Is Social Media Making Your Property a Target for Burglars?

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Is Social Media Making Your Property a Target for Burglars?

Social media networks like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram have become an integral part of our daily lives. According to the Pew Internet Project, nearly 3 in 4 U.S. adults now use social media on a regular basis — a number that’s expected to increase in the years to come. While posting new updates about your personal life may seem harmless enough, however, it could place your home or business at a greater risk for burglary.

Hidden EXIF Data in Photos

One of the many ways in which burglars are using social media to target homes and businesses is by identifying exchangeable image file format (EXIF) data in photos. If a homeowner takes a photo while he or she is away on vacation, for instance, a burglar may be able to identify the homeowner’s location via EXIF data contained in the photo. Each time you take a photo with your camera or smartphone, hidden data is stored in the file. This may include the camera name and model, date and time, ISO speed, resolution, and even the GPS coordinates from which the photo was taken. Burglars may look at GPS data to determine whether or not a home is occupied.

You can strip EXIF data from your photos in just a few easy steps. If you are using Windows, right-click on the photo file and choose Details > Remove Properties and Personal Information. Windows will then automatically remove all EXIF data from the photo file, including GPS coordinates. Alternatively, you can use a separate third-party app to clean up your photos.

Location-Sharing Apps

Another risk posed by social media involves location-sharing apps. Many users download and install new apps without taking note of their privacy settings. Unfortunately, this may result in their GPS coordinates or other location data being shared on social media. To disable location tracking on Android devices, access Settings > Location Services > and toggle the GPS off. If you wish to use GPS again, just go back into this option and toggle it back on. For Apple devices, access Settings > Privacy > Location Services > System Services > and toggle the Status Bar icon on. This will allow you to specify which apps you want to share your location and which ones you don’t.

Leaving Social Media Profiles Set to Public

Why is this a problem? Well, if your social media profiles are set to public instead of private, anyone can see what you post. So while you may assume that only your friends and family members are receiving the messages, the fact is that anyone can access them, including burglars and other individuals with nefarious intent. You can set your Facebook profile to private by selecting the home arrow at the top of your screen and then selecting “Friends.” Now only your Friends will be able to see your Facebook posts.

Need some help figuring out to protect your home or business from intruders? Contact us and we’ll be happy to analyze your needs and work with you to find the best combination of products and services.