--- title: 5 Surprising Ways You Overshare Your Personal Information description: We use the internet every day, but are our sharing habits putting our privacy at risk? Read these five tips for protecting your personal information online. image: https://go.hfcu.org/hubfs/Protect%20Your%20Privacy%205%20Surprising%20Ways%20You%20Overshare%20Your%20Personal%20Information.png --- [![MoneyWisdom_HFCU_r2](https://go.hfcu.org/hs-fs/hubfs/MoneyWisdom_HFCU_r2.png?width=464&name=MoneyWisdom_HFCU_r2.png "MoneyWisdom_HFCU_r2")](https://go.hfcu.org/blog) Filter by Category** - [Show All](https://go.hfcu.org/blog) - [Security](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/security) - [Personal Finance](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/personal-finance) - [Auto](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/auto) - [Business](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/business) - [Credit Score](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/credit-score) - [Home](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/home) - [Credit Cards](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/credit-cards) - [Life Changes](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/life-changes) - [Insurance](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/insurance) - [Investments](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/investments) Filter by Category** - 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[dormant account (1)](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/dormant-account) - [inactive account (1)](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/inactive-account) # 5 Surprising Ways You Overshare Your Personal Information ** [Hanscom Federal Credit Union](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/author/hanscom-federal-credit-union) ** Jan 19, 2023 ![Selfie of a white man, woman, and their toddler on vacation at a beach. ](https://go.hfcu.org/hubfs/Protect%20Your%20Privacy%205%20Surprising%20Ways%20You%20Overshare%20Your%20Personal%20Information.png) We share our stories, connect with family and friends, and express ourselves online. But how much sharing is too much? Oversharing your personal information online can open you up to potential security risks. To protect yourself, it’s important to know these surprising ways that people unintentionally overshare their personal information. Let's take a look at five of them. ## Sharing Photos on Social Media Photos are one of the most common ways people share online. While it’s nice to post photos of yourself for your friends and family to enjoy, be aware that those photos could also be seen by strangers. If you post pictures of your home, car, or any other property you own, it may provide thieves with clues about what kind of items you have in your possession. It’s also important to avoid tagging yourself in locations or giving away any details about upcoming trips or events that could leave your home and property vulnerable while you’re away. ## Selling Your Car If you have a late-model car and you sell it or trade it in for a newer model, you may be selling more than your old car: you could be giving some sensitive personal information away as a bonus. How? With your auto's electronic system. Today's automobiles are computers with wheels. They can compute how fast you're driving, what direction you're heading, and even tell you how to get to your nearest Hanscom FCU branch using the easiest route possible. But these same computer systems store information, too: things like your address book, codes for your garage door, and where you work and live. Most automobiles have a factory reset option that'll erase this info; check your owner's manual for instructions. Your car may be connected to satellite radio, mobile wi-fi hotspots, and other data services, too. Unless you cancel them or have them transferred to your new vehicle, the new owners of your old vehicle will have access to them.  So [before you sell your car](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/how-to-write-a-successful-car-ad), check your owner's manual or visit your dealership to find out how you can thoroughly remove all personal information from your vehicle's electronic system.  ## Entering Personal Information on Websites When filling out forms online or signing up for accounts on websites, be sure not to give away any more information than is absolutely necessary. This includes things like your address, phone number, and birthdate—all pieces of data that can easily be used by malicious actors to hijack your identity or access sensitive accounts like banking and credit card numbers. When in doubt, always err on the side of caution when entering personal details online, especially on a website you're not familiar with.  ## Reusing Passwords Another way people can inadvertently give away their personal information is by reusing passwords across multiple accounts. When criminals get hold of usernames and passwords from one website they can use this same login information to gain access to other accounts associated with the same user name and password combination which puts all of those accounts at risk of being hacked into as well. It’s best practice to [generate unique passwords](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/https/go.hfcu.org/blog/password-manager) for each account you create so as not to put any sensitive data at risk for theft or misuse. ## Posting Too Much on Social Media Social media sites are often used as a platform for users to share content such as links to articles or opinions they may have on certain topics. However, if you post too much content without assessing how it could potentially reflect back upon you, it could come back and haunt you if someone decides to misuse this material against you, whether it be a simple unintentional share that goes viral, or Internet trolling or malicious defamation campaigns against your character, reputation, or family. Before posting anything onto your [social media platforms](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/5-tips-to-avoid-social-media-quiz-scams) think about how this material could be revealed in unexpected ways. You don't want to find yourself in an uncomfortable situation with an employer or potential job opportunity, a family member, or the news media in the future. We all want our lives online to reflect our true selves but we also need to consider how sharing our thoughts, feelings, and personal information with others can inadvertently harm us. Be mindful when posting any kind of content onto social media outlets not only to protect your reputation but to also safeguard yourself from potential harm from cyber criminals. Take necessary precautions when sharing anything online.       *Others are reading:* - [4 Best Practices To Protect Your Online Access HD Account](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/4-best-practices-to-protect-your-online-access-hd-account) - [Protect Yourself From Identity Theft](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/security) - [Why Are Credit Union Rates Better?](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/credit-union-rates) - [What Is Home Equity And How Does It Work?](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/what-is-home-equity-and-how-does-it-work) - [The Difference Between A CD And A Share Certificate](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/share-certificate)   ** [Security](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/security), [Auto](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/auto) [** How to Handle Credit Card Fraud ](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/what-to-do-credit-card-fraud) [** What's the Best Credit Score for a Mortgage? ](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/whats-the-best-credit-score-for-a-mortgage) ### About Author ![Hanscom Federal Credit Union](https://go.hfcu.org/hubfs/HFCU-Profile-1000x1000.jpg) Hanscom Federal Credit Union Hanscom Federal Credit Union, a purpose-driven $1.9 billion organization based in Littleton, MA, empowers its members to achieve financial wellness. Hanscom FCU serves over 95,000 members across the country and overseas through 16 branches, over 100,000 surcharge-free ATMs, 5,000 contact centers, and a web-based branch. Related Posts [![Protect Your Accounts from the Rise of Check Fraud](https://go.hfcu.org/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(16)-2.png) Protect Your Accounts from the Rise of Check Fraud ](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/protect-your-accounts-from-the-rise-of-check-fraud) [![How to Avoid ID Theft Over the Holidays](https://go.hfcu.org/hubfs/Blog%20Photos%20800%20x%20800px%20(1)-1.png) How to Avoid ID Theft Over the Holidays ](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/bid/155005/don-t-let-identity-theft-ruin-your-holidays) [![How to Avoid the Latest Financial Scam: AI Voice Cloning](https://go.hfcu.org/hubfs/Blog%20Photos%20800%20x%20800px-1.png) How to Avoid the Latest Financial Scam: AI Voice Cloning ](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/ai-voice-cloning-scam) ** - [**](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://go.hfcu.org/blog/protect-your-privacy-5-surprising-ways-you-overshare-your-personal-information/) - [**](https://X.com/share?url=https://go.hfcu.org/blog/protect-your-privacy-5-surprising-ways-you-overshare-your-personal-information/) - [**](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://go.hfcu.org/blog/protect-your-privacy-5-surprising-ways-you-overshare-your-personal-information/&summary=&source=CeBIT) ## You are Leaving Hanscom Federal Credit Union #### **Please read the following before proceeding to:** The website you are about to visit is solely the responsibility of the merchant or other party providing the site. The content of this third-party site, including materials and information, is solely the responsibility of the provider of the site. The Credit Union is not responsible for any such third-party content. Any transactions that you enter into with a vendor, merchant or other party that you access through this third-party site are solely between you and that vendor, merchant or other party. The Credit Union does not endorse the content contained in this third-party site, nor the organization publishing the site, and hereby disclaims any responsibility for such content. The Credit Union Privacy Policy does not apply to this third-party site, and for further information you should consult the privacy disclosures of the third-party site. ### Comment ### Subscribe To Blog ### Subscribe to Email Updates ### contact **Hanscom Federal Credit Union** 1610 Eglin St. Hanscom AFB, MA 01731 Call us: [800-656-4328](tel:8006564328) [https://www.hfcu.org/](https://www.hfcu.org/) ### About Us [The MoneyWisdom Blog](https://www.hfcu.org/the-moneywisdom-blog.html) ### Social ** ## You are Leaving Hanscom Federal Credit Union #### **Please read the following before proceeding to:** ### https://www.facebook.com/HanscomFederalCreditUnion The website you are about to visit is solely the responsibility of the merchant or other party providing the site. The content of this third-party site, including materials and information, is solely the responsibility of the provider of the site. The Credit Union is not responsible for any such third-party content. Any transactions that you enter into with a vendor, merchant or other party that you access through this third-party site are solely between you and that vendor, merchant or other party. The Credit Union does not endorse the content contained in this third-party site, nor the organization publishing the site, and hereby disclaims any responsibility for such content. The Credit Union Privacy Policy does not apply to this third-party site, and for further information you should consult the privacy disclosures of the third-party site. ## You are Leaving Hanscom Federal Credit Union #### **Please read the following before proceeding to:** ### https://X.com/HanscomFCU The website you are about to visit is solely the responsibility of the merchant or other party providing the site. The content of this third-party site, including materials and information, is solely the responsibility of the provider of the site. The Credit Union is not responsible for any such third-party content. Any transactions that you enter into with a vendor, merchant