Top 5 Social Media Security Blunders

Security has become so advanced these days, there are thousands of different options when it comes to keeping safe and secure. However, even after going to all the trouble to make our property as secure as possible we still manage to put ourselves at risk via social media. Burglars and criminals can use social media as a way of identifying targets, and people are quite happy to openly advertise their homes. If you use social media regularly then there are a few simple rules you need to follow. Here are our top 5 social media security blunders.
1. Going On Holiday
If you are planning on going on holiday any time soon it’s important that you don’t boast about it online. Telling all your friends you are going skiing next week or off to an all-inclusive resort for two weeks might seem like a good idea at the time, but it could attract some unwanted attention. You are telling the world exactly when your house will be empty and burglars could be round your house as soon as you set foot on the plane.
2. Home Alone
Some celebrities have had bad experiences using social media and telling people they are at home alone. Helen Flanagan tweeted on the popular social media site Twitter that she was home alone when her boyfriend at the time Scott Sinclair was away. Shortly after this tweet her house was burgled. If you are going to be at home alone don’t post about it on social media. Consider making your profiles private if you are concerned about this.
3. Planning A Party
There have been countless reports in the papers about people advertising house parties on Facebook and other social media sites. Refrain from creating a Facebook event about a house party as this information could get into the wrong hands, even if you make a private event people still talk. House parties arranged via social media have resulted in hundreds of people swarming to the house party location and trashing the place. This is especially true amongst teenagers and young adults.
4. Disclosing Your Location
Do not under any circumstances post anything about your location online. This doesn’t just mean your address and information about where you live. Don’t post things about where you plan to go and what you will be doing at specific times. Otherwise people will know exactly where you are and it’s not safe. Consider removing locating targeting from your social media profiles as these can be used to track your whereabouts.
5. Talking About Valuables
Just got a brand new HD TV? Try and resist posting updates about it on social media. Don’t advertise your most expensive possessions to criminals. Then they will know what prize possessions you have and may decide your house is worth targeting. This is especially true around the holiday seasons.
Whilst we agree social media is a great of connecting people it has unfortunately also meant an increase in cybercrime.
Neil Maycock is a security advisor for MDS Security. He loves to blog about home and business security issues.