It’s that time of year again where proud parents are taking pictures of their children kitted out in school uniform as they head off for the new term - but security experts have warned that posting these snaps online could pose a danger to families.
ADT Security Services said that parents may unintentionally be sharing personal information in the photos that could leave them vulnerable to attacks from burglars and online scammers. The security business added that while most parents are already careful not to show their child’s uniform logo in pictures shared online, there are several other steps they should take for extra protection.
ADT managing director Glenn Amato told the Liverpool Echo : “As schools across the country reopen following the summer holidays this September, many well-meaning parents will be uploading photos of their children on social media platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram to celebrate the milestone.
READ MORE: All the school term and holiday dates parents need to know for 2022/23 and 2023/2024
“But as social feeds become filled with seemingly harmless photos of smiling children and beaming parents, these images could sadly be opening households up to attacks from burglars and online fraudsters. The issue is that these images can end up unwittingly containing a wealth of personal information that could be dangerous in the wrong hands.”
To protect yourself from criminals, ADT advises turning off location data on your phone and not tagging your location on social media. They also warn parents to ensure there is nothing in the background of the photo that could make their home easily recognisable to thieves, such as a unique door or garden furniture.
If you take a picture of your child standing outside the front door, be sure to remove your door number before posting the image on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or elsewhere by blurring it or cropping it out. And finally, if you take photos in the house, make sure not to show any security systems that you have set up inside.
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