Don’t let what happened to Shoshanna Lonstein Gruss happen to you. Here are the top mistakes people make, leaving themselves vulnerable to theft.
- You post about your vacation while you’re on it.
“Burglars are smart — they check social media” for empty apartments, said security expert Vincent Guastamacchia, co-founder of Perimeter Agency.
- You Instagram your new Birkin bag.
Don’t share what valuables you own with anyone.
“Jealousy is a major problem in our society,” Guastamacchia, a former NYPD detective, said. “That’s where crime originates — wanting what you can’t have.”
- Your password is totally obvious.
If you run a blog about your dog, don’t use his name as your password. Similarly, don’t share your birthday on Facebook — especially when it’s also your PIN number.
Guastamacchia recommends changing passwords quarterly and using an encryption service.
- You play Pokémon Go incessantly.
Not only are you blasting your whereabouts, your phone is more easily compromised when Bluetooth is on.
