The attention we give to the security of our online lives mainly focuses on protecting “sensitive information.” We pay attention to making sure the online accounts we have that contain financial information or other personally identifiable information are secure by utilizing two-factor authentication, creating strong passwords, and using password managers. To be sure, this is all very important, and for more information on strategies that can increase your security, we’ve provided some for you here and here.
However, it is also important to recognize that thieves use other means of exploiting general information that people post freely online to commit fraud. The information you share on your social media feeds, which may include pet names, the names of your children, or the names of streets you grew up on (or live currently), are often the answers to security questions that are meant to protect your information. Cyberthieves have a thorough understanding of frequently used security questions, and they know that people often post the answers to these questions on their Facebook wall or Instagram feed without even thinking about it.
Remember, everything thing we post is linked to our lives and reveals something about us. Even information that we may think is vague or general can be used against us. We are not suggesting that people stop sharing important moments with their friends and family on their social media feeds; however, we do encourage people to be mindful of the threat and be proactive in taking steps to secure their sensitive information. Identity theft and other forms of online fraud are an ever-increasing threat.
If you have any questions about identity theft and fraud, please contact our experienced cybersecurity and identity theft attorneys by calling 888-691-9319, or fill out this short form to get started.
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Parks Zeigler, PLLC – Attorneys At Law
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