The 5 Hidden Risks Of Social Media Security

Social media is a great way to expand your business, stay in touch with family and friends, and learn more about the world around you. Today, over two billion people use social media, which means it’s a hotcake for personal and business data. As such, it is a prime target for hackers and other cybercriminals.

One of the reasons cybercrime targeted on social media accounts has been prevalent in recent years is that users are unaware of the hidden security risk of social media security. Besides, many users are still negligent of security protocols.

Here are some of the hidden security risks of social media you need to be aware of:

1.      Lack Of KYC Verification

Know Your Customer (KYC) is a process that helps companies verify the identity of their customers so they can better understand who they’re doing business with and what kind of risk they may be taking on. KYC’s verification cannot be understated, and it’s crucial for security, compliance, and fraud prevention.

KYC is critical for security in social media because it helps verify each account user. This can help prevent ghost and pseudo accounts that people can use to monitor others. For example, without KYC, a private Instagram viewer can spy on your account without your knowledge of who they are.

2.      Social Media Spying

Social media spying is a type of hacking that involves using social media platforms to access your personal information. Social media spying can be as simple as reading your posts, or it could be more invasive and involve accessing private messages, photos, and videos from your account. For instance, some apps can see private accounts on Instagram, which means someone could be stalking you even when you restrict your account.

This type of spying is motivated by financial gains, such as stealing credit card numbers or bank details, and for political manipulation to influence elections. Social media espionage can even have serious implications for national security. Imagine what would happen if terrorists were able to hack into the accounts of government officials and obtain classified information.

3.      Social Engineering

Conclusion

Whenever you sign up for a new service, think about the kind of information it asks from you. If you don’t want to share your data with a third party, don’t. Remember to be careful about what information you post on social media. No one wants their home address to be publicly available. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, when in doubt, don’t give it out.