It can be tempting to post a photo of yourself at the airport, on a ski slope or with your feet in the sand. However, those who share their happiness and their excitement of being on vacation on social networks, while they are far from home, would be more likely to be robbed.
An online survey conducted by the firm Léger on behalf of the insurer Allstate Canada revealed this week that 45% of Canadians active on social networks plan to share details of their spring break vacation there. One in three respondents also claimed to announce their travel plans even before they take place.
Unsurprisingly, 18-34 year olds represent the largest proportion (46%) of those surveyed who post content on social media before or during their trip. Those who have plans for spring break do so in the same proportion, regardless of age.
The survey was conducted online between January 6 and January 9 among 1,536 Canadians aged 18 and over. Of the number, 1190 said they were active on social networks. To ensure a representative sample of the population, the results were weighted according to gender, age, mother tongue, province, level of education and presence of children in the household.
Increased risk
Allstate recalls that by sharing details of their vacation plans online, Canadians are “also announcing when [leur] residence will be unoccupied, which could expose it to an increased risk of burglary”.
“We have noticed, during our investigations into burglary cases, that people announce their departure or publish photos or videos just before or in real time during their trip, which puts their house at risk”, explains Dominique Vaillancourt, agency director at Allstate Canada.
In addition, “many people do not know the security protocols on their applications, for example the geotagging of photos, which mentions where and when it was taken”, she adds.
It is with this in mind that the insurance company launched an awareness campaign this week to “inform people of the risks associated with sharing excessive information about their holidays with their friends and family on social networks”. .
“It’s tempting to make [directs] while we’re in Punta Cana, but there’s nothing stopping you from posting them when you get back, or making sure your app security systems are tighter so you don’t share where and when you are,” Ms.me Vaillancourt, which also encourages travelers to validate their coverage with their insurer before leaving.
The director also suggests that they review all the content published on social networks in order to erase any trace or image that would allow malicious individuals to discover their address or clues that would reveal where their home is located.
“We don’t always realize it, but we leave traces,” she says. We indicate the city where we live, the name of our street or we publish a photo of the front of our house. »
Mme Vaillancourt finally invites those who have plans outside for the spring break to notify relatives and neighbors so that some surveillance can be carried out.
“Having someone pick up our [courrier]who will clear the entrance and take out the recycling bin, it gives the impression that the house is occupied and it also allows monitoring of the premises, ”she illustrates.
This dispatch was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta Exchange and The Canadian Press for the news.