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The Brumby Government today released a list of security tips to help Victorians protect their privacy on online social networking sites.

Deputy Premier and Attorney-General Rob Hulls said the tips would be posted on the Department of Justice website (www.justice.vic.gov.au) ahead of Privacy Awareness Week 2008 from August 24-30.

'Social networking sites such as Facebook are a fast-growing phenomenon,' Mr Hulls said.

'While these networks are a great way to keep in contact, many people don't recognise the inherent privacy risks associated with their use.

'Social network users need to realise that the information and photos they put into cyberspace in some cases can be seen by others and can leave a digital tattoo that can be difficult to erase.

'This can affect them in the real world - if not immediately, then sometime in the future. The latest research from the US suggests 44 per cent of employers are now using sites like MySpace and Facebook to research job candidates.'

Mr Hulls said two of the biggest risks associated with social networking sites were not being able to effectively control who has access to the information you post, or the information others post about you. He said anyone thinking of using a social networking site should plan ahead to help prevent privacy breaches.

'It is good to ask someone who uses the site about their experience first, and think about what information you will include in your profile - as a general rule, it's best not to publish information you would not want the world to know,' he said.

'Ensure privacy settings are adequately adjusted and try to respect others' privacy by asking permission before posting something relating to them.

'Avoid responding to messages from people you don't know. Any attempts to threaten or harass someone through these sites should be reported to the police.'

Privacy Awareness Week coincides with the anniversary of the introduction of the Information Privacy Act, which created a transparent regime for the management by government of personal information.

As part of this year's Privacy Awareness Week activities, the Department of Justice and the Department of Education & Early Childhood Development will host an Online Privacy Seminar on the Implications of Social Networking Websites for Victorian public sector staff.

Details of Privacy Awareness Week events and activities are available at www.privacyawarenessweek.org

Tips to minimise the risks of online networking sites

1. Plan before you start. If you are thinking about joining a particular site, ask someone you know who already uses it to demonstrate its features and how they use it.

2. Consider your profile. In order to interact online with a friend, either one of you must usually send the other person a request via the website and this request must be accepted. Once accepted, the technology permits each person to view the other's profile, pictures and send messages. As a general rule, do not publish information you want the world to see.

3. Protect your privacy. While most sites have privacy settings you can adjust to control others' access to your profile and the information you post, the default setting is usually set to open access. If you only want your profile to be accessible to those you have registered as 'friends', make sure you adjust it. You might need to click on a link to a privacy page.

4. Guard against identity theft. Don't assume that anything you post online is completely private or limited to certain groups, or that the passwords you set up cannot be accessed through inadequate software protection. Even basic information, such as an address, birthday, photo, or mobile number can be coupled with other public information, enabling someone to steal your identity.

5. Respect the privacy of others. Remember that everyone has different comfort levels when it comes to their privacy. Ask permission before posting information, photos or videos, and respect the choices people make.

6. Stay safe. In the vast majority of cases, people's experiences of social networking are positive and fun-filled. But it's best to avoid responding to messages from people you don't know. If you feel threatened or harassed by a contact, you can remove that person as a friend, preventing them from interacting with you. If the matter escalates, you can report persistent or unwelcome contact to the police.

7. Use the most appropriate method of communication. When you want to communicate with a single friend or select group of people only, it may be better to communicate directly by email. If you advertise a party on your Facebook or MySpace page, for example, you might run a risk of a lot of unexpected guests.

8. Understand the site's privacy policy and privacy settings. Consider the strength of assurances given about privacy and security on the sites you visit, and the conditions of acceptance. You might find that you are being asked to consent to wider commercial uses of your information.

9. Remember that it's hard to control the information once it is out there. In the online environment, privacy once lost can be extremely hard to retrieve. You can update your profile, but the comments you publish on your space or on someone else's will probably stick around for a long time, even if you de-register your profile.

10. Report Abuse or misuse. All websites have 'Contact Us' sections. Use these details to report abuse or misuse.