26 September 2023

Police blow whistle on social media

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The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has issued a warning that the users of social media are posting too much personal and professional information, making them easy targets for criminals.

AFP Assistant Commissioner Justine Gough urged Australians to ‘cull and pause’ their cyber messages before posting to protect themselves from cyber criminals, fraudsters, organised crime gangs and sex offenders.

Assistant Commissioner Gough said the advice was not just for younger Australians, but for Government employees, people who worked in sensitive areas, and single parents who were on dating websites.

“You wouldn’t walk up to a stranger and let them know your security clearance or that you work in payroll in your organisation,’’ Assistant Commissioner Gough said.

“You wouldn’t give a stranger your phone number, your date of birth or provide them with a photo album of your children,” she said.

“But too many Australians are essentially doing this by posting this information online and not turning on strict privacy controls.”

Assistant Commissioner Gough said some Australians could be targeted because of their position within a Government Agency, company or university.

“Pause before you post”, she said.

“Ask yourself, ‘Do you really need to reveal your personal details.”

Assistant Commissioner Gough said people were also putting their financial security at risk as, in some cases, criminals were able to access financial accounts, steal money and open credit cards in the victim’s name through the harvesting of information.

She said people who were selling second-hand goods on websites and provided their mobile phone number could leave themselves vulnerable to phishing attacks.

“We also know child sex offenders have looked for victims by targeting single parents on dating websites,” she said.

“We are also urging all parents to think twice about posting photographs of their kids.

“Some platforms do not automatically remove geolocation data from images taken on mobile phones allowing for identification of where you work, your home address or other private locations.”

Assistant Commissioner Gough urged social media users to review location and privacy settings as well as parental controls and to turn off location settings, such as GPS, when it was unnecessary.

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