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Social (Media) Security for Writers

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In my last Social Media Review – Bon Voyage, Writers! I advised why leaving social media marketing accounts inactive for a significant amount of time could send undesirable signals to fans as well as hackers. And, with the beat of the Heartbleed bug still resonant, I think that the time has come to look at the other cyber security risks that writers could face.

It’s all very well me recommending that you sign up for an email account and set up writer profiles on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and alike. But, as with all online marketing activities, the risks need to be considered and mitigated so here’s some advice to keep you super-shrewd:

Are you password savvy?

  • Do use a combination of letters and numbers in your online passwords.
  • Don’t share your passwords with anyone else.
  • Do change your password regularly.
  • Don’t use the same password across all online accounts.

Do you ride on the free Wi-Fi bandwagon?

  • Don’t use open networks to log in to social media, log in to secure networks.
  • Do use a 3G internet connection and Virtual Private Network (VPN), wherever possible.
  • Do use your device’s (laptop, smartphone or iPad) inbuilt security and make sure that the firewall is active.
  • Do use HTTPS at the start of URLs for any social media websites  where possible e.g. https://twitter.com/ChiCopywriter

Is Heartbleed giving you a nosebleed?

  • The Heartbleed bug is a serious vulnerability in the open-source OpenSSL software library.
  • SSL is an encryption technology which enables web users to protect the privacy of their communications via the Internet.
  • Websites such as Facebook.com feature a padlock icon before the URL, this demonstrates that your communications with that website are encrypted so that third parties aren’t able to read information that you send and receive.
  • There’s been a flaw with this “protective” device for around two years, meaning that private communications and data have been exposed.
  • According to Mashable, social media websites that may have been affected (and therefore social media accounts you should change your passwords for) include: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Tumblr.
  • While it’s thought that Twitter wasn’t affected by the bug, it’s wise to change your password to stay on the side of caution – especially if you’ve discovered you’re not password savvy!

Here’s hoping that this month’s Social Media Review helps you to stay safe while you maintain your online presence. Getting your words out there can be a risky enough game but this chunk of Social (Media) Security should ease your worries and clear the path for you to continue connecting with fellow writers safely and successfully.

Who is Chichester Copywriter?

This Social Media Review is brought to you by Katy Lassetter of Chichester Copywriter. Katy has also provided social media marketing consultation services to a number of authors and creative events, including: Jane Rusbridge (Bloomsbury) and Mary Atkinson (Gaia, Carlton Books, Godsfield Press). This service includes training on how to set up, optimise and manage Facebook pages, Twitter accounts, LinkedIn accounts, Pinterest accounts and blogs.

Katy is running her third Writers’ Retreat weekend on 5th-6th July, 2014. This time it will be in Arundel, West Sussex and attendees will get the chance to quiz Katy on social media marketing and copy-editing as well as attend workshops and talks with Sussex authors and publishers. You can grab tickets at the early-bird rate until 10th May!

Discover more about Chichester Copywriter’s social media marketing services for writers and creative events on her website. Alternatively, contact Katy to arrange a free consultation or to book a place at her Writers’ Retreat.

Author information

Katy Lassetter
Katy Lassetter, otherwise known as Chichester Copywriter, offers a wide range of creative yet professional marketing services, including: copywriting for websites (Search Engine Optimisation); proofreading and copy-editing; and social media marketing and training. An impressive portfolio of clients throughout the UK includes Cambridge International Examinations. As a keen poet and writer of children’s and YA fantasy fiction, Katy knows how important it is to be inspired to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard). In 2011, this led her to start organising Writers’ Retreats and Creative Writing Workshops with published authors and industry specialists on the South Coast. Katy was published in Poetry & All That Jazz in 2012 and will be published in Once Upon a Touch...Story Massage For Children in 2013. When not writing, Katy enjoys visiting her local library to stock up on audiobooks and visiting tapirs in zoos.

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