In my previous blog post, I discussed cybersecurity and the insecurity of our information online. However, another hidden threat is yet to be seen. Your information is not only about your security, but also the security of your numerous friends. For instance, look at Facebook. You can control your privacy settings so that non-friends cannot see your timeline. However, note that if any hacker hacked into any of you 1000 friends, they have access to seeing your timeline. And underneath your timeline and social media, is you.
Because all the social media (most times) originate from your thoughts, and your initiative, they reveal bits of information that are unique to you. Your interactions, your interests, your likes/dislikes, you behavior. Even how you phrase your words can tell someone a lot about yourself. For example, in the simplest example, if your timeline is written primarily in German and you claim to study in Stony Brook University. Chances are you are probably an international student. And add that picture of that German guy who is tagged and who studies international affairs in Berlin. Well, now you're probably from Berlin.
And worst of all, it doesn't take a hacker to find that out. Even friends of friends who take careful attention and profile your timeline can determine these traits about you. Professional recruiters can tell what kind of person if you are active in social media. So sometimes, it is important to recognize that even the tiniest most insignificant comments and photos we post reveal our unique personalities and behaviors. And although separately they are insignificant, together, they form a big picture that can reveal who you are to a potential stranger.
One hack and put > 500 others at risk just because of how connected our networks are. Thus, it increasingly becomes a moral obligation to take measures to ensure security of our emails and social media accounts.
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