OPINION: Why online quizzes are after your info

Disclaimer: the following article is an opinion piece and does not necessarily reflect the views of KSL or its ownership.

Facebook quizzes drive me nuts. Look, I don’t know what Disney princess I am and I don’t want to know. But even if I wanted to know what Friends character I am, like show producer Morgan Pratt (who is Phoebe Buffay, by the way), I shouldn’t find out.

Why not?

Cybersecurity experts say identity thieves are using that apparently innocent information to steal people’s bank account access, email logins, and even their identity.  

Too many of the seemingly innocent questions on these social media quizzes expose your personal information to bad people. You may think to share the name of your first dog to find out which Harry Potter house you should be sorted in to is innocent enough. But if you use that same dog’s name as a security question for your bank account, bam, instant access. If the 20 things people don’t know about you include your mother’s maiden name and that is also the answer to the security question for your email, lookout, someone can now access your emails. And that becomes a treasure trove for accessing all sorts of other information on you. 

So how do you learn which Marvel Avenger you are without putting yourself at risk? It may sound a little brash, but experts say you should lie. Don’t give real answers to social media quizzes and don’t share sensitive information on public forums. Yes, Captain America may always be honest, but if it comes to saving you from a world of misery, I think even he would tell you not to share the truth there. 

Jay Mcfarland hosts the JayMac News Show as well as the fictional podcast, Hosts of Eden. KSL Newsradio is part of Bonneville Media and based in Salt Lake City, Utah.

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