It can be challenging to stay safe when uploading images to the web. You never know who’s looking, and a picture can reveal more details about you than you might realize.

Be Aware of Risqué Images

The internet is full of adult material. And whether you agree with it or not, people are free to upload whatever they like so long as it’s consensual and legal. And you have the same rights. For example, you can make money if you sell feet pics online. This isn’t considered “adult,” and it’s pretty hard to identify someone based on their feet. So there’s a certain anonymity to this niche. However, other images can attract unsavory characters. For example, Facebook pics in your yoga hot pants are harmless but could be considered risqué by someone else.

Hide Personal Details

Something people often overlook when taking images is what’s in the background. For example, fraudsters constantly scour social media looking for pictures with personally identifiable information. This could be a credit card on the table, a statement on the family bulletin board, or an appointment reminder on the fridge. You might also take pictures that can easily identify where you live, like your door number, street name, or specific view from your window. People with malicious intent could use this information. So be mindful of your surroundings.

Don’t Include Others when Uploading Images

Taking pictures of yourself for social media and artwork is fun and engaging. But you should try to limit your photos to only yourself. Friends and family could be targeted by fraudsters and criminals as well. And if you do take pictures with others, make sure they cannot be identified. This means no tagging or using their names in your post descriptions and comments unless you have explicit permission. Cyberstalking is a genuine threat, with over 850,000 victims per year in the United States alone. And it’s not uncommon for associates to become victims too.

Be Safe with Private Image Uploads

Every effort should be made to protect your images online. Especially intimate ones meant only for a trusted partner. There’s no shame in doing this, and it’s actually really common. But all too often, personal pictures of women are stolen by hackers. Or used as a sick revenge prank following a breakup with a partner. The problem of “revenge porn” became so bad that it is now a crime for which you can be criminally prosecuted. However, you can protect your images. Make sure you really trust the recipient, turn off cloud backups and use secure messaging.

Limit Your Transparency

Pretty much everyone has an internet footprint. And it’s highly traceable. Someone who knows what they are doing, or is determined enough, can find out a lot of personal information. Your search history, intimate preferences, and even details about your family are all easily trackable. Therefore you need to limit your transparency online. The simplest method is to use a VPN. A VPN establishes anonymity online. You can’t be tracked, and nobody knows what you are downloading or uploading. Additionally, limit social media transparency to friends only.

Summary

Uploading images comes with inherent risk. To stay safe, you can be mindful of images considered sexy, not include others in your pics and use a VPN for anonymity.