The Dangers of Oversharing: How Innocent Information Becomes a Security Risk

Introduction:

As social media and other online platforms have become central to our daily lives, the ease with which we share personal details has also increased. While most of us believe that sharing information like a location check-in, vacation pictures, or daily routines is harmless, this data can be weaponized by malicious actors. In this blog, I will explore how oversharing even innocent information online can turn into a potential security risk and attract various forms of cybercrime.

The Rise of Oversharing:

Oversharing has become the norm in the age of social media, where platforms encourage us to share milestones, opinions, and even our whereabouts in real-time. Research shows that a significant portion of social media users post information that could easily be exploited. A survey found that 25% of users disclose their home address on platforms like Facebook​. This seemingly innocuous behavior allows criminals to collect details about users' daily lives, increasing their exposure to risks like burglaries and identity theft.

A particularly concerning example is the rise of sports tracking apps, which allow users to share their running routes. Studies show that many users inadvertently disclose their home addresses because they start and end their exercise at home​. This information can be pieced together to predict their absence, creating opportunities for burglars to strike.

How Criminals Exploit Online Information:

Modern criminals are tech-savvy and can easily exploit personal data shared online to facilitate crimes. According to the FBI, predators and hackers use social media platforms to gather personal information on potential targets​. For example, burglars can monitor social media for posts indicating that a family is on vacation, allowing them to strike when they know the house is unoccupied.

In another study, 69 former burglars were interviewed about their methods, and many revealed that social media was a primary tool for identifying potential targets​. By using information like relationship status or location check-ins, these criminals could assess whether someone lives alone or when they would not be home, making it easier to commit their crimes without fear of confrontation.

Location-Based Services: A Double-Edged Sword:

Many platforms use location-based services (LBS), like GPS, to enhance user experiences. While these services can offer useful features like personalized recommendations or fitness tracking, they also come with inherent risks. One significant concern is the way GPS data can reveal patterns about a user’s whereabouts. Even if users mask their exact location, sophisticated criminals can analyze patterns to predict a person’s movements or absence from their home.

Apps like Google Street View, which offer detailed images of streets and houses, can also assist burglars in planning their crimes. These tools provide valuable information about a property’s layout, including potential entry points, security vulnerabilities, and the surrounding neighborhood's activity​.

The Problem with Trusting Privacy Settings:

Many users mistakenly believe that their privacy settings on platforms like Facebook or Instagram can fully protect them. However, research has shown that these settings are often misunderstood or insufficiently implemented by users. Studies found that most users are unaware of who can access the information they post, leading to an overreliance on privacy settings​. Even when users believe they are sharing information with a select group, data leaks or simple errors in the settings can expose personal details to a much larger audience, including potential criminals.

Ethical Dilemmas: Should Platforms Do More?

The role of online platforms in preventing misuse of personal information is an ongoing ethical debate. Many argue that platforms should take a more active role in preventing oversharing, perhaps by limiting the granularity of information that users can share publicly. However, this raises concerns about user autonomy and the right to share information freely. Moreover, stricter regulations, like the GDPR, ensure that platforms must respect user privacy while also attempting to balance security​.

Conclusion:

Oversharing on digital platforms can seem like a harmless activity, but it opens the door to significant security risks. As users, it is essential to remain cautious about what we share, particularly information that reveals our location or daily routines. Meanwhile, platforms should consider introducing features that better inform users of the risks of oversharing and how their data can be misused.

In the next blog, I will examine the ethics surrounding the use of this information by online platforms and explore the ways they may exploit user data for their benefit while risking user safety.

Resources

Frith, M. J., Johnson, S. D., & Fry, H. M. (2017). Role of the Street Network in Burglars’ Spatial Decision-Making. Criminology, 55(2), 344-376.

Langton, S. H., & Steenbeek, W. (2017). Residential burglary target selection: An analysis at the property-level using Google Street View. Applied Geography, 86, 292-299.

McMillan, G. (2014). Burglars Now Using Twitter, Facebook Against You. Time Techland.

Stoofelaar, B., Senden, J., & Montoya, L. (2014). Online social sports networks as crime facilitators. Crime Science, 1-14.

Vandeviver, C., Neutens, T., van Daele, S., Geurts, D., & Vander Beken, T. (2015). A discrete spatial choice model of burglary target selection at the house-level. Applied Geography, 64, 24-34.