Is social media putting your identity at risk?

* This article is sponsored by Equifax.

Is social media putting your identity at risk?

Identity theft is a growing problem in Canada. The more we publicly share about our lives online, the more likely that information will be misused. Sometimes a post that seems harmless can reveal sensitive information like birthdays, addresses, pet names or vacation plans, which fraudsters can use to hack into accounts or finances.

This article outlines strategies Canadians of different age groups can use to protect their social media accounts. It also explains how a multi-layered credit and cybersecurity solution like Equifax Complete^TM Protection can help you spot signs of fraud faster, protect your online interactions and help you recover from identity theft.

What is identity theft?

Identity theft happens when someone steals personal information like your name and Social Insurance Number and uses it to commit fraud. Cybercriminals often use phishing emails that mimic trusted brands like Facebook or Instagram to trick people into revealing personal details that can be used for fraud. They also scan social media profiles, looking for clues like hometowns, relatives’ names or schools, which they use later to impersonate you online.

Without proper monitoring, it doesn’t take long to become a victim of identity theft. Once fraudsters have your information, they can do anything from taking control of your social media profiles to accessing your bank accounts. Some even open credit cards in their victim’s name, potentially causing long-term damage to their financial health. Situations like this can have a negative impact on credit scores, financial stability and even mental well-being.

Taking proactive steps to protect yourself and your family online can help reduce these risks.

Are your social media accounts at risk?

Social media accounts often contain personal information, making them attractive targets for hackers.

Here are some simple ways to make your accounts and information more secure:

• Change passwords regularly and use a password manager for easy organization. Don’t use any words, numbers or phrases that would be easy to guess (like names, birthdays, addresses, etc.).
• Make your profiles private. Be mindful of friend requests from people you don’t know and from people you’re already connected with—these can be the first step in identity fraud.
• Check for any unusual activity, like outbound messages from your account that you didn’t write, and pay attention to alerts about new logins you didn't authorize.
• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on each account for extra security.
• Be suspicious of emails asking for personal information, even if they appear to come from a social media platform. If it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.
• Delay posting photos of your vacations until you’re home safe and sound. Posting while you’re away lets your followers know where you are, and that your home may be empty.

How to improve your online security

Social media is popular across every age group, but each demographic faces slightly different security risks.

Here are some practical tips to help protect your information, based on age group:

For seniors

Seniors are seen as an easy target for a few key reasons. Some have more money, they’re home to answer the phone midday, they may be less tech-savvy and more trusting, and many don’t have anyone to ask for financial advice.

Here are a few ways seniors can stay safe online:

• Be cautious of phishing messages. If you get an unexpected message or request, verify it before responding. For example, if you get an email that says it’s from your bank, phone your bank directly to check if it’s legitimate.
• Avoid sharing personal details like birthdates, addresses and family names publicly. They can all be used to commit identity theft.
• Create a unique password for each account. Long passwords with a mix of letters, numbers and symbols are more difficult to hack. Password managers can help create and store complex passwords, so you don’t have to worry about keeping a list.
• Review your accounts regularly, and pay attention to any alerts you receive about unfamiliar logins. This will help you detect potential threats early on.

For Gen Z

Gen Z grew up with access to the internet and social media, making them confident about navigating their credit and finances online. However, they’re still at risk of identity theft, fraud and hacks.

Here are some tips to help this generation stay safe online:

• Sharing your real-time location on social media (or even directly with friends) can give away too much information. Consider turning off location access on apps.
• Scammers use fake deals or promotions to get people to click on harmful links or give up personal information, so beware of anything that seems too good to be true.
• If a social app asks for access to contacts, files or other data, consider whether the access is necessary. Restricting permissions can add an extra layer of security.
• Though you may be used to documenting your life online, keeping details like schools, employers or travel plans private can help prevent identity theft.

For parents (on behalf of their kids)

Parents play an important role in teaching their children safe social media habits.

Here are some tips to help parents keep their children safe online:

• Teach children why it’s risky to share details like school names, addresses or birthdays.
• Set privacy controls to limit who can see and interact with your child’s profile.
• Look through your child’s friend and follower lists to identify unfamiliar or suspicious accounts.
• Limit permissions on apps that request access to photos, contacts or data. This helps to reduce privacy risks.

Use next-level ID fraud protection

For $34.95 a month, Equifax Complete Protection provides a suite of tools to help keep your personal data and devices safe online, help you monitor your credit and ID, and help you recover if your identity is stolen. The included social media monitoring service provided by ZeroFox scans your social media for threats such as account impersonation, phishing campaigns, identity theft and account takeovers. You’ll be alerted to suspicious activity so you can act quickly.

On top of social media monitoring, you’ll get daily credit monitoring and alerts to notify you of key changes to your Equifax credit report, such as new credit card or loan applications, that can help you spot fraud faster. You also get WebScan, which monitors the dark web—hidden websites not accessible through regular web browsers—to see if your personal information has been shared there.

If your identity is stolen, Equifax’s restoration specialists will help you recover, and you can get up to $1 million in identity theft insurance (not available in Quebec).

Equifax Complete Protection offers an extensive set of benefits that can make a big difference in your security and peace of mind.

The bottom line

With identity theft on the rise, staying vigilant about social media security is more important than ever. Following straightforward safety practices and using tools like Equifax Complete Protection can help you monitor potential threats, address fraud early, and protect your personal information.

Get more details about Equifax Complete Protection.

Also read:

• What to know when buying the Equifax Complete Protection product
• Credit card fraud 101
• Financial fraud: Are you covered?
• Credit scores explained