In today's interconnected world, oversharing online can make you vulnerable to scams and privacy violations. Here are seven pieces of information to keep close to the vest:
1. Relationship Status: Scammers often target widows and widowers seeking to exploit inheritance money. Avoid disclosing your relationship status on dating apps and social media platforms.
2. Vacation Plans: Sharing your travel itinerary, especially with booking details, can expose you to fraud. Post vacation photos after returning home.
3. Videos of Yourself Talking: The rise of AI-powered deepfake technology makes it easy for malicious actors to misuse your likeness. Minimize sharing videos where you speak, and consider setting your social media profiles to private.
4. High-Value Items for Sale: Selling expensive electronics online can attract criminals. Conduct transactions in public places during daylight hours, and bring a companion for added safety. Meeting at your local police station parking lot can deter potential robbers.
5. Exercise Routes: Fitness apps with GPS tracking can reveal your regular movements, posing a security risk. Adjust your app settings to private or disable GPS if you have privacy concerns.
6. Children's School and Activities: Avoid posting specifics about your children's school, daycare, sports teams, or extracurricular activities. Sharing such information online can compromise their safety. Keep posts vague and remove identifying details from the background of photos.
7. Work Details: Sharing specific work-related information can make you a target for spear-phishing scams. Limit professional details shared online, especially if you have access to company finances.
