The same principle applies online as in everyday life: anything we post or write can reach a lot of people – including complete strangers. That’s why, before we share any information, it’s worth pausing for a moment and looking at it ‘from the outside’, as if someone we didn’t know were viewing it. Many people seem to think that online threats only involve ‘sophisticated technical scams’. In reality, however, the problem is usually not WHAT we know, but WHAT we reveal. And this often happens by accident: when uploading a photo, sending a message to family, commenting on a post, or even buying something from an online shop. Before we publish anything, let’s ask ourselves three questions:

1. Could someone see something in the photo that they shouldn’t? (e.g. details of your home, documents, valuable items).
2. Does this information give away my plans? (e.g. “I’m going away tomorrow”, “I’m home alone”, “I won’t be back until Monday”).
3. Could a stranger use this information against me or my family? (fake phone calls, attempts to break into the home, impersonating us).

Let’s also stick to the ‘Friends Only’ rule: most content should be visible only to people we actually know. Privacy settings on Facebook, Instagram and Messenger allow you to restrict the visibility of photos and posts – it’s worth making use of them. Let’s also remember that:

• You don’t have to accept every friend request – it’s always better to ask for clarification and make sure (especially if someone is using a pseudonym or a false name). This is a common mistake: we accept an invitation because we feel bad about not recognising the person.
• If someone seems suspicious, has a hidden profile or keeps changing their details, it’s safer to delete that account.
• We don’t have to explain ourselves; it’s our account and our decisions.
• Under no circumstances should we send any photos ‘on request’ to people we don’t know. Common messages in this category include ‘Send a photo of your house, I want to see the garden’ or ‘Show me the balcony – what do those flowers look like in real life?’. We never send: photos of documents, photos of our home, photos of our children, or bank transfer receipts. If someone keeps pressing the issue, that’s a serious warning sign.

What can we do right now to feel safer?

1. Set your photos and posts to be visible only to friends.
2. Check your friends list and remove anyone you don’t recognise.
3. Turn off automatic location tagging in apps.
4. Delete photos of documents and bank transfer receipts from your phone.
5. Change your Facebook and Google passwords to stronger ones (at least 12 characters).
6. Enable two-factor authentication (SMS code or app).