There are some 3.6 billion social media users worldwide, with that number going up by at least another billion within the next few years. That’s… that’s a lot of accounts. And that’s also a lot of targets for hackers and other bad actors to try and take advantage of. It’s no wonder that the number of cyberattacks around the world increases each year.

You can help keep that number from rising too quickly. What’s more, you can protect your devices, accounts, and identity. All you need to do is follow some simple security measures.

Here are ten easy tips on how to maintain digital safety for your social media accounts and devices.

Sensible password practices

It recently hit the news that Trump’s Twitter password was “maga2020” — an easily guessable password as evidenced by a Dutch fellow who easily guessed it. It just goes to show the level of leadership the US has had to endure lately. In any case, don’t be like Donald Trump. Choose a password that would not be an obvious guess. Ideally, pick a combination of letters and numbers, but not one that could be associated with an important date. If you can add special characters such as $#&!, then do so.

Use different passwords for different accounts

If someone does manage to guess your password for one social media account, the chances are high they’re going to try using that same password on another of your social media accounts. Don’t make things easy for hackers. Use a unique password for each social media. This includes social media for which you have more than one account. If you have two Instagram accounts, for instance, use a different password for each account name.

Two-way authentication

Most major social media sites give you the option of using two-way authentication. This means that when your account is logged in to, the social media site sends a code text to a pre-registered phone number for you to then enter, thus confirming your identity before allowing you to log on.

Use caution when sharing devices

Be careful when letting someone use your phone or tablet while you’re logged into a social media account. That person can alter or snoop on your login information. If you forget, and someone else has used your device without supervision, you may want to change your login information as a precaution.

Be careful who you connect with

If you receive a request to connect from an unfamiliar person, don’t be so quick to accept that request. The account could be fake. By adding them to your friends list, you give a suspicious character access to information regarding your personal and professional connections, which could lead to trouble.

Similarly, if you receive a connection request from someone you know you are already connected with, use additional caution. The chances are even higher that it’s a fake account.

Don’t click that link!

Sometimes when a fake account does manage to connect with you, they will send you a message that includes a link — often to an image or video — suggesting you may want to see it. Some even go so far as to imply you appear in the image or video.

This is almost certainly a phishing trap, and clicking that link will expose your device, computer, or social media accounts to all manner of trouble from ransomware and spyware to downright data and identity theft.

If anything about a link sent to you on social media seems suspicious, go with your gut and don’t click it.

Don’t overshare

Be careful of what information you share on social media. Going on vacation? Wait until you return before sharing those photos. Why let anyone know when your home is going to be empty?

Similarly, use some caution when displaying information such as your address or birthday. Both are pieces of data that hackers can use to engage in identity theft or other malicious acts. The more personal information you share publicly, the easier it will be for someone to impersonate you.

Update your privacy settings

Take the time to learn where the privacy settings are on your social media account and how to change them. You want to be in control of who sees what and how much. Some people prefer to leave social media posts only visible to confirmed friends. Others make their posts fully public. Whichever you choose, you want it to be on purpose.

Keep current with antivirus updates

Ensure your devices have the latest software updates installed and that your computers have the latest antivirus defenses in place. A sad fact is that malware, spyware, viruses, and more are an almost constant threat online. You don’t want to leave your devices vulnerable.

Don’t save passwords on devices not your own

Using a friend’s computer or a computer available to the public such as a library or quick-print shop? Never save your passwords when logging in to any of your online accounts — social media or otherwise.

Some public computers will automatically delete your login information for you, but you should always select the option to not save the information yourself…just in case. If using a friend’s computer, always log out of your social media accounts when finished, and make sure you did not save the login info. Even the best of friends enjoy pranks, and you don’t want the headache of someone messing with your social media accounts.

Quick precautions now prevent big problems later

It’s easy to forget to exercise the same kind of cybersecurity concerns you give your work computer systems. This is what many hackers rely on when it comes to infiltrating your accounts and wreaking havoc.

By taking simple security measures now, you can save yourself time, expense, and numerous headaches by stopping cyber intrusions before they can start.