{"id":1682,"date":"2013-04-19T10:00:14","date_gmt":"2013-04-19T14:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/me-en.kaspersky.com\/blog\/?p=1682"},"modified":"2020-02-26T18:56:38","modified_gmt":"2020-02-26T14:56:38","slug":"risks-checking-in","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/me-en.kaspersky.com\/blog\/risks-checking-in\/1682\/","title":{"rendered":"The Risks of ‘Checking In’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sure, it sounds like a great idea to check into your favorite bar or coffee shop on Facebook, Foursquare, Yelp, or any number of applications that let you make similar announcements of where you are and what you like.<\/p>\n

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But when these activities can incorporate precise GPS coordinates, which create a lot of reasons why it\u2019s a bad idea to do this \u2014\u00a0or at least why there are significant risks that come along with such social media activity<\/span><\/a><\/span> that must be managed very carefully.<\/p>\n

Revealing addresses<\/b><\/strong>. When you check in or post photos or do anything that incorporates GPS coordinates, you can be pinpointing exact addresses. If you do this at your home or those of your friends, you broadcast those home locations to the public (when posted in tandem on Twitter), exposing yourself and your loved ones to burglary or worse.<\/p>\n

Not at home<\/b><\/strong>. If you are in one place, you are not in another. That\u2019s a time-space reality we all know, burglars included. So if you\u2019re checked in at a restaurant, you\u2019re not at home. Your friends know this, and if you also broadcast that information on Twitter<\/span><\/a><\/span>, so do potential social-networking thieves who, if they know or are able to determine where you live, now have free reign to invade your home.<\/p>\n

There are significant risks that come along with such social media activity that must be managed very carefully.<\/div>\n

Things to steal<\/b><\/strong>. You just bought a new TV or car or watch and you want your friends to know. But when you photo on Instagram or Twitter \u2014 venues where anyone can follow you and see what you post \u2014 there are lots of strangers who now know that you own this new valuable thing. And if you\u2019ve previously revealed your address, you could be in trouble. This has been an issue for the children of the insanely wealthy, but it could become one for you, too, if you\u2019re not careful.<\/p>\n

Children\u2019s safety<\/b><\/strong>. Last but far from least is the potential threat that comes when children<\/span><\/a> <\/span>reveal their whereabouts. Predators are nothing if not Internet savvy these days, and if your kid is checking in at a public location like school or the movie theater \u2014 or worse still, at home \u2014they are potentially putting themselves in danger.<\/p>\n

So how should you use these popular check-in apps?<\/p>\n