Help & FAQ / Security Center

At Netlog, we take security very seriously. Take a few minutes to read through Netlog’s security center and learn how to protect your account and computer, but also how to use the Internet in a safe way.

Helpful Sites

Recent Threat: The Koobface Worm

If spam messages have been sent from your account, your computer may have been infected with the Koobface virus. We advise you to:

  • Run a virus scan on your computer. If you don’t have anti-virus software on your computer, you can use one of the sites from the list of helpful sites.
  • Edit your password. You can do this here. Enter your current and new password and hit the 'Change password' button.
  • Warn your friends who received the spam not to click on the links and to delete the private messages immediately.

Be wary of so-called Netlog programs from different sources than Netlog's download pages or brand pages.

You might have come across programs like the Netlog Friend Adder, which enables you to add more friends automatically. This in itself is not a threat, as Netlog has spam filters that will prevent you from adding too many friends in too little time. However, the tool itself can affect your personal safety: Netlog can give no guarantees about the quality or safety of such programs. You never know if these tools contain viruses or other malware. Moreover, if you have to enter your Netlog nickname and password in the tool, there's no guarantee that the creator of the tool isn't saving those credentials himself too and using them for the wrong purposes. Remember that the only programs you can fully trust are the ones on our download pages or brand pages, which have always been reviewed by Netlog. This is why we would definitely advise you against downloading any other 'Netlog tools'.

Tips

  • Choose a strong password. Don’t use common words, but include letters, numbers and symbols. Make your password at least 6 characters long. Don’t use personal information (your birthday, your boyfriend's name...) in your password.
  • Keep your password safe. Don't use the same password on multiple sites. Don't write your password down and make sure to change it from time to time.
  • Never give out your password to anyone. Be cautious if someone is asking you for a password, even if he or she is claiming to be a Netlog employee or a police officer. Netlog admins will never ask for your password.
  • If you feel that someone is using your account, immediately change the passwords of both your Netlog profile and the e-mail address(es) linked to it. Always log out of your account when you're using public computers and make sure your login details are not remembered. Never save cookies on computers that are not accessed by yourself only.
  • Don't click on links or messages that you don’t trust. Delete the message instead. If you've received a suspicious link from a friend, let him or her know.
  • Beware of phishing: attempts to steal login information by acting as a trustworthy site. Users are asked to enter login details at a fake website which looks almost identical to the legitimate one.
  • If you notice abuse on Netlog, report it to us. In most cases, you can use our automatic abuse report function (i.e. the “Report an abuse” button for abusive pictures, for example). If you feel that your abuse report requires some extra explanation, you can contact abuse-en@netlog.com and we will surely get back to you.
    If you feel that someone is in immediate and urgent danger, contact the police. Netlog closely collaborates with eCops http://www.ecops.be, an online reporting service to which the Internet user can report crimes committed on or through the Internet. Netlog actively reports illegal abuses to them.
  • Use the settings and features Netlog provides:

    Blacklist: When someone is bothering you on Netlog, you can put this person on your blacklist. Go to this user’s profile and click “Add to blacklist” in the white box on the right. Blacklisted users cannot visit your profile. They will also be unable to send you private messages, write in your guestbook, comment on your pictures/blog messages etc.

    Privacy settings: Netlog offers you a set of privacy settings. Now you have absolute control over who can visit your profile, who can view your pictures, who can comment on your items, how you wish to be found, etc. You can also choose to read and approve all the comments before they are posted on your profile.

  • Keep personal information private. Exchanging phone numbers, e-mail addresses or home addresses can be dangerous. Never post someone else’s personal information. If someone else is posting private information about you, talk to that person and ask him/her to delete the content. If he or she doesn’t want to listen, contact Netlog.
  • Think before you post. Don't post something embarrassing that you'll regret later. Keep comments clean and respectful. Don't respond in an offensive way to content you don't like. Instead, report the content to Netlog. Don't post violent content or content that is encouraging violent or illegal behaviour. Refuse to forward cyberbullying messages. Instead, talk to the bully and convince him or her that this is not an appropriate way of acting. If he or she doesn't want to hear you, report to a teacher or parent, and to Netlog.
  • Don't imitate people or steal content. Taking someone's picture or text is just like stealing from a store.
  • Don't spam. Everyone hates spam. To get more visitors to your page, it's more worthwhile to post interesting, new and refreshing content that people actually want to see. Posting repetitive content to get more visitors is only annoying.