Three things you should never share on Facebook

Using Facebook is a fantastic way to keep in touch with friends and family. However, certain features on the platform can pose a security risk. To protect yourself, never share these three things on Facebook.

1. Your full birth date and place of birth
A study from Carnegie Mellon University found that this information could be searched in publicly available databases and bring up your Social Security number. Sharing this information therefore puts you at risk of identity theft.

2. Your mother’s maiden name
A common security question for online accounts asks your mother’s maiden name. Posting this information on Facebook could allow others to access these accounts.

3. A status revealing that you’re on vacation
This may be interesting for your friends to hear about, but it may also be interesting for burglars, as it notifies them your house is empty. Recently, the New York Times reported on a gang of burglars in New Hampshire who used the tactic of scouring Facebook for posts of this kind. (On this same note, it isn’t a good idea to have your address on Facebook.)

So, by all means connect with friends and family members on Facebook: just make sure to use it and other social media platforms wisely.