A novel trend has surfaced across Instagram, where users are engaging in a new wave by sharing responses to 11 intriguing questions covering aspects such as age, height, birthdate, and even queries about personal fears.
While this might appear innocuous at first glance, a cybersecurity expert has sounded the alarm on the proliferation of this trend, as reported by the Daily Mail. Eliana Shilo, a cybersecurity and strategic risk analyst, took to TikTok to caution her followers about the potential risks associated with the “Get to Know Me” trend, urging them to promptly remove any associated posts or videos.
Shilo highlighted the perilous nature of the trend, suggesting that it could present an opportunity for malicious actors to exploit users. The concern lies in users unknowingly using precise personal information, divulged through these responses, as passwords across various online domains, from banking services to email accounts and credit cards.
In a video, Shilo candidly admitted, “I won’t lie, I almost fell victim to this.” While candidly discussing her own phobias, she temporarily halted, realizing that some questions mirrored the answers to several of her security queries.
Swiftly, she posted another TikTok video, emphatically urging everyone to delete their posts associated with the trend immediately. However, skepticism arose among her followers, who dismissed her concerns, asserting that their responses bore no relevance to their passwords or security questions.
In response to the skepticism, Shilo released yet another video, elucidating the dangers of sharing a comprehensive list of personal information online. She underscored the risk, stating, “By using your birthdate, they can know a lot about you and use that information to access some of your accounts.”
Although the trend initially gained traction on Instagram stories, which vanish after 24 hours, numerous users reposted it on TikTok using the hashtag #GettoKnowMe. This has inadvertently provided a swift and uncomplicated avenue for infiltrators and scammers to harvest individual personal details.
The UK Ministry of Justice echoes Shilo’s caution, advising everyone to “exercise prudence before sharing anything online or divulging information in email communications.” They emphasize the inherent risk in sharing information with unknown entities, asserting that it constitutes one of the foremost online security hazards.
Similarly, the National Cyber Security Alliance issues a warning against divulging personal information to any entity, emphasizing that a significant number of individuals underestimate internet security, willingly sharing private data without due concern. They stress the individual’s pivotal role as the primary line of defense for personal data and underscore the risk of data leakage in the event of a breach at the company with which the data was shared.
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