Scrolling through your Facebook feed, you stumble upon those popular quizzes that everyone is buzzing about. At first glance, they may seem harmless and innocent. However, there is a concealed peril lurking behind these seemingly harmless quizzes that can jeopardize your personal information and make you vulnerable to identity theft. It’s crucial to exercise caution and be mindful of the potential dangers they pose.
A man using a smartphone for text messaging is a common target for SMS scams or phishing attempts.
Law enforcement agencies are expressing concern over the proliferation of these quizzes.
Even though you may believe that your Facebook account is private, it’s important to note that anything you share, such as comments on posts or your own status updates, can be visible to anyone. This means that when you respond to those quiz questions about your first pet or favorite place, you could potentially be revealing answers to security questions that are employed to safeguard your accounts.
The “What’s Your Elf Name?” quiz is a well-known example. Although it may seem harmless, when you provide your first name and birth month to determine your elf name, you are unknowingly disclosing personal information that could potentially be exploited by scammers to commit identity theft.
To ensure your safety, what steps can you take?
A woman in desperate need holds her mobile phone tightly, hoping for a ray of hope.
When it comes to sharing information online, particularly on social media platforms, it’s important to exercise caution. Take a moment to consider the potential implications before answering quiz questions or disclosing personal details that could potentially be used to guess your passwords or security answers.
According to Rachel Rothman, an online safety expert and Chief Technologist for the Good Housekeeping Institute, she emphasizes the importance of maintaining a secure digital environment.
In April 2018, a scandal involving Facebook’s data came to light.
When you come across those tempting quizzes on your social media feed, take a moment to think before clicking. While they may seem like harmless fun, they could actually pose a risk to your online security. So, it’s important to be smart about what you share and be cautious before engaging with such quizzes.
