How Facebook Security Affects Nonprofits

July 2, 2018

There’s a lot in the news this year about security, and much of it is targeted toward Facebook. As you know, almost 90 million users of the platform got affected by the Facebook data breach. Every day, hackers and criminals look for victims of opportunity, including nonprofit organizations. So they steal data and information, or at least cause havoc by taking control of accounts.

Fortunately, data and privacy are back in the forefront as an essential topic of discussion. But what practical things can you do to protect your organization’s information on Facebook?

One of the first things your nonprofit has to do is think through the problem of data security. Fortunately, at least three fundamental questions exist to ask to help secure your Facebook accounts and data.

1. Are you upholding your privacy standards in your Facebook activities?

In other words, think about your data policy (do you have one?). If not, this is one of the first things you should consider doing. Social Media Today has an excellent resource for how to do just that! In short, security isn’t something you should skimp on. So, make it a point to make it a strategic priority.

2. Do you have any security exposure?

Facebook stated that it’s making information about security and privacy more straightforward. As a result, many third-party articles exist on the internet. But you can also refer to the Facebook Basic Privacy Settings and Tools page. It’s essential to keep yourself informed and realizing your exposure.

3. Are third-party petitions and contest sites still effective email capture tools as people update their security settings and attitudes about sharing their personal information?

Think about that as it relates to your donors. And, if you’re interested in making sure that you’re not unwittingly providing your information to third parties, How-To Geek offers easy to follow information on how to configure your settings.

Privacy and security is one of the top conversations on social media. And it’s also a priority within all industries, including nonprofits. The public, including your donors, volunteers and champions want to take a closer look at their security settings.

Earlier this year, you probably experienced a flood of emails from all types of corporations, businesses, nonprofits. Essentially, it those emails came from anyone gathering data. Those emails informed people of changes to their terms of service for the data and information they collect. What prompted all of it? Well, new laws in Europe called the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) affects any organization (including those in the U.S.) that captures information.

You might not know it, but you may have residents of Europe on your database. As a result of your social media usage and who donates on social, you could have European residents. And that means you need to comply with the GDPR. A recent Forbes article explains the GDPR further and its impact on nonprofits.

3 Very Easy Security Steps

One of the things that happen with small nonprofit or volunteer-driven nonprofits is that the little things get missed because there’s just so much to get done. Therefore, you should do three very simple things­­—right now—to ensure a higher level of security for your nonprofit.

1. Update your nonprofit passwords regularly.

Yes, this is a pain. But having a policy where passwords get changed monthly or quarterly makes sense. It lowers the chances that your information gets used without your consent. Use two-factor authentication, and also consider the use of a digital password platform like 1Password, so you have a single encrypted password.

2. Logout of shared devices.

Often, particularly in offices, or if you travel, you might end up using a device that is not yours. When done, even if it’s in the comfort of your office, log out of the platforms used on someone else’s computer, laptop, tablet or even mobile phone. It’s an easy thing to do, but so many people miss it!

3. Keep your nonprofit anti-virus software up to date.

Every day someone sits in a room trying to create a virus that will infect your computer so that they can get access to your data, or even that of your contact list. One of the simplest things to do to prevent this from happening is always to ensure that your anti-virus software is up to date, and yes, this also applies to Apple Mac products. Don’t take the risk.

We hope that you found this article on Facebook security informative to help you protect your data! And, remember that we’re always putting out easy ideas and tips, so make sure to follow us on our YouTube channel and like our Facebook page.

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