Life presents occasions to collect incredible memories. We capture those memories in pictures and videos and share them with our family and friends on social media. But beware, those cherished memories of your fun family vacation, concerts, sports, or meals with friends could create unwelcome opportunities for undesirable onlookers. These onlookers could impersonate you, steal from you, or even jeopardize your safety.
While they’re not technically a traditional “hacker” stealing your data, someone could use your social media presence to monitor you for terrible reasons. For instance, you’ve scored two really expensive wristbands for a music festival. Perhaps you’ve been saving for months, or even better, you won an online contest. It’s tempting to show the world, am I right?
By posting on social, there is an excellent chance you’re making yourself vulnerable. For example, if you post a photo of your music festival wristbands with a clear view of the QR code, someone can take a screenshot of it and gain entry to the event. This would invalidate your ticket, and your access would be denied at the door. Or, a person could learn from the post that the ticket is at your house, and when you’re not home, break in and attempt to steal it. This scenario is real. At least three rappers and singers were killed this past year because the performers tagged themselves on social media displaying money and jewelry and then attackers located and robbed them.
If you’re doing a lot of real-time sharing on social media of your location, a person watching your stories will know that you won’t be home for a few hours. This behavior makes your home a desirable target for theft. Or you could set yourself up as a target for stalking or human trafficking. Using the music festival scenario, those undesirable onlookers could use your social media stories to figure out where you are on the festival grounds to follow and kidnap you.
Enjoy the good times, take lots of photos and be smart about not posting QR codes, serial numbers, tracking numbers, or your current location online. And to help prevent people outside your family and inner circle monitor your movements, wait until you’re home and safe to do a photo dump.
GG
-Pete