10 points to consider when sharing on social media

It can lead to identity fraud, enable cybercriminals to obtain your password, and even put your personal information and belongings at risk of theft.  Cyber ​​security company ESET made suggestions, pointing out that users' posts on social media could lead to serious consequences in terms of privacy and security. 

Travel plans, location information, date of birth, newly purchased items, family photos. All of this content not only attracts followers, but also gives cybercriminals the information they need to identify and target you. While there is an increase in phishing attacks and social engineering techniques, excessive sharing on social media becomes an open door for these attacks.  Social media platforms change their privacy settings and content algorithms frequently. However, when users do not follow these changes, they may have difficulty controlling to what extent the information they share is seen and with whom. According to ESET experts, a post that is thought to be "only seen by my friends" can reach a much wider audience with a few interactions and reposts.

Cybercriminals may know you better than you know

ESET experts state that social media profiles have become a source of information for cybercriminals. Your hobbies, shopping habits, relationships, and even answers to your security questions can be extracted from your posts.  Using the privacy tools offered by the platforms and increasing account security is an important step. What really matters is that it starts with the individual questioning their digital behavior. Social media can bring you together with your loved ones and interests, but uncontrolled use can endanger both you and those around you.

What should you pay attention to in social media posts?

• Personal information. Seemingly innocent information such as date of birth and pet name can be used to guess your passwords.
• Vacation plans. Sharing before a holiday signals that your home is empty.
• Location information. Live location tags can put your security at risk.
• Expensive items. A newly purchased device or a valuable piece of jewelry may attract the attention of malicious people.
• Photos of children. Creating digital footprints of children without their permission may lead to long-term risks.
• Work-related reproaches. Sharing about the institution you work for or your colleagues may damage your professional reputation.
• Financial information. Data such as card number, IBAN, QR code can open the door to fraud.
• Information of the immediate circle.  Do not share personal information of friends and family members without their permission.
• Sweepstakes and campaigns .Promises of gifts coming from unreliable accounts may be phishing attempts.
• Private messages Sharing screenshots, especially of business or personal correspondence, may cause a security breach.

 What can be done to stay safe? 

• Be careful what you share when sharing: Always think about whether it would make you feel comfortable to tell someone sitting next to you the same information you shared online (even if your profile is limited). 
• Review your friends list frequently: It will be a useful habit to remove people from your list that you do not know or do not want to see your posts. 
• Restrict who can view your friends list and posts: This will help reduce the chances of someone using any information you share for malicious purposes. 
• Restrict photo access: These should ideally be viewable only by known friends and approved family members. 
• Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) and use strong, unique passwords: This will reduce the chance of someone hacking your account, even if they manage to guess or crack your passwords. 

What makes social media so fun is sharing our posts with our friends, family, and connections. However, this is also a potential source of risk. Avoid any problems that may arise by being careful when using social media platforms.