Social media makes it easy to share the details of everyday life: where you’re going, where you work, what you’re buying, who you’re spending time with, and even when you’re away from home. While these posts may feel harmless, it’s easy to share too much personal information, giving scammers the opportunity to make their messages more convincing.
Your digital footprint is the trail of information you leave behind online. It includes things you intentionally share, like photos and posts, as well as information collected through websites, apps, and online accounts.
Think Before You Share
Scammers can use information from social media to build a profile of you. Your birthday, your pet’s name, workplace, or hometown could help someone guess answers to security questions or make a phishing message feel more personal.
For example, posting that you’re leaving for vacation could tell someone that your home may be unattended. Sharing a photo of a plane ticket, boarding pass, or other document could expose information you didn’t intend to make public. Even seemingly innocent details can become useful when combined with other information available online.
A Few Simple Ways to Reduce Your Digital Footprint
You don't have to stop using social media to protect your information. Start by taking a few minutes to:
- Review your privacy settings. Check who can see your posts, profile information, friends, or followers.
- Think twice before posting personal details. Consider whether someone could use the information to answer a security question or impersonate you.
- Avoid sharing sensitive documents. This includes driver's licenses, Social Security cards, boarding passes, and financial information.
- Be cautious with quizzes and giveaways. Some may ask for personal details that could be useful to scammers.
- Review old posts. Information you shared years ago may no longer need to be public.
- Be careful with location information. Consider turning off location sharing when it's not necessary and avoid publicly announcing that your home will be empty.
Don't Forget About Your Financial Accounts
Protecting your digital footprint is only part of protecting your finances. It's also important to regularly monitor your accounts so you can spot something suspicious quickly.
NW Plus members can use Cards+ through the NW Plus mobile app to take greater control of their debit card. Members can turn their debit card on or off, set transaction and location controls, receive alerts, review transactions and view up to 12 months of spending insights.
You can also use Credit Sense, available through NW Plus online and mobile banking, to access your free TransUnion credit score and report, set credit goals, and use the simulator to understand how certain financial decisions could affect your credit.
Another simple step? Keep your eStatements and eNotices turned on. You can receive an email alert when a new statement or notice is available. Reviewing these regularly can make it easier to notice unfamiliar activity.
Make Your Digital Footprint Work for You
You can't erase everything you've ever shared online, but you can be more intentional about what you share going forward. A few minutes reviewing your privacy settings, financial accounts, and credit information can go a long way toward making your personal information harder for scammers to use.
For NW Plus members, tools like Cards+, Credit Sense, and eStatements/eNotices make it easier to stay aware of what's happening with your money, while helping you build safer financial habits online.
Never share your account number, passwords, answers to security questions, or other account information. We will never ask you for this type of information when we call or email you. If someone claiming to be a NW Plus CU representative asks for sensitive account information over the phone or in an email, end the conversation immediately, and call us at 425.297.1000 or come to one of our branches to report the incident.
