Introduction
How many social media profiles do you have right now? How often do you post on each of these pages?
With phones always in hand and the internet constantly abuzz, sharing moments from our daily lives on social media has become second nature. Unfortunately, constantly revealing our favorite hangout spots and activities can actually open the door to serious risks…both online and offline.
More Than Just a Post
Even the most seemingly innocent details, like your favorite hangout spots, pet’s name, or birthday, can be used to craft convincing phishing scams or guess your passwords and security questions. Cybercriminals often piece together information from multiple posts to impersonate you or deceive your contacts into sending money. They also use AI tools to scrape your profiles for relevant information and craft expert, machine-generated phishing messages.
Even more concerning is the threat of doxxing, which you may have heard about before. Doxxing happens when malicious actors uncover and publicly publish your private information, such as your address or phone number, which typically leads to harassment, identity theft, or worse.
22.3% of phishing happens via social media. Be careful who you connect and share information with online!
When Social Media Impacts Physical Safety
The risks involved in posting too much online stretch beyond the digital realm. Announcing your location in real time (“Just landed in Cancun!” or “At the gym!”) can let unwanted visitors know when you house is empty. Burglars seek out easy victims with learnable routines.
Regularly sharing your daily habits can also make you a target for stalking or more serious threats like swatting, wherein someone falsely reports an emergency at your address to provoke a police response.
To protect yourself, consider adopting a more cautious approach to social media!
- Avoid real-time location sharing. Post about your experiences after the fact, not while they’re happening.
- Review your privacy settings. Ensure your content is visible only to trusted individuals.
- Limit personal details. Refrain from sharing sensitive information like your address, travel plans, or answers to common security questions.
- Think before you post. If you wouldn’t share it with a stranger, then don’t post it online.
Case Study: U.S. Department of Defense
A notable recent example of a cyberattack linked to oversharing on social media occurred in 2023, involving the American DoD. One junior military officer accidentally posted photos from a secure military base on his personal social media account. These images contained metadata and visual clues that revealed the location and layout of the base. Cyber-threat actors used this information to launch a targeted phishing campaign against personnel stationed at the base.
The attack successfully compromised several accounts, leading to a data breach involving classified operational details.
This just goes to show how even seemingly harmless posts, like selfies or group photos, can expose important secrets when shared publicly, especially if the background and metadata reveal sensitive information.
Conclusion
By staying mindful about what content you share online, you can enjoy the benefits of social media without compromising your digital or physical safety. Cyberattackers use any and all information to convince you to hand over your personal and private data.
Be careful how much you share about yourself, or your day-to-day habits, on social media!
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