In light of Facebook's Cambridge Analytica Situation, what should I do to help protect my data?

Question: Facebook told me my data wasn't shared with Cambridge Analytica, which is a relief. But now I'm spooked. What's to keep other bad actors from collecting it, and how do I prevent that from happening?

Answer: As has always been the case with keeping your data private on Facebook, the key lies in the application's settings. If you choose to continue using Facebook, take the following precautions to keep your data safe.

1. On your Facebook home page, click the down-arrow in the upper-right corner of the screen. From the list, select Settings.
2. In the left column, click Apps and Websites.
3. Review the apps and websites Facebook has access to, and follow the instructions to remove those you no longer use or don't trust.
4. Now, back in the left column, select Ads.
5. Follow the instructions to adjust how Facebook targets ads to you.
6. While you're at it, go through the other areas in the left column, including Security and Login, Privacy, and Timeline and Tagging, to make sure these settings are as you want them.
7. Now might also be a good time to go through your friend list and remove those people you don't really know or communicate with.
8. Finally, be choosy about what you click on within Facebook. Cambridge Analytica was able to gather data from users who clicked on an innocent-seeming personality quiz.
   
   
   

Remember, though, the best way to protect your data is to limit how much you provide in the first place. Sharing many details of your life may be fun, but no privacy setting on a social media platform is completely

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