Here is a direct quote from a Cyber Security expert I met at an economic development forum recently:

"If you’ve ever gone through a federal clearance, social media is your worst enemy."

He was serious. And you know what? I didn’t argue. After all, I’ve never been through a federal clearance and after he told me about the tongue-lashing he gave his sister for posting a photo of him and his kids on Facebook, I knew he was not to be tested.

It is so easy to get caught up in the social media bubble, get social media fever and adopt an attitude that it’s the best thing since sliced bread, but for many it isn’t, and it can’t be. Period.

During the course of our conversation he told me that this country really needs to wrap its arms around social media and "get a handle on it." He also told me that terrrorists are using social media to communicate and they are also conducting all kinds of intelligence to use against people.

Heck, I’m pitching social media intelligence to clients, so of course the terrorists have one-upped us all and taken it to another level. Okay, it’s probably never appropriate to joke about terrorist so I take it back, but this dude was serious and made a lot of valid points. He also talked about financial data being compromised and the process of spear phishing which apparently involves a group of 50 people in China who analyze all your social activity and appear to know you in and out by the time they contact you.

I grabbed an apple juice on the way out, wishing that it was a Vodka tonic. He made my head spin. He also made me think, and that’s always a good thing.

Am I going to change my habits? Probably not, though I have cut back on posting photos on Facebook and I work hard to protect the identities of my children. (I just renewed their personal domains a few days ago, for fear that some bully will come after them in middle school, but I digress… )

I am probably a lost cause at this point given my social footprint, but I don’t want to be a victim of spear phishing. Sounds brutal.

What’s your take on all this? Are we plain old crazy for using social networks the way many of us do?