Keep Private Online: 5 Personal Details You Must Never Share

Keep private online the data below, or you could face drained bank accounts, stolen identities, or real‑world stalking. Here’s what to hide — and exactly how.

We overshare on social media, cloud drives, even job boards. Keep private online the wrong piece of information and cyber‑crooks can stitch together your identity faster than you can say “two‑factor authentication.” Below are the five most dangerous details to leak, the nightmare scenarios if you do, and the simple fixes that protect you.

1. 🗺️ Real‑Time Location & Future Travel Plans

Why it’s risky:

Burglars track holiday posts to rob empty homes.
Stalkers follow live check‑ins.

Never post:

Boarding passes, hotel bookings, or live geotags.

Do instead:

Share photos after you return.
Disable “Location” on Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok.
Use a VPN on public Wi‑Fi.

Worst‑case leak: You advertise a two‑week trip — burglars empty your apartment the next day.

2. 💳 Financial Information

Includes: Credit‑card numbers, IBANs, PayPal emails, crypto wallet keys.

Why it’s dangerous:

Phishing sites mimic your bank to steal credentials.
Public wallets become honey pots for scammers.

Protective steps:

Mask cards with virtual numbers (Privacy.com, Revolut).
Never DM financial screenshots.
Enable instant fraud alerts from your bank.

Worst‑case leak: Zero‑click SIM‑swap drains your accounts in 15 minutes.

3. 🪪 Government IDs & Personal Numbers

Think: Passport scans, driver’s licence, SSN/National Insurance.

Consequences:

Identity theft, fraudulent loans, tax scams.
GDPR fines if employee data leaks in EU.

Best practice:

Obscure document numbers before emailing.
Use encrypted cloud links with expiry dates.
Store ID scans in password‑protected archives.

4. 📸 Intimate Photos & Private Messages

Risks:

Sextortion: hackers demand money or publish nudes.
Revenge porn laws differ — removal is slow and painful.

Stay safe:

Never store intimate media unencrypted.
Use disappearing messages (Signal, Snapchat) with trusted partners only.
Activate remote‑wipe (Apple, Android).

5. 🏥 Health & Genetic Data

Why it matters:

Insurers in some U.S. states can price‑gouge on disclosed conditions.
Employers may discriminate subconsciously.

Tips:

Revoke fitness‑app data sharing with social media.
Use aliases on DNA ancestry sites.
Ask medical portals to enable MFA.

Worst‑case leak: Your depression diagnosis surfaces; job offers vanish without explanation.

🔒 Quick‑Action Checklist

Enable two‑factor authentication everywhere.
Use password managers to create unique logins.
Review app permissions monthly.
Set social accounts to Friends only.
Purge old cloud backups and shared links.

❓ FAQ

They mask IP geolocation, but metadata (camera EXIF, posting habits) can still reveal where you are. Remove geotags before uploading.

Is private browsing enough to protect sensitive data?

No. Incognito only hides history locally; ISPs and trackers still see you. Use encrypted DNS and privacy add‑ons.

How often should I audit my online presence?

At least once every quarter — monthly if you post heavily or travel often.

🛡️ Final Warning

Ignoring these five areas is like leaving your front door open with a neon “WELCOME HACKERS” sign. Keep private online the information above, and you’ll stop 90 % of common attacks before they start.