It’s great to share your travel photos on social media... or is it?

In October 2016, Kim Kardashian was in Paris for Fashion Week when five gunmen broke into her hotel room and fled with nearly $10 million worth of jewelry. How did the criminals know that just then the well-known celebrity was alone in her hotel room without her bodyguard? Easy—all they had to do was check her movements on social media.

Of course, not all of us walk around the beautiful neighbourhoods of Paris with an 18.88 carat diamond on our fingers. But if you’re not careful, the trail you leave on social media can reveal a lot—where you live, what valuables you own, your comings and goings, etc.—especially to someone who’s up to no good.

In a survey of 50 ex-burglars in the UK, 78% of them used social media to identify homes whose owners were absent.

Worrying? Here’s a mini-guide on how to protect yourself.

SOCIAL MEDIA AND BREAK-INS: THE TOP PITFALLS TO AVOID

1. Revealing your address

Never post photos of the outside of your home or a detail that could give a clear indication of where you live (such as the street number). Did you advertise your apartment for rent on a site like Kijiji? Just indicate the neighbourhood instead of providing the full address. Otherwise it’ll be just as if you listed all your valuables and let everyone see what you’ve got.

2. Reporting your location

Avoid telling everyone where you are by “checking in” on social media, or by using the geolocation features of social media platforms every time you step out. Remember that if your profiles are public, so are all the information they contain. Also, check your cellphone settings to make sure the geolocation function isn’t permanently on. Otherwise, a simple photo could help locate you via the GPS data in the file.

3. Sharing travel photos... during your trip

There is no clearer sign to a burglar that you’re away from home than a picture of your toes in the sands of Punta Cana. Wait until you’re back to share your memories, just like in the old days. Yes, it’s hard. But you’ll protect yourself against all those who could take advantage of your absence to relieve you of your valuables.

4. Displaying your wealth on social media

Have you decided to buy the watch of your dreams or start a collection of contemporary art? Congratulations! However, it would be wiser not to display your valuables on all your Internet accounts, even the ones that are private. After all, you’d never reveal how much you made on the stock market!