Oversharing

Oversharing is the act of revealing too much personal information on social media or public platforms. While sharing aspects of our lives is part of staying connected, excessive sharing can put your privacy and safety at risk.

Attackers use publicly available information to craft personalized phishing attacks or even commit identity theft.

Information such as your birthday, address, travel plans, or even your workplace can be pieced together to impersonate you or exploit your digital identity. Some cybercriminals even monitor posts to know when you're away from home, leaving your physical property vulnerable.

How Oversharing Can Be Exploited

• Spear phishing attacks using details like names of family members or vacation plans
• Account recovery questions answered using shared data (e.g., “first pet,” “mother’s maiden name”)
• Burglary when criminals see you’re away from home
• Social profiling and identity theft based on your digital footprint

How to Avoid Oversharing

• Keep your social media profiles private and limit access to trusted people
• Think before posting birthdays, locations, or schedules
• Avoid “check-in” features or vacation announcements until you return
• Be cautious with photos that show your home, license plates, or documents
• Disable metadata (like geotags) on photos before sharing

Being mindful of what you share helps protect you, your family, and your assets. Treat your personal information like your bank PIN—only share it when absolutely necessary and with the right people.