26 October 2010

Social networking users are putting themselves at risk of burglary by updating their whereabouts, new research warns. Compare home insurance online now.

Social networking users are putting themselves at risk of burglary by updating their whereabouts, new research warns. Compare home insurance online now.

Social networking users are putting themselves at risk of burglary by updating their whereabouts, new research warns. Compare home insurance online now.

There are 7 percent of UK adults who regularly use social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook and 36 percent use them to actively update their friends of where they are, The Co-operative Insurance survey showed.

While the research also revealed 66 percent of social network users use the sites to snoop on others nearly a fifth of all profiles are available for all to see, not just their friends.

A further 35 percent admitted to updating their status to inform their friends of how far ahead their holiday is, with 66 percent share photographs, 42 percent their date of birth, 6 percent their marital status, and 12 percent reveal family details.

"Social networking websites such as Facebook, Twitter and Myspace are fantastic ways of linking up with friends, old and new and sharing news amongst other things however these websites need to be used with caution," warned David Neave, The Co-operative Insurance's general insurance director.

"A common sense approach when using social networking websites is key. You have to ask yourself ‘would I be happy to divulge this information normally?'."

The research also showed 52 percent of adults claim to know their friends they have on these sites but admit to not seeing them regularly as 21 percent say many are friends of friends.

Despite 63 percent believing they would not be able to make a claim on their home insurance due to a burglary caused by social networking 14 percent have made their address available on their profile page.

Compare Home Insurance

It is important to ensure you are vigilant with the information you divulge online as you can never know exactly who is watching or reading your every move.

Compare home insurance quotes also to understand exactly what they cover you for and to investigate if you might be better off changing providers.

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