What not to share on social networks? Publish less, sleep better!

Social media is our virtual face. The consequences of ill-considered postings and improper social media profile design can be most unpleasant. Specialists from the Roskatchestvo Digital Expertise Center tell us what not to publish publicly, from the point of view of personal security.

Cybercriminals are watching you

According to the agency We Are Social, in 2021, 67.8% of the American population, or 99 million people will use social networks. They are firmly entrenched in our lives and are almost a calling card. Non-serious behavior in this online space is fraught with, for example, the denial of a job or a loan. Employers and banks often study people’s profiles on social networks and make their own opinions about them.

The same is done by malefactors. Too much candidness on the privacy of the users, and detailed information on the life, property, and financial capacities of the users, can play into the hands of dishonest people. Of course, we can not rule out force majeure situations when large volumes of data are unavailable

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leak

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On the Net, being sold, stolen, hacked.

September 2019: “419 million Facebook users have been leaked.”. And again in December: “The data of 267 000 000 Facebook users were found in open access. And then: “The data of more than 1 billion users of social networks are in the public domain”, “The database of 20 million Instagram users is for sale”.However, in most cases, the issues of their own safety are within our power, we just need to follow some simple rules.

Sergey Bodrov, Head of Roskatchestvo Digital Expertise Center:

“The internet “remembers” everything – especially excessive openness on the web. Nowadays, social networks are not just a place for entertainment, but your digital face. It’s important to manage your public profile responsibly and not leave unwanted digital footprints. Think twice before you publish anything.”.

Information that is not advisable to publish in an open profile on social networks:

1. Date and place of birth

This data, along with passport data, is often asked in many structures for identification. Scammers don’t need to know your personal info.

2. Personal phone number

At their “best

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You may be bombarded with promotional offers via text message. At worst, they can try to get to your account.

3. Home address

Criminals are happy to get any piece of information from profiles and are ready to use it in their schemes. If a person has an address on his page, and in his status he notifies everyone, “I’m on vacation!”, or simply posting pictures from vacations online

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Invite robbers directly to your home. Do not post pictures that could identify where you live.

4. Photos of possessions and valuables

Do not brag about possessions, expensive equipment, gadgets, or cars. Don’t attract attention and don’t tempt the scammers. It is said not in vain that happiness loves silence – here the proverb is very appropriate.

There are cases when fraudsters “steal” photos of social network users to create fake accounts for different fraud schemes.

5. Social status

Accept that private life is private enough to remain hidden. Too many tricks have emerged to compromise a person based on their marital status. Cyber crooks can divorce you for revelations, photos, and then begin to blackmail you with this information.

5. Financial information

Income level, payment details and other financial matters should remain a secret. Often when you make purchases on social networks or in online games you are asked to enter your credit card details. But there is no guarantee of privacy of the data you provide. Account can be hacked, and then the personal information will be in the hands of intruders.

7. Passwords and code words

Often users show astonishing carelessness. They register on dubious services, take surveys, and are asked to indicate their mother’s maiden name and their favorite food. This data will make it much easier for fraudsters to gain passwords. Never include your passwords, code words, or answers to security questions in your profiles.

8. Personal messages on the wall

Do not share the content and subjects of personal correspondence in public publications. The wide audience may not understand your style of communication, jokes, informal conversations with friends. Remember that any information can be used against you.

Recommendations of Roskatchestvo Digital Expertise Center:

• Make your page closed, so that personal information is available only to a select few people. You must decide who can see what. That way you filter people out, and abusers will not even be able to write to you.

• Set your settings to prohibit other users from posting to your page. That way you keep yourself safe from spam and questionable content.

• Get an email for registrations only or use a temporary email service. Phone number is the same – a virtual number can help you.

• In public, open to all profiles, do not specify your date of birth or write any .

Manage your page consciously and follow the advice – ours and the people’s. After all, the wisdom of proverbs and sayings does not lose its relevance even in the age of digital technology. As a rule, give as little information as possible about yourself when you are on Internet sites.

Know less, sleep better. So let’s wish cyber thieves a good night’s sleep!