The Vultures Preying On Your Social Network

Cybercriminals can exploit even the most innocent of pictures or posts on social media – here’s how to protect yourself.

- Mieke Vlok

A SELFIE here, a witty comment there – social media is great fun, isn’t it? But watch out – those candid postings you share with all and sundry could come back to haunt you.

“Information cannot be deleted from the internet,” warns Professor Elmarie Kritzinger, a lecturer at Unisa’s School of Computing.

That tweet you fired off in a moment of anger or that posting you made about your ex after having one glass too many – even if you’ve gone back and deleted it when you came to your senses, chances are there’s still a record of it on a server somewhere. The internet never forgets. Once you’ve posted something, it’s there to stay.

This makes it a treasure trove for cybercriminals, who have all kinds of sneaky methods to access all your ill advised postings and make a fast buck out of your naivety.

Most people know it’s a really bad idea to post details such as your ID number, address and phone number on social media. But there’s other far less obvious information you often share that could lead crooks to your door.

AVOID OVERSHARING 

So excited about your new car you absolutely have to share a picture of it on social media? Or when your teen passes her driving test do you celebrate by posting a picture on your Facebook page of her holding her licence?

Watch out! Cellphone cameras now take high-quality photos so someone can easily zoom in to find the information they need. Also, anything in the back ground can provide more tips about your location and personal details.  

The same goes for travel photos where you post snaps of your passport, plane tickets or visa for a foreign country.