Blogger Precautions (Please Read!)

I found this on my friend's blog and thought it was great advice. I have had this on my mind lately, and I've seen it a lot on the news. It's pretty scary how much people can find out about you just from reading your blog. I have been a little worried and have noticed that a few friends have made their blogs private (something I don't really want to do). Here are a few other ideas to secure your blog. I though I'd share the tips I found:

Go into "my settings" and then go to "Settings", select "Basic" and it will say: "Add your blog to our listings?" SELECT NO (this means that when you update your blog it does not show up on the blogger homepage or any other page as being updated - very important)

Also on that same page it will say: Let search engines find your blog? SELECT NO (this means that search engines can not bookmark your site at all -important if you are a family)(Scroll down and click Save Changes)

Next go to "Comments" (still in settings) it will say: Who Can Comment? SELECT REGISTERED USERS - includes OpenID (this means that only people who can comment are those with gmail accounts - or who have active blogs open - this helps eliminate computers from spamming)

On the same page it will say: Enable comment moderation? SELECT YES (this means that no comments will post to our blog with out you approving them first - this way you can axe anything before it shows up)

Same Page- It will say: Show word verification for comments? SELECT YES (this is super annoying, but important to stop spam and deter unwanted comments because it's an extra step) Scroll down and click Save Changes

LAST THING- Never mention last names, show your address or town and try to not tell the full names of anyone else on your blog either. Also don't post birthday specifics or when you'll be out of town. All of that will just lead to a home alone movie where the burglars find out when you are leaving. Leave that kind of stuff to personal emails to family or blog about it when you get home. Also try to respect friends privacy by not posting photos that could embarrass. The Internet is really quite insane. Once it's on the web it's ALWAYS on the web so post with courtesy and care. All in all these are safe blogging tips. the first few are really important as they block the search engines from seeing your blog!

I just wanted to add that if you do not choose to secure your blog as mentioned, could you family and friends please only put our first names on your blog lists? I would really appreciate it. Please feel free to share these tips with your friends & family so that we can all be safe online.