Posting online is a valuable way to connect with others, and sharing photos on our social media helps maintain bonds with family and friends. However, it is essential to find a balance between staying connected and oversharing. A study by Kaspersky reveals that 16% of Latin Americans post their photos once a week on social media, while 13% do so daily.
With the increasing popularity of photo-sharing platforms, it is easier than ever to overlook the potential risks associated with revealing too much personal information. Posting without careful consideration can lead to unwanted consequences, such as identity theft, unwanted attention, or doxing—the act of collecting personal information for malicious purposes. Fortunately, these risks can be significantly mitigated by ensuring that sensitive information is removed from photos before sharing.
These dangers can be considerably reduced if users pay attention to the details they post online. To this end, Kaspersky experts recommend four practices to consider when sharing photos and selfies on social media:
1. Location Details
To enhance personal safety, avoid sharing photos that may reveal frequently visited places, particularly your home. Images containing identifiable references, such as traffic signs or geotags, can indicate a person’s location; even subtle background details can inadvertently disclose it. To minimize risks, it’s better to share such photos only with friends and family, opting for images without identifiable features when posting for a broader audience.
2. Real-Time Updates
Sharing real-time information, such as your current location, how long you’ll be there, or what it looks like, can attract attention from strangers. It is safer to limit these updates to a close circle of friends. For a wider audience, consider sharing these updates after your plans have concluded, ensuring personal safety while still allowing you to share experiences.
3. Identification Documents
Before posting photos, it’s important to review them carefully for any visible sensitive information, such as identification documents, addresses, medical records, prescriptions, bank statements, or utility bills.
Even when sharing images of mail, packages, or receipts, it’s crucial to ensure no confidential information is visible. These details should remain private and only be shared with close friends, as they could be misused if any of your social media accounts are compromised.
4. Travel Plans
When on vacation, it’s safer to share updates and photos only with a close group of friends. Being away from work can create opportunities for targeted attacks, such as someone impersonating you at the office to take advantage of your absence.
In such situations, reacting quickly can be challenging, so it’s best to keep travel plans private until you return home. Experiences can be shared later with a wider audience without compromising safety.
“Sharing photos on our social media should align with protecting our privacy, but to achieve this, we must be aware of practices that can undermine it. By following the advice from our experts, conducting a quick security check on all platforms where we upload photos, and installing security solutions on our devices, we can engage in this practice safely,” says Carolina Mojica, product manager for consumer regions in North and South America at Kaspersky.
