What You Share Online Can Be Your Biggest Security Threat

Receiving “likes” in your social media accounts triggers the same feelings you get when you eat your favorite chocolate. And that’s not even a joke. Experts say that it’s that feeling which makes quitting social networking so difficult for most of us.

The problem with this, however, is not the number of hours you spend online or your failure to log out of your accounts. It’s actually the things you share online. By being careless, there’s a good chance you could be putting yourself, your business, and your entire family in danger.

Here’s a short list of the things you should never share online:

Your Personal Information

Cases of identity theft are increasing lately. One of the main reasons is that information is now more accessible. Your social media profiles, for example, can show your birth date, age and even your full name. If that isn’t enough, the sites can also display your phone number and address. These data are exactly what thieves need to stole your identity or hack your accounts.

In creating your profiles, avoid including these details. If the website requires them, make sure that they are for verification purposes only. Most social media platforms give you the option to keep certain information hidden from public view. Always choose to be on the discreet side for your safety.

Aside from this, you should also avoid posting images of your certificates or identification cards online. Although they may seem harmless, but there are details in your cards that thieves can easily copy. Posting pictures of your family, particularly your kids, is strongly discouraged, too.

Your Location

Burglars most favor houses that are unoccupied and by sharing your whereabouts, you’re advising potential thieves that there’s no one in your home. Aside from this threat, posting your exact location also opens dangerous possibilities to criminals.

When posting updates, you should keep in mind to check your account’s settings. By default, some sites can automatically share your location whenever you post an update. Aside from this, you also need to refrain from deliberately sharing your vacation plans, particularly if you’ll be gone for a couple of days. You shouldn’t also post about where you’ll go and who will be coming with you.

Your family and friends are not the only people who can use the internet and read your posts. In fact, a survey back in 2011 was able to find that 80% of ex-burglars use social media sites, too.

Your Password and Password Hints

This one can sound like a no-brainer, but there are actually people who miss out the importance of keeping passwords a secret.

If you want to avoid having an intruder inside your home or your accounts, you should be very careful about whom you share your passwords with. You should also be cautious about giving hints about them. Posting about your favorite color, movie or book can give hackers an easy advantage over your security. Even telling your mother’s maiden name or the school you went to can serve as helpful clues.

Author: Rose Cabrera writes for TopSecurityReview.com where you’ll find in-depth home security system reviews and must-do security ideas.