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Social media provides a听wealth听of options for听sharing听content and听staying in touch with friends and family.听What听you may not realize is that oversharing on these platforms can put you at risk of identity theft, and even threaten your physical听safety.听
Although it should be obvious that听, did you know that听simply听posting听a听video听on听TikTok听or Instagram听with your location activated could听pose听a significant security risk?听听
This article provides several points to consider when听sharing on social media platforms, such as spear-phishing, privacy settings, and geotagging.
Risks of oversharing听on social media听
If you expose听your location, a criminal could听find out where you live,听study and听work. They听could then听target you听with听听emails designed听to听steal your sensitive information.听By sharing your location when you are away from home, you听indicate to criminals that your听property and valuables are unattended.听听
You may also fall victim to identity theft if听you allow听a criminal听to听gather听enough personal information听to impersonate you.听Just听sharing your听date of birth听or听where you grew up听carries risk: A criminal could use this information to infiltrate听your accounts听and reset your passwords听if any of this information is used in your听personal identification questions.听
Oversharing听can听result in听potential听.听A criminal who听gains听access to your听online听accounts听can听potentially听inflict听untold damage on听all aspects of your life.听
How you can stay听safe听online听
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Do not use your McGill password for any other accounts.听When听you听use the same听password听for听multiple accounts,听once one of听them听is听compromised,听they all听are.听听
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On social media听apps:听听
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Protect your profile with a听.听听
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Apply听two factor authentication (2FA)听on听all accounts.听听
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听on the apps you use听to听limit the visibility of what you share. Revisit these periodically, as the听available options听for managing your privacy听are constantly changing.听
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Keep your听location听private:听听
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Avoid sharing听news听about听your听vacation plans听or听big听purchases, as this听can听reveal听when听your home听and听belongings听are听unattended.听
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Geotagging听(the听feature听that stores location information with your photos)听on smartphones听and digital cameras听can reveal听exactly听where听you took a photo. Although some social media platforms听remove this information from posts, it still may be stored and used for other purposes.听听
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Additional resources听
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