What will Google tell me about you?

Good Morning!

We’re back with another edition, shedding light on all the latest cybercrimes so you don’t get got!

Do you realize how easy it is to pull up all sorts of information on the internet about someone? A quick google search can reveal a ton. Addresses, phone numbers, photos, etc.. all there at the fingertips of anyone with a smart phone. Combine this with a public social media account and you can build a whole dossier on a person.

The practice of researching and collecting data from publicly available sources is called OSINT (Open Source Intelligence). OSINT is widely used by the military, and other government entities. Police officers use OSINT to gather useful intel on nefarious actors in order to build a strong case against them.

But guess who else uses OSINT…

Cyber criminals, hackers, scammers, con men etc. They gather these easily attainable breadcrumbs about your life, looking for ways to connect the dots and exploit any opening they can.

You might be thinking to yourself, “Well I’ve got nothing worth hiding”, and that might very well be true. The purpose of this newsletter is not to fear monger or make you paranoid, but our job is to make sure you’re aware of the risks.

Social engineering tactics, amplified by advancements in AI, are becoming increasingly sophisticated and harder to detect. With just a few key details about your life, malicious actors can orchestrate elaborate schemes to scam or hack you.

Here's our suggestion: take a proactive approach by conducting an OSINT review on yourself. Google your name, phone number, and email to see what information is publicly accessible. Platforms like Facebook can be a gold mine for intelligence, so consider adjusting your privacy settings accordingly.

While it’s impossible to completely wipe your existence from the internet, there are a number of ways to keep your digital presence private.

Next week, we’ll discuss ways to request your data be removed from data broker websites. See you then!

Keep OSINT in mind & Don't Get Got 

P.S. Your experiences matter. If you've encountered a scam or hack and have insights to share, we invite you to connect with us. Let's build a community that stands against cyber threats.