Facebook asks what’s on your mind, and Twitter wants to know what you are doing. New geolocation services, which have become very popular, are asking "where are you?" Geolocation services show your social network where you are. It is completely automatic, but there are risks associated with letting everyone know where you are, warns IT security company BullGuard, outlining 6 tips for safety when you make use of geolocation services.

Geolocation is becoming the next big thing on the Internet. Geolocation makes it possible to disclose your exact, current location to your social network. This is done by GPS, which is built into many newer mobile phones. The GPS data is exchanged via add-ins for sites like Facebook, Google, Four Square, Twitter, LinkedIn, e-mail programs, and on phones. But as geolocation becomes a widespread tool, legitimate concerns for consumer safety arise.

Identity and location is a new tool for criminals
"When you use geolocation, you should ask whether you are prepared to let everyone know where you are and when. If not, you should take precautions," says Claus Villumsen, chief technical officer at internet security company BullGuard. When your identity gets linked to your location, it aids criminals in their activities, e.g. phishing, stalking and burglary. It also means that businesses can become easier targets for industrial espionage.

Six tips for safe use of geolocation
It is services such as Four Square, Gowalla and Brightkite that can exchange data from mobile GPS to social networks. They all offer the option to turn off the location function, and according to BullGuard this is worth considering in the following six scenarios:

1) When you are at home. You shouldn't make whether you are home or not public knowledge as burglars or stalkers could use the information.

2) When you visit other people’s homes or businesses for commercial purposes.

3) When you visit your bank. The number of phishing cases is increasing rapidly; If criminals know where your bank contact is located, they have another tool.

4) When you're on vacation. Unfortunately, there have been many cases of burglary as a result of people announcing on the Internet that they are far away. With geolocation this problem will increase.

5) When you're at the doctor’s - unless, of course, you are prepared to share with everyone why you were there the next day.

 6) At work. Do you want your boss and all your colleagues to see when you come and go? And what about your company’s competitors – should they have access to information about which customers you visit?

The rule of thumb here, is that you should consider how knowledge of your movements could be misused and take your precautions based on a worst case scenario," says BullGuard’s Claus Villumsen.

More information:

E-mail Katrine Palsby at BullGuard

About BullGuard
BullGuard specialises in PC & mobile security solutions for consumers and small businesses, emphasising technical excellence, ease-of-use and customer-care. BullGuard is committed to providing cost-effective, integrated security solutions that provide users with first-class protection from malware for their computers and mobile devices.

BullGuard has offices in the United Kingdom, Australia, Belgium, US, Germany, France, Sweden, Romania and Denmark.

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Katrine Palsby

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Bullguard Internet Security

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