We all love sharing our lives on social media, but it’s important to remember that even innocent posts can have unintended consequences.
Thieves and burglars are known to scour social media profiles for information they can use to their advantage. They look for clues about when you’re not home, expensive items you own, and potential entry points into your house.
To help keep your home safe from potential thieves, security experts at ADT have shared their top tips for posting safely online.
Did you know?
According to the ONS, for the year 2022/23, UK burglaries are up by 4%.
That’s an additional 10,000 homes broken into!
Make sure you give your customers the best when it comes to their security!https://t.co/SdDWiomZWG#HomeSecurityMonth #NHSM23 pic.twitter.com/EKkAsg5Ndb
— Aldridge Security (@AldridgeSec) October 1, 2023
Six tips to avoid a social media break-in:
1. Don’t give strangers an online tour of your house
Avoid posting anything that reveals the layout of your property, as this can give potential burglars information about entrances and exits. Instead, focus on specific things in your posts rather than showing the entire room.
2. Keep your plans offline
It’s tempting to share your travel plans or visits to family and friends, but this can alert burglars to when your home will be empty. Save your holiday updates for when you’re back home. For added security, consider installing smart plugs to turn lights on and off, giving the impression that someone is home.
3. Avoid sharing geotags
Be cautious about adding the location of your home or checking in at places when you’re out. This can give burglars an idea of how far you are from your property and how much time they have to act. Turn off GPS tracking on your apps as an extra precaution, as some social media platforms may be sharing your live location.
4. Make sure you know who you are sharing with
Set your profile settings to private and decline friend requests from people you don’t know to minimize the risk of strangers using your posts against you. Be especially wary of empty pages that may have been created solely to identify targets online.
Shoplifting to be treated as a ‘high-harm’ cross-border crime on par with robbery, burglary and fraud by new national police team https://t.co/pow9qqtmSZ pic.twitter.com/Jfdv0lziuW
— Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) October 2, 2023
5. Keep any gifts you receive private
As the festive season approaches, it’s tempting to share all the gifts you’ve received with your friends. However, posting images or videos of gifts can give burglars insight into your financial situation and alert them to valuable items in your home. Keep presents out of view when sharing your happy memories online.
6. Consider what you post
The types of posts that can catch a thief’s attention include:
- Multiple vacation stories in a row
- Posts about weekend trips or check-ins
- Pictures from lunch or dinner dates
- Posts about new items, especially new cars or homes
Michele Bennett, General Manager at ADT UK&I, advises: “When you’re excited about a trip or receive gifts from loved ones, it’s natural to want to share your joy with others.
“However, it’s important to take steps to protect yourself and your home on social media. Be cautious when posting by following our tips, and keep your home and family safe.
“For even greater security, consider installing a fully integrated smart alarm system.
“Systems with cameras and doorbells provide an extra layer of protection, so you can have peace of mind, especially when you’re away from home.”