Protect Your Social Media Privacy

According to a 2022 Experian survey, “Indian consumers are most vulnerable to fraud on social media sites and apps (38%) followed by payment system providers (30%) and online gaming platforms (30%) – with consumers on these platforms also ranking the most susceptible to fraud throughout APAC. This increases our risk of Identity theft. Here are some examples:

1. Credit cards or bank accounts are opened in your name leading to financial loss
2. Fake social media profiles are created to defame you or to cheat someone known to you
3. Impersonate you to communicate with your friends or bank/telecom customer care to steal your money

News:

Top cop’s FB account hacked; fraudsters demand money (deccanherald.com)

Karnataka ex-professor cheated of Rs 1.19 crore over his own Facebook post on 30-year-old Canada accident | Bangalore News – The Indian Express

1. Refrain from posting personal details: Social media posts tend to be inclined towards the private lives of individuals. However, it is essential to be wary of facts and not give out information which can later be used to steal your identity.
2. Details such as your birth date and place of birth are generally used as secondary information to reset passwords or ascertain your identity.
3. Avoid posting your location, as stalkers may use it
4. Tune the viewership of your posts accordingly.
5. Restrict commenting options: Fine-tuning comments for your posts is also suggested, especially when people are tagged. This restricts unknown and uninvited online entities from entering links to advertisements or lewd websites in the comments section.
6. Beware of fun games that are asking for your private information. Hackers create these fun games to steal your personal information.