People share online to feel connected. It allows individuals to celebrate life’s milestones, stay in touch with loved ones, reconnect with past relationships, and be part of a community. Social media makes it easy to share updates, photos, and personal achievements, helping us maintain relationships in an increasingly digital world. But while there’s nothing wrong with wanting to connect, the ZDNet article, “Oversharing online: 5 ways it makes you an easy target for cybercriminals,” highlights how sharing too much can put your personal and financial security at serious risk.
From a financial planner’s perspective, online oversharing creates opportunities for cybercriminals to exploit what may seem like harmless information. “We often remind clients that bad actors can use details like birthdays, pet names, or vacation photos to guess passwords or build convincing phishing emails,” says a fee-only financial planner at EKS Associates. “It’s not about avoiding social media altogether, but about being selective and smart about what you share.”
At EKS Associates, we take financial security seriously. Protecting clients’ personal information is a top priority, and we are vigilant about maintaining confidentiality in all our communications. Please remember: no one from EKS Associates will ever request sensitive personal or financial information via email or any online platform. If you ever receive a request that seems questionable—or simply want to confirm—please call us directly. We’re here to help and would rather confirm a communication than risk your information being compromised.
Staying safe online is a shared responsibility. By practicing good digital hygiene and limiting the personal details you share, you can help keep your identity and finances secure.
Check out the ZDNet article, “Oversharing online: 5 ways it makes you an easy target for cybercriminals,” to learn more.
