Based on the findings of the Digital Superstitions survey conducted by Kaspersky, it appears that a significant majority of respondents in the UAE (60%) refrain from posting pictures with their significant others on social networking platforms. Kaspersky’s study sheds light on the reasons behind this hesitancy when it comes to sharing intimate moments online.
Sharing personal photos on social media can carry potential drawbacks, including the risk of unauthorized access due to data breaches, potentially exposing one’s personal information. Cybercriminals may exploit these photos to gather data for identity theft or phishing attacks, and even the embedded location information in photos can compromise an individual’s physical security by disclosing their whereabouts.
Participants in the survey have cited various motives for their reluctance to share photos with their loved ones. In the majority of cases (62%), individuals prefer to keep their personal lives private. A notable portion (13%) expressed dissatisfaction with their appearance in photos, while 21% mentioned that their partners are not comfortable with public sharing of joint pictures, with men more frequently voicing this concern than women. Additionally, 22% of those surveyed harbor fears that posting such photos might bring bad luck to their relationships or themselves.
Emad Haffar, Head of Technical Experts at Kaspersky, warns about the potential risks associated with sharing photos on social media, especially if accompanied by revealing captions or geotags. He highlights the concept of doxing, where adversaries publicly disseminate an individual’s personal information to tarnish their reputation or subject them to harassment. Doxers typically exploit personal photos, videos, out-of-context private correspondence, home addresses, phone numbers, workplace details, and more.
In light of these risks, Haffar emphasizes the importance of carefully considering the potential harm before posting photos, whether personal or shared with someone else, and obtaining permission if necessary.
1. Refrain from uploading photos containing sensitive information, such as document scans.
2. Avoid sharing information about friends and family members on public social network profiles.
3. Regularly review and adjust your privacy settings on social media platforms, opting for a private profile and accepting friend requests only from people you know personally.
4. Utilize strong, unique passwords for each account, change them periodically, and consider using password managers for added security.
5. Enable two-factor authentication where available.
6. Do not share data about other individuals with third parties without their explicit consent.
