{"id":84426,"date":"2018-02-13T07:00:28","date_gmt":"2018-02-13T15:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/securingtomorrow.mcafee.com\/?p=84426"},"modified":"2025-08-13T02:48:14","modified_gmt":"2025-08-13T09:48:14","slug":"what-you-need-to-know-about-protecting-your-identity-online","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/privacy-identity-protection\/what-you-need-to-know-about-protecting-your-identity-online\/","title":{"rendered":"Share Your Heart, Not Your Identity: Here\u2019s How You Can Stay Safe on Valentine\u2019s Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

I love Valentine\u2019s day, it\u2019s the one day of the year exclusively dedicated to sharing: we share our feelings, our affection, and special gifts with our loved ones. It\u2019s a great time to show the people in our lives just how much they mean to us. Thanks to social media and mobile friendly retailers, giving your loved ones the world is just a few clicks away.<\/p>\n

Tech devices have made it so much easier to share our hearts with the people we care about. But, could our emotional vulnerability ultimately leave us vulnerable to cyber-attacks? Historically, Valentine\u2019s day has been a big day for cybercrime. Criminals have found clever ways to take advantage of retail, online dating platforms, and social media to launch attacks against romantic hopefuls. If you\u2019re wondering how to avoid the most common V-day scams, here are a few things to remember when sharing the love online, and some useful tips to keep your precious data safe.<\/p>\n

Dating Apps Are a Data Goldmine <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Apps like Tinder or Zoosk are very attractive to hackers around this time of year. Considering the amount of intimate details shared on these platforms, dating apps are prime targets for cybercriminals looking to gain access to personal data and even payment information. In fact, online dating has seen a growing number of cyber-threats<\/a> since 2015.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re wondering \u201cwhat\u2019s the worst that could happen if my Tinder account is hacked?\u201d, look no further than the hundreds of pages of data<\/a> that the app keeps stored on its users. This particular dating app doesn\u2019t just match singles looking to spark a connection, it also collects behavioral data, such as how often you connect, when and where you connect, and even your \u201clikes\u201d and posts from other associated accounts. Some of this data might seem trivial to unsuspecting users, but if placed in the wrong hands this information could be detrimental to the security of your identity.<\/p>\n

Florist Are a Favorite for Phishing Scams <\/strong><\/h2>\n

A bright, beautiful bouquet of roses is my favorite gift to receive when February 14th<\/sup> rolls around. Unsurprisingly, flowers make one of the most common gifts given around Valentine\u2019s Day but, sending and receiving flowers may not be as harmless as it seems. In 2016, cybercriminals leveraged the popularity of flower services to attack unsuspecting vendors through a series of DDoS<\/a> attacks designed to extort money from them. While these attacks did not result in leaked information, it\u2019s important to be cautious of which vendors you allow to keep your credit card information on file. After all, you\u2019re expecting your florist to deliver an assortment of beautiful flowers, not a bouquet of personal data to cyber criminals!<\/p>\n

If an attack on your friendly florist isn\u2019t enough to peak your senses, hackers have also been known to take advantage of admirers looking to send<\/em> flowers. Cybercriminals prey on the likelihood that you\u2019ve sent flowers to your loved ones to launch phishing scams<\/a>, using bogus packages and \u201cFailure to Deliver\u201d notices to collect your data.<\/p>\n

Social Media Isn\u2019t Always Your \u201cFriend\u201d\u00a0 <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Valentine\u2019s day is easily one of the most socially sharable days of the year. With so much love in the air, you can\u2019t help but share pictures and posts about your loved ones with other friends and family online. Although most people associate cyber-attacks with some form of malware<\/a>, many do not realize how vulnerable they are when sharing personal information on social media. Through social engineering<\/a>, hackers use the information you share online to exploit you. The more personal information you choose to share on social media, the easier it is to exploit that information. Through social media, hackers can find out information about your job, the places you frequent, and even your mother\u2019s maiden name. But don\u2019t worry, we\u2019ve got a few tips up our sleeve to help you share all of the love you want across social.<\/p>\n

Seasonal events, like Valentine\u2019s Day, present an opportunity for cybercriminals to leverage their schemes. But don\u2019t be deterred from sharing the love\u2014 here\u2019s how you can connect securely and keep your data safe from hackers:<\/p>\n