Be Smart – Don’t Do This
1. Financial Info
- Sorry, you can’t just post your credit card or bank logins like they’re cat memes.
- Stick to reputable sites with HTTPS and that cute little lock icon.
- Don’t upload photos of your cards—this isn’t social media bragging rights.
2. Passwords & Login Credentials
- If your password is “password123,” you deserve better.
- Even strong passwords are worthless if you share them publicly—in comments, tweets, emails, or Insta bios.
- Need to share? Use encrypted messaging. Otherwise, keep it zipped.
3. Home Wi‑Fi Details
- Your network name (SSID) and Wi‑Fi password? Big red flags.
- Sharing them is like leaving your door open at midnight.
- Always use WPA3, or at least WPA2, and make that password ridiculously complex.
4. Work‑Related Secrets
- Your work email, employee ID, internal systems—keep that off TikTok.
- Business gossip and rants don’t need a public platform. Save it for therapy or your tightest circle.
5. Personal Medical Info
- Medical history, test results, prescriptions… these are not quirky shareable content.
- Trust doctors and close family for that kind of talk, not randos online.
6. Kids’ Pictures & Personal Data
- Love sharing baby’s first steps? Go for it, but crop out school names, addresses, and full names.
- And don’t post other people’s kids without permission—it’s creepy, not cute.
7. Relationship Status & Dating Life
- “Single” or “It’s complicated”? Scammers and creeps love that info.
- Unless your audience is your inner circle only, keep it vague.
8. Vacation Plans
- Blast off to Bali and post every selfie? Not until after you’re home.
- Sharing plans in advance is basically an “EMPTY HOUSE — PLEASE ROB” invite.
9. Identifiable Photo Data
- Street signs, license plates, office name tags, calendars—crop or blur ‘em.
- Remove EXIF metadata (location, camera details) before posting. Tools like ExifTool can help.
10. Your Mother’s Maiden Name
- Security questions love this gem—but hackers love it more.
- If that info’s publicly accessible, it’s not secure.
Why This Matters
- $10 billion lost to online fraud in 2023 alone. Yeah, that’s what sloppy sharing can cost.
- Identity theft, phishing, doxxing, burglary—these aren’t scare tactics—they’re real consequences.
- Oversharing in public spaces equips malicious people with ammo.
Share Smarter: A Quick Guide
| What to Keep Private | How to Share Safely (If You Must) |
|---|---|
| Credit/debit cards, bank details | Use secure, trusted sites; post nothing public |
| Passwords & system credentials | Only via encrypted chat if unavoidable |
| Wi‑Fi name & password | Keep them offline—no exceptions |
| Work email & employer details | Keep venting to coworkers offline |
| Medical records or prescriptions | Share only with doctors or trusted confidants |
| Personal info about children | Blur identifiers; consent matters |
| Itineraries & travel dates | Post after returning |
| Photos with hidden metadata | Crop/blur images and strip EXIF data |
| Mother’s maiden name or SSN | Don’t trust security questions blindly |
Final Thoughts
Yes, posting that “OMG, I just got engaged!!!” status feels great in the moment. But remember scam artists and creeps are watching. So unless you’re aiming for fame – or identity theft – keep this stuff offline or safely stored in trusted digital vaults.