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Social Media Privacy Risks

5 min read

When most Australians think 'social media privacy', they think about public posts. The real risks are usually elsewhere — old accounts, DMs, metadata, and the second-order data a profile reveals about your life. KNOMI Cyber works with families to map the actual risk surface.

The risks people miss

Old accounts on platforms you've forgotten still expose photos and contacts. DMs sit on company servers and surface in breaches. Geo-tagged posts pinpoint home and routine. 'Open to work' on LinkedIn signals to recruiters and scammers alike. Connected apps you authorised years ago still read your data.

A 30-minute privacy reset

Pick a quiet evening and work through each platform's privacy and security menu. Remove unknown sessions, revoke connected apps, switch 2FA from SMS to an authenticator app, and set posts older than 12 months to friends-only where possible. Audit who's in your friend lists — quality over quantity.

Settings worth tightening

  • Remove unknown logged-in sessions
  • Revoke unfamiliar connected apps
  • Move 2FA from SMS to an authenticator
  • Disable location on posts and photos
  • Set 'who can find me by email/phone' to friends

When privacy becomes a security issue

Privacy and security blur once an attacker is already targeting you. KNOMI Cyber helps Australians lock down all major platforms in one structured pass, capture evidence of harassment where it exists, and engage the platforms' often-hidden trust and safety paths.

Frequently asked questions

Is private messaging actually private?

Not unless it's end-to-end encrypted. Treat DMs as potentially discoverable in breaches and legal processes.

Should I delete old social accounts?

Yes, where you can. KNOMI Cyber helps prioritise which to delete and which to lock down.

What's the biggest one-step fix?

Move 2FA from SMS to an authenticator app on every social account. It defeats most takeovers.