How to have some security while using Facebook

I've read many articles about Facebook's policy changes and I'm still amazed at how many people do not realize their information is open to other Facebook users, Facebook application developers or the entire Internet. So, I've decided to write up a howto for staying reasonably secure while posting on Facebook.

1. Security starts with your password. Yes, your password HAS to be secure, creative and memorable. Here's my blog entry on passwords.
2. A good password is useless if you're sending it over the Internet un-encrypted (i.e. without using HTTPS. This is the encrypted form of the HTTP protocol that transports website pages from the server to your browser.). Make sure you see the lock icon and https://.... See below:
3. When you connect to Facebook, use this url: https://ssl.facebook.com.. They are currently testing this, and hopefully they'll make it the default url for their site.
   
4. Make sure you've set your Facebook privacy settings. I recommend only allowing your friends to view your content:
5. Make sure you lock down the people that you share with and the applications you share with:
6. Never use the Facebook connect feature to sign on to other websites. You should never use this account/password to access other sites (unless it's a site of a similar category, see my blog entry on passwords). I do not trust Facebook because of how they blatantly disregard a reasonable expectation of privacy regarding our information and content. If you want to use one account, then you'll have to see if the other sites support something like OpenID. Here are a few sites where you can get an OpenID account: Google, Chi.mp and my fav, MyOpenID.
   

More control over your information is key.