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Stay safe on social

What are you telling cyber criminals about yourself on social media?

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Social media provides aÌýwealthÌýof options forÌýsharingÌýcontent andÌýstaying in touch with friends and family.ÌýWhatÌýyou may not realize is that oversharing on these platforms can put you at risk of identity theft, and even threaten your physicalÌýsafety.Ìý

Although it should be obvious thatÌý, did you know thatÌýsimplyÌýpostingÌýaÌývideoÌýonÌýTikTokÌýor InstagramÌýwith your location activated couldÌýposeÌýa significant security risk?ÌýÌý

This article provides several points to consider whenÌýsharing on social media platforms, such as spear-phishing, privacy settings, and geotagging.

Risks of oversharingÌýon social mediaÌý

If you exposeÌýyour location, a criminal couldÌýfind out where you live,Ìýstudy andÌýwork. TheyÌýcould thenÌýtarget youÌýwithÌýÌýemails designedÌýtoÌýsteal your sensitive information.ÌýBy sharing your location when you are away from home, youÌýindicate to criminals that yourÌýproperty and valuables are unattended.ÌýÌý

You may also fall victim to identity theft ifÌýyou allowÌýa criminalÌýtoÌýgatherÌýenough personal informationÌýto impersonate you.ÌýJustÌýsharing yourÌýdate of birthÌýorÌýwhere you grew upÌýcarries risk: A criminal could use this information to infiltrateÌýyour accountsÌýand reset your passwordsÌýif any of this information is used in yourÌýpersonal identification questions.Ìý

OversharingÌýcanÌýresult inÌýpotentialÌý.ÌýA criminal whoÌýgainsÌýaccess to yourÌýonlineÌýaccountsÌýcanÌýpotentiallyÌýinflictÌýuntold damage onÌýall aspects of your life.Ìý

How you can stayÌýsafeÌýonlineÌý

  • Do not use your ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ password for any other accounts.ÌýWhenÌýyouÌýuse the sameÌýpasswordÌýforÌýmultiple accounts,Ìýonce one ofÌýthemÌýisÌýcompromised,Ìýthey allÌýare.ÌýÌý

  • On social mediaÌýapps:ÌýÌý

    • Protect your profile with aÌý.ÌýÌý

    • ApplyÌýtwo factor authentication (2FA)ÌýonÌýall accounts.ÌýÌý

    • Ìýon the apps you useÌýtoÌýlimit the visibility of what you share. Revisit these periodically, as theÌýavailable optionsÌýfor managing your privacyÌýare constantly ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ.Ìý

  • Keep yourÌýlocationÌýprivate:ÌýÌý

    • Avoid sharingÌýnewsÌýaboutÌýyourÌývacation plansÌýorÌýbigÌýpurchases, as thisÌýcanÌýrevealÌýwhenÌýyour homeÌýandÌýbelongingsÌýareÌýunattended.ÌýYoung man taking selfie photo with ocean view behind him

    • GeotaggingÌý(theÌýfeatureÌýthat stores location information with your photos)Ìýon smartphonesÌýand digital camerasÌýcan revealÌýexactlyÌýwhereÌýyou took a photo. Although some social media platformsÌýremove this information from posts, it still may be stored and used for other purposes.ÌýÌý

Additional resourcesÌý

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