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Trusted Contributor
Posts: 2,621
Registered: ‎04-14-2010

Then turn off the GPS on your phone because anyone who is tech savvy can track you anyway if they wanted to!

Respected Contributor
Posts: 4,794
Registered: ‎03-03-2011

Just because you have your settings for just friends that does NOT mean that others (maybe not friends...perhaps friends OF friends) will see it. Once it's posted you cannot control just WHO is looking at it. I get mad at my friend who posts pics of her grandkids at school events (you can clearly see the school name) all the time. She has over 50 ""friends"" and I think this is dangerous! Also check your setting all the time because FB changed the settings on my page without my permission. That's why I am G O N E on FB. Be careful.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 17,604
Registered: ‎06-27-2010

There's really nothing funny about the security risks posed by social media oversharing. This is a great place to share ideas and information, and no one needs to be mocked for doing so. After years of working in IT, I've seen some scary results, crime victims affected in terrible ways. I'd encourage the naysayers to do some research, ask their insurance agents or local law enforcement what they think, and also to be vigilant in keeping up with the ever-changing software tweaks made by Facebook and other social media sites.

There's plenty of good info on the internet. Just one sample regarding geo-tagging (if you don't already know this, if you have location services enabled your digital photos contain location info which is easy to access):

"Paranoia or actual danger?

...three men burglarized more than 18 homes in the Nashua area of New Hampshire simply by tracking residents’ movements online and, when they were away, broke into their homes and took off with more than $100,000 worth of goods.”

He adds that a survey by a U.K. home security subsidiary of Honeywell, Friedland (no relation), revealed that social media is being put to use by today’s home burglars.

“According to the survey, an overwhelming 78 percent of (convicted) ex-burglars interviewed said that they strongly believed social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Four Square are being used by current thieves when targeting properties, with nearly three-quarters (74 percent) stating that, in their expert opinion, Google Street View was playing a role in many of today’s home thefts,” Friedland says.

Honeywell/Friedland says that interviewed ex-burglars are already seeing geotagging and social media as their top sources of information for potential victims. The report revealed one of the most common mistakes that homeowners are making in the eyes of ex-burglars it that over half (54 percent) placing their status and whereabouts on social networking sites..."

source: http://www.digitaltrends.com/photography/could-you-fall-victim-to-crime-simply-by-geotagging-locatio...

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Few things reveal your intellect and your generosity of spirit—the parallel powers of your heart and mind—better than how you give feedback.~Maria Popova
Honored Contributor
Posts: 17,604
Registered: ‎06-27-2010

Plenty of good articles, for anyone interested:

Dangers of "Checking In" on Facebook

link: http://lmgtfy.com/?q=dangers+of+checking+in+on+facebook

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Dangers of Location Services on Facebook

link: http://lmgtfy.com/?q=dangers+of+location+services+on+facebook

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Dangers of Geotagging

link: http://lmgtfy.com/?q=dangers+of+geotagging

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Few things reveal your intellect and your generosity of spirit—the parallel powers of your heart and mind—better than how you give feedback.~Maria Popova
Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 6,628
Registered: ‎06-22-2010
On 12/17/2014 september said: When my daughter was applying to grad schools, I told her I was able to see a facebook photo she had posted, and I wasn't even a friend of hers at that time. She removed it.

I just cancelled my account..there were things I didn't post..too much info!

Don't cry for a man who's left you--the next one may fall for your smile.
-- Mae West
Honored Contributor
Posts: 17,604
Registered: ‎06-27-2010
On 12/18/2014 emmysmom said:
On 12/17/2014 september said: When my daughter was applying to grad schools, I told her I was able to see a facebook photo she had posted, and I wasn't even a friend of hers at that time. She removed it.

I just cancelled my account..there were things I didn't post..too much info!

I keep a basic account because I have friends and family around the globe, and it's a great way to stay in touch. However, Facebook has a tendency to change privacy/security settings frequently, and there are some things (some photos, for example) which cannot be hidden from public view. It's extremely hard for people to keep up with the changes, partly because they're seldom announced. On my Facebook account I've never added my address, phone number, birth date, work/education info, or geotagged photos. Location services is "off" on my mobile devices, and I use an extra, alternate email address (the one I use for random website coupons, etc.).

Few things reveal your intellect and your generosity of spirit—the parallel powers of your heart and mind—better than how you give feedback.~Maria Popova
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Super Contributor
Posts: 1,520
Registered: ‎03-09-2010
On 12/17/2014 sparklestar said:
On 12/17/2014 Kathleen said:

How would anyone who doesn't know me know where I live? Manhattan is a big city.


I am wondering the same thing. How would anyone know where you live?

Let's say someone you don't know happens to be visiting the home of your FB friend Mary. Mary has gone into the kitchen to make coffee and leaves the visitor alone with her computer still signed in to FB. Her visitor sees your post regarding you being in a nearby city dining or, worse, out of town for a few days at the beach. The visitor notes your name. Later he/she puts your name into one of the many free online services that exist and your address and phone number come up. It's so easy and widely known but I fear that some people go on social media and are still not aware of how this can be done.

For your own sakes, post about your activities after the fact and not during!

Valued Contributor
Posts: 617
Registered: ‎08-03-2011

Thank you ! This is so important.