5: The Over-Share: Going on vacation? Don't tell the whole world. People who broadcast their exciting travel plans all over social media are easy targets for burglars and prowlers looking for an empty house. If you are traveling, be sure to securely store your electronics before you leave.

Hazard #6: The Double Friend: Get a friend request from someone you're already friends with? Don't accept it! It could be a stranger looking to get access to your timeline information and photos.

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