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Avoiding Facebook regrets: Keep your friends close

Feds who use Facebook should follow some simple rules

The stories, rumors and media coverage about Facebook flubs might be enough to drive you away from social media for good, especially if you work for the government, where attention to proper risk management is second to none. But with some attention to detail, you can use Facebook to share photos, find old friends, keep up with your kids.

Facebook offers robust privacy settings that, if configured correctly, will let only your friends and family have access to information about you. You can even configure it so no one can search, try to contact or view anything about you unless they are a friend — someone you approve to be a guest to your profile — or a friend of a friend. That said, you need to remember that this old adage still applies: You should assume that when you post something online, the universe will see it.

When using Facebook for work, approach it with the policies, protocols and security controls that govern your enterprise.

For more advice on using Facebook in the office, check out "How to use Facebook without getting fired."

About the Author

Carlos A. Soto is a former GCN Lab technology analyst.

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