Parker, CO -- Most people use social networking sites to keep in touch with friends and family by posting photographs and writing about upcoming vacations. But that can expose a lot about your life and sometimes to people you do not want knowing any of your business.

That’s what happened to Parker mom Tarrah Brandsma.

“It is scary,” said Brandsma. “Who knows what information this guy has.”

Someone hacked into her Facebook account and then into her e-mail.

“It was scary because it was not only Facebook, but it was my e-mail account,” said Brandsma. “And my e-mail account I use it for personal reasons. I use it for my business, for everything.”

The hacker changed all of her passwords on e-mail and in Facebook.

“He had changed every ounce of information -- my security question, what the name of my first pet was,” said Brandsma.

Then the hacker went to work sending an e-mail to every person in her contact list.

“(It said) Bill and I and the girls are in London, we just got robbed at gunpoint, wire us money,” said Brandsma. “Then he had all the responses forwarded to his own e-mail address.”

Most of Brandsma’s friends knew it was a hoax, but some responded telling her they would help. Thankfully no one wired money.

“I felt very violated,” said Brandsma.

But then the fear set in when Brandsma realized the information the hacker had: her husband’s name, her childrens’ names, even the fact they were leaving on vacation soon.

“That scared me more than anything,” said Brandsma.

So how hard is it to hack into a Facebook account? 7News went to the experts at Cyopsis, an electronic intelligence company to find out.

7News reporter Dayle Cedars set up a fake Facebook account with every privacy setting offered, then we gave Cyopsis her email address and name and let them start hacking.

“It is pretty easy unfortunately,” said Chris Roberts of Cyopsis.

It didn’t take long for Roberts to find almost everything.

“We managed to pull up everything on Dayle,” said Roberts. “Her name, her address, her kids, her home number, her home location, her social security, her banking information, what car she has.”

Roberts said he found it all on public Internet sources, not his high tech member only databases.

So what can people do to protect themselves? First, limit the information you put out there. Roberts said be careful about what you post on social networking sites. Second, Roberts said unlist your phone numbers in the phone directory. Third, consider creating an e-mail account that doesn't use your name.

“My Facebook is an e-mail address I hardly ever use and is registered to John Smith, which is not me obviously,” said Roberts. “I try to at least give some separation.”

Roberts said Facebook has recently upgraded its privacy settings, so if people have an old Facebook account they should increase the security options.

“Facebook, I have got to give them credit, they have done a much, much better job,” said Roberts.

That is good news for anyone who uses the social networking site, including Brandsma.

“I have to use e-mail,” said Brandsma. “Facebook I don't have to use, but it’s kind of fun to know what your network is doing out there and a great way to stay in touch.”

So Brandsma is ready for cyberspace again, but will change a few things.

“I may just put less information on there,” said Brandsma. “Only people I know can look at the information on there.”