or other party that you access through this third-party site are solely between you and that vendor, merchant or other party. The Credit Union does not endorse the content contained in this third-party site, nor the organization publishing the site, and hereby disclaims any responsibility for such content. The Credit Union Privacy Policy does not apply to this third-party site, and for further information you should consult the privacy disclosures of the third-party site. ## You are Leaving Hanscom Federal Credit Union #### **Please read the following before proceeding to:** ### https://www.instagram.com/hanscomfcu/ The website you are about to visit is solely the responsibility of the merchant or other party providing the site. The content of this third-party site, including materials and information, is solely the responsibility of the provider of the site. The Credit Union is not responsible for any such third-party content. Any transactions that you enter into with a vendor, merchant or other party that you access through this third-party site are solely between you and that vendor, merchant or other party. The Credit Union does not endorse the content contained in this third-party site, nor the organization publishing the site, and hereby disclaims any responsibility for such content. The Credit Union Privacy Policy does not apply to this third-party site, and for further information you should consult the privacy disclosures of the third-party site. ## You are Leaving Hanscom Federal Credit Union #### **Please read the following before proceeding to:** ### https://www.linkedin.com/company/hanscomfcu/ The website you are about to visit is solely the responsibility of the merchant or other party providing the site. The content of this third-party site, including materials and information, is solely the responsibility of the provider of the site. The Credit Union is not responsible for any such third-party content. Any transactions that you enter into with a vendor, merchant or other party that you access through this third-party site are solely between you and that vendor, merchant or other party. The Credit Union does not endorse the content contained in this third-party site, nor the organization publishing the site, and hereby disclaims any responsibility for such content. The Credit Union Privacy Policy does not apply to this third-party site, and for further information you should consult the privacy disclosures of the third-party site. ## You are Leaving Hanscom Federal Credit Union #### **Please read the following before proceeding to:** ### http://www.youtube.com/c/HanscomFederalCreditUnion The website you are about to visit is solely the responsibility of the merchant or other party providing the site. The content of this third-party site, including materials and information, is solely the responsibility of the provider of the site. The Credit Union is not responsible for any such third-party content. Any transactions that you enter into with a vendor, merchant or other party that you access through this third-party site are solely between you and that vendor, merchant or other party. The Credit Union does not endorse the content contained in this third-party site, nor the organization publishing the site, and hereby disclaims any responsibility for such content. The Credit Union Privacy Policy does not apply to this third-party site, and for further information you should consult the privacy disclosures of the third-party site. ### Popular Posts [What You Need to Know About Putting Your Home in a Trust](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/what-you-need-to-know-about-putting-your-home-in-a-trust) ![older man looking at top retirement worry on digital device](https://go.hfcu.org/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202022-02-10T072804.753.jpg) [What You Need to Know About Your Federal Tax Bracket](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/what-you-need-to-know-about-your-tax-bracket) ![older man looking at top retirement worry on digital device](https://go.hfcu.org/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202021-03-22T123305.900.jpg) [6 Boat Types to Get on the Water](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/6-boat-types-to-get-on-the-water) ![older man looking at top retirement worry on digital device](https://go.hfcu.org/hubfs/images/Jet_Ski.jpg) [23 Organizations Dedicated to the Needs of Seniors](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/23-organizations-dedicated-to-the-needs-of-seniors) ![older man looking at top retirement worry on digital device](https://go.hfcu.org/hubfs/Senior%20citizens.jpg) [9 Smart Moves for Lottery Winners](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/lottery) ![older man looking at top retirement worry on digital device](https://go.hfcu.org/hubfs/images/lottery_winner.jpg) ### Recent Posts - [![National Credit Union Administration](https://go.hfcu.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NCUA-logo-small.png?width=95&name=NCUA-logo-small.png) ](https://www.ncua.gov/) [![Equal Housing Lender](https://go.hfcu.org/hs-fs/hubfs/EHL-logo-small.png?width=65&name=EHL-logo-small.png)](https://www.hud.gov/fairhousing) - @ 2023 [Hanscom Federal Credit Union](https://www.hfcu.org/) - Federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration. - [Privacy Policy](https://www.hfcu.org/content/docs/Privacy_Notice.pdf) **Disclosure:** Hanscom Federal Credit Union does not provide and is not responsible for any products, services, or overall website content available at any third-party sites linked within this blog. Moreover, Hanscom Federal Credit Union's privacy policies do not apply to any of the linked websites within this blog. Please consult the privacy disclosures on those linked sites for further information. ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Hanscom Federal Credit Union" }, "dateModified" : "April 13, 2023, 5:40:48 PM", "datePublished" : "2023-01-19 14:10:00", "description" : "We use the internet every day, but are our sharing habits putting our privacy at risk? Read these five tips for protecting your personal information online. 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