Sharing that old high school photo may not be as harmless as you think, says the Better Business Bureau.
There's been a trend lately that has people sharing old senior class photos on Facebook with the hashtag #ClassOf2020, all in honor of the graduating class of 2020. As we all stay home and forgo the traditional senior year activities, it's intended to be a show of support from the masses. It seems like harmless fun, right? Except that it's not, according to the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
The BBB addressed the recent #ClassOf2020 challenge and said outright it advises against participating. These types of viral challenges are known ways that scammers and hackers can access and steal personal information.
"Watch out, scammers or hackers who surf through social media sites will see these #ClassOf2020 posts, and will now have the name of your high school and graduation year, which are common online security questions. All it takes is an internet search to reveal more information about you, such as family members, your real name, birthdate or even where you live.
Better Business Bureau (BBB) cautions everyone to be aware of what they are sharing. Even if you think it’s just going to your friends, it could also be going somewhere else."
Though it seems sweet and fun, in reality, you're posting valuable personal information online for anyone to see and possibly opening yourself up to having your information stolen. Hackers who try to get into personal accounts will know the name of your high school and your graduating class year, two items often used in privacy and security questions.
The BBB offers these tips when it comes to sharing information and staying safe on social media:
- Resist the temptation to play along.
- Review your security settings.
- Change security questions/settings.
- You can report suspected scams to the BBB through their online Scam Tracker.
The last thing anyone needs right now is to have their information stolen and accounts hacked. Take a few moments to review your privacy and security settings on social media, and any other online accounts, to make sure your identity is safe. If you have been the victim of one of these scams, please share your experiences with us in the comments, and please be safe and think twice about what you share online!
