Even if it seems harmless at the time, every detail you share online—like your birthday or vacation plans—can be enough for someone to exploit. It's easy to forget that social media and online forums are accessible to more than just your friends; skilled cybercriminals can piece together small bits of personal information to create a detailed profile of you. The consequences can range from targeted scams to home burglaries. To protect your personal and professional life, here are ten things you should never share online—and why keeping them under wraps matters.
Key Takeaways
- Think Twice Before Sharing Personal Details: Avoid posting sensitive information like your full birthdate, location, vacation plans, or phone number. These details can make you an easy target for hackers, burglars, or scammers.
- Be Cautious with Photos: Skip tagging locations in photos or posting pictures without others' permission. Geotags and unsolicited posts can breach privacy and expose personal details.
- Stay Positive Online: Avoid sharing hateful comments or embarrassing photos. These can harm reputations, relationships, and even have legal consequences.
- Double-Check Contests and News: Scams and fake news often spread through social media. Always verify sources before participating or sharing posts.
- Review Privacy Settings Regularly: Check and update social media privacy settings to control who can see your posts and what data apps have access to.
1. Your complete date of birth
Did you know that more than 10% of Americans use their birthdays in passwords? The risk isn't only for cracking passwords. A birthdate at many times can be authentication for logging into an account or for a forgotten user name. Some cybercriminals will even create specific pages to get this information posing as social media sites like Instagram. Make sure you don't overshare your birthday and trust that those who care, will remember.
2. Your current location
Ok, really, why does anyone need to know where you are and what you're doing? Besides maybe, your parents? You're letting anyone who wants in on the information to follow and track your every step. Other than not sharing your location voluntarily, check all the apps that have permission to your location and disable those that don't need it. For example Waze, Google Maps, Uber, Lyft - yes. Face swap apps, nope.
3.Your vacation plans
As exciting as it may be that your trip to Barcelona or sleepover at your best friend's is coming up, this is classic TMI (Too much information). You could easily be exposing yourself to burglars lurking to break into homes.
4. Your real phone number
Revealing your phone number online could be used against you in so many ways. For one, it could make you exposed to tech support scams - hackers that call you and take over your computer. Other scam methods that include your phone number can be fake 2FA sites and Smishing (phishing via SMS). Smishing works the same as phishing via emails but can appear more legitimate as it got delivered straight to your phone.
5. Pictures with geotags
It's great to create memories and share them on social media with friends and loved ones. But you don't have to tag every place you go to. Not only could you be letting in on the information that your home is empty, but you're also giving details on yourself to advertisers and data companies.
6. Embarrassing photos you wouldn't like to be shared with your work or family
The rule is, would you like your parents to see this? If the answer is no, don't share it. Especially intimate photos that you don't know where they could end up.
7. Pictures of others without their permission
Every person has the right for privacy and what they would like to share about themselves. If someone doesn't have a social media account or isn't very active, they may not notice a photo tag, and this doesn't mean they don't need to know their pictures are exposed. Always seek permission and respect people's privacy.
8. Hateful posts on companies or people
Not only can this be highly offensive, but it could also be illegal. If you had an issue with a particular provider, turn to them personally or leave a review on a dedicated platform. If someone upset you, talk to them in person. Never humiliate anyone, it causes emotional damage, and surely you wouldn't want anyone to do the same to you.
9. Contest posts that you aren't sure are real
Many scammers use social media to promote contests that urge you to give in personal information. Even if you see a post from a known company, it could be a cloned page trying to lure you into a scam. Be careful before you participate in a social media contest, and before you share it with your network, so you don't accidentally expose others to scams.
10. Fake news
Celebrities and known figures are always a hot topic on social media, and we've learned that there is a lot of fake news, especially around essential times that could affect people's perspective. If you aren't sure the news piece is real, keep it to yourself.
Pro Tip: Double-Check Before Sharing Online Posts
Before sharing anything online, take a moment to verify its authenticity and necessity. Here’s how you can stay safe while maintaining a responsible digital presence:
- Pause Before You Post: Always ask yourself, “Could this be used against me or someone else?” If the answer is yes, think twice before sharing.
- Verify the Source: Whether it’s news, contests, or promotions, ensure the information comes from a credible and secure source. Check official websites or known platforms before sharing.
- Check Your Settings: Review your social media privacy settings regularly to control who can view your posts. Use features like restricted lists for sensitive content.
- Use a Separate Email for Contests or Public Profiles: If you participate in online contests or maintain a public-facing account, use a secondary email address to limit exposure to potential phishing or spam attempts.
By practicing these simple habits, you can significantly reduce the risk of online scams and maintain a safer digital presence.
Conclusion: Share Smarter, Stay Safer
Social media is powerful, but oversharing can put your safety at risk. By being mindful of what you post and updating your privacy settings, you can enjoy the benefits without the dangers. Protect your digital footprint—think before you share!
Related articles:
- 10 Tips to Prevent Identity Theft
- 6 Mistakes That Make You an Easy Target for Data Thieves
- How to Protect Your Online Identity with Easy Steps
- The Most Important Thing You Can Do Right Now to Protect Your Identity
- How to Spot Fake Shopping Sites: A Comprehensive Guide
