Have you ever posted a photo of your new house keys on social media? Or maybe checked in at the airport before your two-week vacation? These seemingly harmless posts can actually put your home and safety at risk. In our connected world, we share tons of personal info without thinking twice about the consequences. The scary truth is that criminals are getting smarter about using what we post online against us. Let’s look at what home details you should keep off the internet to protect yourself and your family.
Your home address and location details
It might seem obvious, but many people accidentally reveal their home address online. Think about all those delivery confirmation photos you post or the background of your selfies that might show your house number or street sign. Even something as simple as posting about the local coffee shop you visit every morning can help strangers figure out where you live. Your home address isn’t as private as you might think – it’s often available in public records, but that doesn’t mean you should make it even easier for people to find you.
One smart way to protect your address is to blur your home on map apps like Google Maps and Apple Maps. This prevents strangers from seeing the street view of your property. You can also request to have your address removed from search results if it appears. Another great option is using a P.O. box or virtual mailbox service for deliveries and mail, which keeps your physical address private. Remember, once your address is online, it can be very hard to completely remove it.
Vacation plans and empty house announcements
We all get excited about upcoming trips and want to share our adventures with friends and family. But posting “Can’t wait for our two-week trip to Hawaii tomorrow!” is basically announcing to the world that your house will be empty. Even those countdown posts like “5 days until Cancun!” give potential burglars plenty of time to plan. Studies show that many home break-ins happen when criminals know the owners are away, and social media has made it incredibly easy for them to figure this out without even driving by your house.
Instead of posting about your vacation before or during your trip, wait until you’re back home to share those amazing beach photos. If you absolutely must share while you’re away, make sure your accounts are private and limited to people you truly know and trust. You can also use scheduling tools to make it look like you’re posting from home even when you’re not. Another option is to mention that someone is house-sitting for you (even if they’re not) or that your home security system is activated. The less information criminals have about when your house is empty, the better.
Photos with location data and GPS coordinates
Did you know that most smartphone photos contain hidden data that can reveal exactly where they were taken? This information, called metadata, often includes precise GPS coordinates of your location. When you post these photos online, you might be unknowingly sharing your home’s exact location. Even if you’re careful not to show your address in the actual image, the metadata can give it away. This is especially risky when posting pictures taken in or around your home, as they create a digital breadcrumb trail right to your front door.
To protect yourself, turn off location services for your camera app before taking pictures at home. Most phones have settings that let you control which apps can access your location. You can also use apps that strip metadata from photos before sharing them online. Another option is to take screenshots of photos you want to share, as screenshots typically don’t carry over the original metadata. Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram usually remove metadata when you upload photos, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. Remember, it only takes one photo with location data to compromise your home’s privacy.
Details about your smart home setup
Smart homes are amazing, but sharing too much about your setup can make you vulnerable. When you post about your new smart doorbell or security system, you’re telling potential intruders exactly what obstacles they’ll need to overcome. Even mentioning which brand of smart locks you use gives them a chance to research potential weaknesses. Some smart home devices require your address to function properly, creating another potential leak of your location if those services are ever compromised.
If you want to talk about your smart home online, keep the details vague. Don’t mention specific models or brands of security devices. Avoid sharing screenshots of your smart home app that might show your floor plan or device locations. Be especially careful with videos that might reveal the layout of your home or where valuables are kept. It’s also worth noting that some smart home devices have had security issues in the past, so make sure you’re keeping their firmware updated and using strong, unique passwords for each account. The convenience of a smart home shouldn’t come at the cost of your privacy and security.
House keys and security system information
It might seem harmless to post a photo of your new house keys with the caption “Finally a homeowner!” but modern technology makes it possible for criminals to duplicate keys from photos. All they need is a clear image and the right equipment. Similarly, sharing details about your security system – like the brand, where sensors are placed, or how to disarm it – gives potential intruders a major advantage. Even casual mentions like “Our alarm always goes off when the cat walks by the living room sensor” reveals valuable information about your home’s security layout.
Keep your security information completely private. Never post photos of keys, alarm codes, or security system components. Don’t talk about how your system works or its weak points online. If you’re proud of your new security system, just mention that you’ve upgraded your home security without getting into specifics. When posting photos inside your home, make sure security keypads or monitoring stations aren’t visible. Remember that sophisticated criminals can piece together information from multiple posts over time, so even seemingly minor details can be dangerous when combined with other information you’ve shared.
Photos revealing your floor plan or home layout
Those beautiful wide-angle shots of your living room or kitchen remodel might be showing more than you realize. Photos that reveal your home’s layout can help criminals plan a break-in or identify where valuable items might be kept. Virtual home tours, which became popular during the pandemic, are especially revealing as they often show the entire floor plan and how rooms connect to each other. Even innocent background details in selfies can reveal information about entry points, window placements, or the location of security cameras.
When sharing photos of your home online, be selective about what you show. Avoid wide-angle shots that capture multiple rooms or hallways. Don’t post before-and-after renovation photos that reveal structural changes or new access points. If you’re selling your home and need to post interior photos, wait until after you’ve moved out, or consider using a professional staging service that doesn’t show your actual belongings. For renters, be especially careful about sharing apartment layouts, as these buildings often have similar floor plans throughout, making it easier for criminals to navigate similar units in your building.
Information about routines and daily schedules
Many of us don’t realize how much information we share about our daily routines online. Check-ins at the gym every Monday and Wednesday at 6 PM, morning coffee selfies from the same café, or posts about the kids’ weekly soccer practice all reveal patterns about when your home is likely to be empty. Location sharing features in apps like Snapchat can track and display your movements throughout the day, creating a detailed map of your routine that others can access and analyze. Even innocent posts like “Off to work, another 12-hour shift!” tell criminals exactly how long your house will be unoccupied.
To stay safe, avoid posting real-time updates about your location or activities. Turn off automatic location tagging on social media apps and use features like “Ghost Mode” on apps with map features. Be especially careful with fitness tracking apps that might show your regular running routes starting from your home. Consider posting about activities after they’ve happened rather than announcing them in advance or during the event. If you use a fitness tracker that shares your exercise routes publicly, make sure to set privacy zones around your home so your starting point isn’t visible to others. Small changes to how you share can make a big difference to your safety.
Photos of expensive items and home valuables
We all get excited about new purchases and want to show them off, but posting photos of expensive items can make your home a target. That unboxing video of your new 85-inch TV, the photo of your jewelry collection, or a shot of your home office with multiple high-end computers tells potential thieves exactly what valuables you have and often where they’re kept. Insurance experts warn that burglars specifically look for social media posts featuring new electronics, jewelry, cash, or collectibles when selecting targets. Even photos taken for insurance purposes can be risky if shared online or stored in unsecured cloud accounts.
If you want to share photos of valuable items, wait a while after purchasing them so there’s no obvious connection to delivery times. Avoid showing where these items are kept in your home or revealing distinguishing features of your space in the background. For collectors of valuable items like art, coins, or rare collectibles, consider keeping your collection private or only sharing with specific collector groups using secure, private channels. Remember that many home insurance policies have limits on high-value items, so documenting these possessions is important—just keep that documentation private and secure, not on social media.
Protecting your home in the digital age means being careful about what you share online. The information criminals need doesn’t always come from one big mistake but from pieces of data collected over time from different posts. Take a moment to review your social media privacy settings, think before you post, and remember that not everything needs to be shared with the world. Your home is your safe place—keep it that way by keeping some details just for yourself.
