BE careful with a very sinister type of social media message.
That’s the advice from cyber-experts who say it’s important not to reply to a common online post.
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Insiders at cybersecurity giant McAfee say you should “skip the online quizzes”.
These popular social posts – available on major apps for your iPhone or Android – often ask a few key questions about your life that seem harmless.
And in return you’ll find out a fun “fact” about yourself.
But McAfee said that these posts can give crooks all the info they need to break into your accounts – and potentially even your bank.
According to McAfee, some common quiz posts you might see on apps like Facebook include:
- Which superhero are you?
- What’s your spooky Halloween name?
- What’s your professional wrestler name?
“You’ve probably seen quizzes like these crop up in your feed sometimes,” McAfee said.
“Shadily, these quizzes might ask for the name of the street you grew up on, your birthdate, your favorite song, and maybe the name of a beloved first pet.”
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This might seem harmless, but there’s a very sinister purpose behind them.
By answering with your result, crooks can work backwards to find out key info about your life.
And they can then use this to raid your online accounts.
McAfee warned: “These are pieces of personal information, sometimes the answer to commonly used security questions by banks and other financial institutions: Like, what was the model of your first car?
“With this info in hand, a hacker could attempt to gain access to your accounts.
“Needless to say, skip the quizzes.”
McAfee also recommended being more careful with the info shared about you online.
The cyber-experts warned: “When was the last time you Googled yourself?
“The results might reveal all kinds of things, like your estimated income, the names and ages of your children, what you paid for your home, and, sometimes, your purchasing habits”
McAfee said web users should consider “cleaning up your personal data trail” regularly.
