If you’re someone who thinks social media is a completely safe online platform, think again. To some unfortunate victims, it can cause much more harm than good.

 

Potentially harmful updates

By definition, the ‘social’ principle behind this firmly entrenched form of communication necessitates the publication of personal information. The upside is that long lost friends can find you, but there are downsides that you should be aware of.

Access to personal information allows criminals to impersonate you. Seemingly harmless items like a photo, name and location are enough to initiate identity fraud.

If you’re on holiday, posting your whereabouts may be a fun way to show off to friends, but criminals will know you aren’t at home, and this increases the risk of burglary. Given a location, a thief can target your home with military precision.

 

How to protect yourself online

A few simple precautions can help prevent you from becoming a victim.

Perhaps the most important point is to never use the default settings on social networks – set privacy levels for each class of information. Beware of ‘friends’ you don’t know well, as thieves will try to add you as a friend to check your suitability as a potential victim.

Don’t use social networks to post party invitations. We’ve all heard the stories of gate-crashing victims, and scammers will have free rein to work the crowd or even be inside your home to steal your valuables.

 

Maintain offline safety

Secure your home if you’re going away. At the very least, keep precious possessions and documents in safes. There is a massive selection of budget safes suitable for home use, and a simple wall safe is a good place to start. Safes will help keep your mind at ease when you leave your home.

Using social networks to keep in touch doesn’t require posting every little detail about your life. Keep any personal information on a need-to-know rather than need-to-show basis – you can tell friends all about your holiday when you return.