Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time Facebook has been in the news for its mishandling of data. In July 2012, there was a similar breach where a private security consultant used code to collect information on more than 100 million profiles. This was not seen as a hot topic because the information collected was not protected by the user and was therefore in the public domain. But it does bring up some interesting points that many users seem to forget when browsing or posting on social media.

For any social networking site, you must follow these rules:

Rule #1: Do not post private information on the Internet, regardless of security or visibility options. If you are not comfortable sharing your location with 1.1 billion users, it is strongly recommended that you avoid posting that information. Be careful who might use your profile against you.

Rule #2: Try to keep separate social media profiles for work and personal. LinkedIn and Facebook are perfect examples. LinkedIn, while useful for businesses, is not aimed at someone looking to keep in touch with friends and family. Facebook is useful for both business and personal use. But keep in mind that it is first and foremost a personal website.

Rule #3: Check your privacy settings. In recent years, Facebook has really stepped up its game on how best to protect users’ personal data. Now you can determine which posts and images can see who. You may decide that you want your friends to see your new car, but you don’t necessarily want your jealous ex to know about it. This is done simply by changing the visibility settings on each post. It can also be done globally if you prefer.

Rule #4: The Internet does not forget. Remember that ‘accidental’ drunk photo you posted online that you thought you deleted? Most likely, somewhere there is a copy that someone hooked before taking it offline. This and other posts you might have created could be used against you in malicious ways. Think before you post. In other words: ‘Never publish anything you don’t want printed on the front page of the newspaper.’

A fun case to finish. A Wisconsin man claimed that he could not pay child support. However, he posted several photos on his Facebook page that show him with several hundred dollars in cash. Needless to say, he’s probably re-examining how best to protect his data, as the judge at his hearing wasn’t amused. He probably takes the phrase “think before you post” a little more seriously now.