How burglars use social media

As of February 2022, it was revealed that around 57.60 million people are currently using social media - a number that has continued to rise over the years. With an influx of new apps to add to an ever-expanding repertoire, the list of security risks also continues to grow. Thankfully, there are a variety of ways to use your social media safely, but where to start? 

By thinking like a burglar and familiarising yourself with the key information they scour the web for, you can take the necessary steps to stay protected online. This will, in turn, ensure that your home and your belongings are kept safe, and far away from the prying eyes of burglars. 

How to avoid becoming a burglary target online 

Accepting friend requests

Do you really know who your friends are online? A common tactic that could be used by burglars is to pose as a seemingly innocent individual who will, once becoming ‘friends’ with you, look for personal information on your page, or hop into your inbox to start a conversation. In some cases, criminals might even disguise themselves as a friend or family member to stand a better chance of having their request accepted - so remain cautious. Confirm whether the account is legitimate before being tempted, or if you don’t think you know the person, consider why they would be adding you in the first place. What would you gain from adding them? Does the profile look suspicious? These are the questions you should be asking yourself before hitting ‘accept’. 

Adjust privacy settings

For most social media platforms, there will be an option to set your account as private. By adjusting your privacy settings, you’ll have complete control over who has access to your profile - which will reduce the risk of burglars stumbling across sensitive information. Don’t let your account fall into the wrong hands. 

Sharing personal information

Never share your personal information with anyone online, or reveal details in your posts which could later be used against you. Sharing your birthday, phone number or revealing your hometown will benefit a burglar as it might bring them closer to finding your address, or guessing your password. Not sure your account security is the strongest? Check out our guide on how to create a strong password.

Location check-ins

Tagging locations to your posts or checking-in to certain locations online tells a burglar that you’re away from home - automatically making your home a more appealing target for theft. Instead, be cautious of the information you share online, and consider whether it’s necessary to do so. 

Uploading holiday snaps

Just as sharing your location can unintentionally make you a target for theft, uploading your holiday snaps might also prick a burglar’s ears up upon seeing that your home is unoccupied. We’re not saying that you need to put a stop to the photos all together, but just be mindful when it comes to uploading. Perhaps set your profile to private for an added layer of privacy. Looking for more information on how to stay safe abroad? Head over to one of our previous articles for our best tips and tricks. 

Taking pictures of valuable items

Bought a brand new gadget or piece of tech recently? Be cautious of posting it online to prevent luring a burglar into your home. Just as homeowners are encouraged to hide their belongings in a secure environment, you should adopt the same approach online. If you do want to show off your new favourite toy - we’re all guilty of that - make sure to set your account to private first, and only share with people you trust. 

What else can you do?

So, besides staying safe online, what else can you do to avoid your home becoming a target of theft? 

Enhance home security

Investing in an intelligent home security package is one of the most effective ways to enhance home security. With SimpliSafe, you can customise your system based on your specific requirements, using devices such as an Indoor Camera and Outdoor Camera to watch over the premises, along with a variety of innovatively designed sensors to keep tabs on who enters your home. 

You can also benefit from our professional monitoring plan, whereby registered users can rely on our monitoring centre to keep watch over the property whilst they’re away. If someone were to break into your home, an alert would be sent to our centre, which would then require them to view the footage collected by your security camera (with your permission of course). In an emergency, they will alert the local authorities immediately to ensure that your home is tended to as fast as possible. 

Adopt a security focused mindset

Although there are risks involved when using social media, if you take the steps required to protect your profile, you’re more likely to dodge a burglary. There’s a whole host of other scams to be cautious of online, so if you are an avid social media user, adopt a security focused mindset to keep yourself safe. 

Protect your home from crime with the SimpliSafe monitored alarm system - a security enhancing device that’s built centred around your individual needs. Get in touch with us today to start designing yours.