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PROJECT: THE RISKS OF POSTING YOUR PRIVATE LIFE ON SOCIAL MEDIA

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Sharing photos of your children and personal life on social media platforms like WhatsApp status can expose you

to several safety risks, particularly in South Africa, where crime rates and privacy violations are prevalent.

 

RISKS OF POSTING PHOTOS OF CHILDREN:

  • Online predators and exploitation:

    • Photos of children can be misused by online predators or paedophiles, especially if they contain suggestive poses or are geotagged.

    • Innocent photos may be edited or repurposed for illegal content, such as in child exploitation materials.

  • Kidnapping or targeting:

    •  Posting pictures along with location details (e.g., schools, parks, or frequent activities) can give criminals insights into your child’s routine, increasing the risk of abduction.

    • Criminals can use this information to plan targeted crimes, such as ransom kidnappings.

  • Digital footprint and consent:

    • Photos shared today may have long-term impacts on children’s privacy. 

    • As they grow older, they might not consent to their images being publicly available.

 

RISKS TO PERSONAL LIFE: 

  • Stalking and surveillance:

    • Sharing details about your daily life, family, or routines can make you a target for stalking.

    • Criminals might gather enough data to follow or harm you.

  •  Social engineering attacks:

    • Personal photos, combined with other information, can be used in phishing scams or impersonation schemes.

    • Criminals can use these details to contact you or your family with fake emergencies to extort money.

  •  Home invasions or burglaries:

    •  Posting photos while on vacation or away from home alerts potential burglars to your absence.

    • Pictures of your home or valuables can give criminals insights into your property layout.

  •  Identity theft:

    • Photos and captions often reveal names, dates, and other identifiers, which can be used to create fake profiles or commit fraud.

 

RISKS SPECIFIC TO WHATSAPP STATUS:

  • Limited privacy control:

    •  Even with privacy settings, people in your contacts list might take screenshots and share your content with others, bypassing your control.

  •  Broadcast to strangers:

    • In large or unverified contact lists, your updates may reach people you don’t trust, increasing the risks of data misuse.

 

HOW TO MITIGATE THESE RISKS:

  • Control privacy settings:

    • Limit your audience on WhatsApp and social media to trusted individuals.

    • Use the "Only Share With..." feature on WhatsApp Status to restrict who can view your updates.

  • Avoid geotagging:

    • Turn off location tagging for photos and videos.

  • Limit content:

    • Avoid sharing photos that reveal too much about your children’s routines, school, or other personal details.

    • Refrain from posting about vacations in real-time.

  • Educate yourself:

    • Learn about digital privacy risks and regularly review your online footprint.

  • Regularly audit contact lists:

    • Keep your WhatsApp and social media contact lists limited to people you trust.

  • Teach children digital safety:

    • Ensure your children understand the risks of oversharing and encourage them to avoid tagging themselves or others in photos without permission.

 

In South Africa, where crime and identity theft are prevalent, sharing personal content online

can unintentionally put your family at risk.


Adopting stricter privacy practices and reducing what you share online is crucial to enhancing safety.

 

Specialised Security Services invites the public to the Mike Bolhuis Daily Projects WhatsApp Group.

This group is important in delivering insights into the latest crime trends, awareness, warnings and the exposure of criminals.


HOW TO JOIN THE MIKE BOLHUIS DAILY PROJECTS WHATSAPP GROUP:

 
CONTACT MR MIKE BOLHUIS FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY MEASURES, PROTECTION, OR AN INVESTIGATION IF NEEDED.

ALL INFORMATION RECEIVED WILL BE TREATED IN THE STRICTEST CONFIDENTIALITY AND EVERY IDENTITY WILL BE PROTECTED.
 

Regards,

Mike Bolhuis

Specialist Investigators into

Serious Violent, Serious Economic Crimes & Serious Cybercrimes

PSIRA Reg. 1590364/421949

Mobile: +27 82 447 6116

Fax: 086 585 4924

Follow us on Facebook to view our projects -


EXTREMELY IMPORTANT: All potential clients need to be aware that owing to the nature of our work as specialist investigators there are people who have been caught on the wrong side of the law - who are trying to discredit me - Mike Bolhuis and my organisation Specialised Security Services - to get themselves off the hook. This retaliation happens on social media and creates doubt about our integrity and ability. Doubt created on social media platforms is both unwarranted and untrue. We strongly recommend that you make up your minds concerning me and our organisation only after considering all the factual information - to the exclusion of hearsay and assumptions. Furthermore, you are welcome to address your concerns directly with me should you still be unsatisfied with your conclusions. While the internet provides a lot of valuable information, it is also a platform that distributes a lot of false information. The distribution of false information, fake news, slander and hate speech constitutes a crime that can be prosecuted by law. Your own research discretion and discernment are imperative when choosing what and what not to believe.


STANDARD RULES APPLY: Upon appointment, we require a formal mandate with detailed instructions. Please take note that should you not make use of our services – you may not under any circumstance use my name or the name of my organisation as a means to achieve whatever end.


POPI ACT 4 of 2013 South Africa: Mike Bolhuis' "Specialised Security Services" falls under Section 6 of the act. Read more here: https://mikebh.link/fntdpv

 
SSS TASK TEAM:
 
 

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Our mailing address is:

Mike Bolhuis Specialised Security Services

PO Box 15075 Lynn East

Pretoria, Gauteng 0039

South Africa

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