How Social Media Quizzes Put Personal Information at Risk

Social media quizzes can be engineered to ask questions that will provide answers to online security questions, making the quiz-taker more susceptible to identity theft attempts. As digital media platforms expand, consumers must be able to identify harmful quizzes.

How Does It Work?

Some social media quizzes are designed to pique your curiosity. Here are a few examples of quiz titles, like "What celebrity do I share the most qualities with?" or "How will things turn out for me in the new year?' The quiz will include seemingly innocuous questions that are supposed to generate so-called “accurate” results. When users access social media quizzes through external links, third-party access can be authorized to the device.

What Are the Warning Signs?

Be apprehensive of questions that are similar to security questions for your online accounts and password recovery. Answering these questions can enable scammers to authorize access to online accounts.

• What was the name of your high school mascot?

• What street did you grow up on?

• What was your first job?

• What was the model of your first car?

• What is your mother’s maiden name?

• What is the name of your best friend?

How to Protect Your Online Presence

Don’t include personal information on your social media accounts. Phone numbers, emails, date of birth, and addresses should not be visible on profiles. Confirm whether or not the device is up to date on the patches and system updates. Security issues can be restricted when the proper safety features are installed.

In addition, update online passwords to strengthen account security. Passwords should contain a minimum of 12 characters, including letters, numbers, and special characters. Enabling two-factor authentication for online accounts can also help protect your personal accounts.

While not every social media quiz is designed to misuse your information, exercising caution is essential. Avoid sharing personal details, and if you’ve recently taken a quiz, review your account activity and strengthen your passwords and security settings. A few proactive steps can help keep your information safe.