04/14/2021 2:29 PM
Clarín.com
Technology
Updated 04/14/2021 2:29 PM
The more people are vaccinated around the world, the more the trend grows: users uploading their vaccination certificates to social networks.
This is very dangerous:
there is personal information there and it can be stolen.
It is understood that the joy of celebrating a step forward towards what -eventually will be- the end of the pandemic that has been plaguing the world since the end of 2019 wants to be expressed in some way.
But it can be done
more safely.
The problem is that in a vaccination certificate we find a name, document and other sensitive data.
It's a way to celebrate, but unfortunately it can also sometimes expose people to
fraud and identity theft.
"Posting photos of the vaccination certificate may seem like a way to celebrate an important milestone in approaching the end of last year's difficult experiences in the pandemic," said Christopher Budd, senior manager of global threat communications at Avast, one of the the best known antivirus in the world.
Some hide personal data, but it is not enough (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil).
Photo EFE
“It may also seem like a good way to encourage other people who might be
'vaccine negative'
or indecisive.
But taking a photo of your actual certificate and posting it is not the best way to accomplish these things and can increase the risks around identity theft, ”he adds.
Why?
Because the full name and date of birth are
“potentially sufficient
for someone to attempt to initiate an identity theft attempt against us, especially if they can combine it with other personal information that may be publicly available
through public records and / or networks. social
”, explains the specialist.
And another key point: “Specific information about the vaccine, the vaccination date and who administered it could allow someone to try to gain access to personal health information by posing as the person calling
'to verify' something”
, a very repeated case during quarantine, according to the expert.
Vaccination as relief: it was widely shared in networks.
Photo Xinhua
Even if all the information on the certificate is information that criminals could obtain elsewhere,
there is no need to make their job easier
: scammers are always on the lookout for such operations.
Because here's the thing with scammers: they're always looking for the next way to get in.
How to party or give visibility safely
Here, Avast's recommendations.
A valid photo to share on networks: impersonal, symbolic and without risks.
Photo EFE
Take a photo of the vaccination itself:
Take a photo while the healthcare professional is prodding you, with their permission, of course.
Post it on Facebook;
share it in your Stories;
tweet it;
upload it to the network.
Take a selfie with your band-aid:
Wait until you get home, put on something cute, and take a selfie with your band-aid and a little caption.
Take a photo outside the vaccination site:
If you are going to get vaccinated at a clinic, ask someone to take your photo right outside.
So, you are fulfilling the double function of publicizing the places in your area that are doing this important work and celebrating your vaccination.
River Plate, one of the vaccination points in the City of Buenos Aires.
Rafael Mario Quinteros placeholder image
Hide all personal information:
If you really want to share your vaccination certificate and you simply believe that there is no other way to express your joy on the networks, I covered with a finger all the pertinent information.
Don't just scribble, as they can be removed with a little image handling knowledge (
though it's best not to post at all).
Go Text Only:
For those who are feeling especially excited, nothing says "feelings" like white text on a black background.
Share your feelings!
After all, we are dealing with a pandemic.
SL
Look also
The number of fraudulent web pages related to the coronavirus increases by 300%
North Korea Tried To Hack Pfizer To Obtain Data On Its Coronavirus Vaccine