Revealing an empty next leaves the door open for thieves

By Patti Pietschmann with tips from Trevor Cooke of EarthWeb


It's easy to be so excited about being in Hawaii, the Caribbean, on a cruise etc. that you want to tell the world--or at least your Facebook, Twitter or Instagram followers. But this is a very bad idea especially if the whole family's away from home. Best to wait to you get home. Then you talk about the trip after it happened and show photos and reports.


Trevor Cooke, the online privacy expert at EarthWeb, explains why real-time posting can make you vulnerable to criminals.

Airport photos and boarding pass pics are a no-no

Posting airport photos or check-ins online is bad business. It just helps alert others to the fact that you’re not at home, and make your property a potential target for burglars. You’ll also pinpoint your location, which can be a safety concern. That said, never share photos of your boarding pass, as they feature a barcode that can reveal more details about your travel plans and private data. Criminals can use this to discover your flight, seat number, and contact details. They can then steal your phone number, driver's license information, and passport specifics to commit identity fraud.
Hotel Room Pictures

Keep your hotel to yourself

If you’re staying in a wonderful hotel room, it can be tempting to show it off on social media. However, this could reveal your exact location and the duration of your stay, which could leave you vulnerable to stalking or targeted theft. You should also never post your room number online, as criminals and other guests could seek to charge things to your room.

Luggage tags

Don't post your itinerary