We live in a world where sharing has become second nature. From posting vacation photos to sharing life updates, our digital lives are filled with moments we’ve decided to make public. But have you ever stopped to think about the information you’re putting out there and who might be seeing it? Let’s take a closer look at why it’s important to think before you share online and how it impacts your privacy and security.
How Oversharing Puts You at Risk
Oversharing can seem harmless, but it creates vulnerabilities that cybercriminals can exploit in various ways, leading to severe consequences like identity theft, financial fraud, and even threats to personal safety.
- Identity Theft: Sharing personal details like your full name, birth date, and address can enable identity theft. Criminals can piece together this information to access your accounts or commit fraud in your name. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported a staggering 1.4 million cases of identity theft in the U.S. in 2021 (FTC Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2021).
- Targeted Scams: Scammers use information gleaned from social media to create convincing phishing attacks. Sharing details about recent purchases, travel plans, or personal interests can make you a target for personalized scams. A 2022 study by Proofpoint found that 84% of organizations experienced social engineering attacks (The Human Factor 2022).
- Physical Safety Risks: Sharing your location in real-time or posting about your daily routines can endanger your physical safety. Burglars and other criminals can use this information to target your home or track your movements. A 2017 study by SafeWise revealed that 60% of burglars use social media to identify potential targets (Home Security Statistics).
The Types of Information You Should Keep for Yourself
Certain types of information are particularly valuable to cybercriminals and should be protected at all costs:
- Personal Identifiable Information (PII): This includes details like your full name, address, phone number, and Social Security number. Sharing PII online significantly increases your risk of identity theft and fraud. Nearly half (46%) of all breaches involve customer PII, which can include tax identification numbers, emails, phone numbers, and home addresses. (IBM cost of Databreach report 2024) or preview directly the report here (IBM, Preview Cost of Databreach report 2024)
- Financial Information: Never share sensitive financial information like bank account details, credit card numbers, or online transaction screenshots. Even seemingly harmless details like your Venmo username can be exploited. Traditional identity fraud losses amounted to nearly $23 billion in 2023, resulting in a 13% increase in overall losses for U.S. adult victims of identity fraud.(Javalin 2024 identify Fraud study)
- Location Data: Avoid sharing your real-time location or frequent check-ins on social media. This can make you vulnerable to stalking, physical harm, and location-based scams. A 2018 Pew Research Center study found that 41% of people feel unsafe sharing their location online (Americans and Privacy: Concerned, Confused and Feeling Lack of Control Over Their Personal Information).
- Personal Relationships and Daily Routines: Be mindful of sharing details about your close relationships or daily routines. This information can be used for impersonation scams or to predict your whereabouts.
How to Control What You Share
Taking proactive steps to manage your online presence and limit the information you share is crucial for online safety.
- Review Privacy Settings: Regularly review and adjust your privacy settings on social media platforms. Limit your audience to trusted individuals and ensure your profile isn’t publicly accessible. Office of Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPCC) provides helpful guides for managing privacy settings across various platforms (OPCC tips), or you can simply follow some Youtube videos on that (Privacy on Iphone, Google account and you are invited to along the list for more)
- Think Before You Post: Pause and consider the potential implications before sharing any information online. Ask yourself if the information could be used to harm you or your loved ones.
- Avoid Public Wi-Fi: Public Wi-Fi networks are often unsecured, making your online activity vulnerable to hackers.
- We say and will repeat Use Strong, Unique Passwords: Protect your accounts with strong, unique passwords. Avoid using the same password for multiple accounts to minimize the impact of a potential breach. Techreport statistic explain that more that 80% of data breaches are caused by weak or reused passwords (Techreport article )
- Audit Your Online Presence: Periodically search for your name online to see what information is publicly available. If you find sensitive information, contact the website administrator to have it removed.
Conclusion
In today’s interconnected world, online safety is paramount. By understanding the risks of oversharing and taking proactive steps to protect your information, you can significantly reduce your vulnerability to cyber threats. Remember, staying informed and being mindful of your digital footprint are your best defenses in the ever-evolving digital landscape. If you’re unsure and don’t know about how to manage your online presence, Fectora can help!
Our mission is to help you feel secure and in control while navigating the digital world! 😊
You don’t need to be an expert to take small, simple steps that make a big difference. By protecting yourself, you’re also helping make the internet safer for everyone. Remember, even small actions can add up to strong protection.