• Posted by: Eng. Donya Bino
• December 05, 2024

How Cybercriminals Use Public Data to Attack You

Cybercriminals use publicly available data to craft targeted attacks, steal identities, and exploit vulnerabilities. By analyzing your online presence, they can gather enough information to manipulate or harm you. Here's how they do it and what you can do to stay safe.

How Cybercriminals Exploit Public Data

1. Social Media Profiling:
   Cybercriminals analyze your social media accounts for personal details like your name, birthdate, location, and job. Even seemingly harmless posts, like a pet’s name or your favorite vacation spot, can provide answers to security questions.
2. Phishing Attacks:
   Using the information they collect, attackers create convincing phishing emails or messages tailored to you. These may mimic your workplace, bank, or even a friend.
3. Identity Theft:
   Public data, including photos and professional profiles, can be pieced together to impersonate you. This may lead to fraudulent financial activities or accessing your accounts.
4. Credential Stuffing:
   If your email address is publicly visible, criminals may try to breach your accounts by testing commonly used passwords or ones leaked in prior breaches.
5. Doxxing:
   Public data like addresses, phone numbers, and social media posts can be compiled and exposed online, leading to harassment or threats.
6. Physical Threats:
   Sharing real-time location data can put you at risk for theft or harm. For example, announcing you're on vacation could alert criminals that your home is empty.

Protecting Yourself

1. Limit What You Share Online:
   Avoid posting sensitive details like your full address, contact information, or personal schedule.
2. Check Privacy Settings:
   Regularly review the privacy settings on your social media accounts and restrict who can view your posts and profile.
3. Use Strong Passwords:
   Combine upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Avoid using personal information, such as birthdays or pet names.
4. Be Skeptical of Unsolicited Messages:
   If you receive an unexpected email, message, or call, verify its authenticity before providing information or clicking on links.
5. Monitor Your Online Presence:
   Search your name periodically to see what information is publicly available and remove any unnecessary data.

Cybercriminals rely on what you publicly share to craft their attacks. By being cautious about what you post and understanding how this data is used, you can significantly reduce your risk of being targeted.