We use cookies to offer you a better experience, analyze site traffic, and serve targeted advertisements. By continuing to use this website, you consent to the use of cookies in accordance with our Terms of use.

iafg-d
  • Individuals
  • Companies and Groups
  • Advisors and Brokers
  • Phone 1-800-463-6236
  • FR
  • Connect
    • My Client Space
    • Advisor Centre
    • Dealer Centre (UniFI)
    • Partner Centre (Rave)
iafg-d
  • Individuals homepage
  • Insurance
    • Coverage
      • Life insurance
      • Car insurance
      • RV insurance
      • Home insurance
      • Mortgage insurance
      • Health and disability insurance
      • Travel Insurance
    • Tools
      • iA Financial Compass
      • Term life insurance calculator
      • Critical illness insurance calculator
      • See all tools
      Life Events
      • Moving in together
      • Buying a home
      • Having a child
      • Starting a business
      • Planning your retirement
      • See all life events
    • I am already a client
      • Customer service
      • Make a claim
      • Find a form
      • My group insurance
      • Change my address
      • Change my beneficiary
      • Connect to My Client Space
      Advice
      • Advice zone
      • The value of an advisor
  • Savings and Retirement
    • Savings and Investments
      • RRSP, TFSA and other plans

        For my projects or my retirement

      • RRIF, LIF and annuities

        For my retirement income

      • RESP

        For my children’s education

      • Investment funds

        Segregated funds, mutual funds…

      • Private Wealth

        Stock market, stocks, bonds…

    • Tools
      • iA Financial Compass
      • Retirement calculator
      • Education savings calculator
      • RRSP loan calculator
      • RRSP calculator
      • TFSA calculator
      • See all tools
      Life Events
      • Saving for a project
      • Moving in together
      • Buying a home
      • Having a child
      • Starting a business
      • Planning your retirement
      • See all life events
    • I am already a client
      • Customer service
      • Find a form
      • My group retirement plan
      • Change my address
      • Change my beneficiary
      • Connect to My Client Space
      Invest better
      • Fund performance and overview
      • Guaranteed fund rates
      • Economic and financial publications
      • Economic news
      • Advice zone
      • The value of an advisor
  • Loans
    • Products
      • RRSP loans

        For my retirement

      • RESP loans

        For my children’s education

      • Investment loan

        For my financial prosperity

    • Tools
      • iA Financial Compass
      • RRSP loan calculator
      • See all tools
      Life Events
      • Buying a home
      • See all life events
    • I am already a client
      • Customer service
      • Change my address
      • Change my beneficiary
      • Connect to My Client Space
      Advice
      • Advice zone
      • The value of an advisor
  • Connect
    • My Client Space
    • Advisor Centre
    • Dealer Centre (UniFI)
    • Partner Centre (Rave)
  • About us
  • Careers
  • Contact us
  • Contact an advisor
FR

Advice Zone

  • Overview
  • My Vehicle
  • My House
  • My Family
  • My Projects
  • My Finances
  • My Career
  • My Involvement
  • My Security
  • My Retirement
  • Our Experts

Social media: a burglar’s ally

These days, social media is a very useful tool for burglars. See how you’re giving them important information without even knowing it.


It’s not surprising that around 90% of Canadian adults have a presence on social media.1 And, social media means sharing information. Have you thought about who can see your profile and your personal information online and how it can be used against you? We have! As an insurance company, we see the possibilities more and more, as burglaries related to social media are now a reality.

Who can see your profile?

Here’s the question: Do you personally know each and every person who has access to your profiles? Your Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and other online accounts say more about your personal life than you think. You are at serious risk if someone in your network has bad intentions. According to a study out of the U.K., 78% of burglars use social media to find their targets and gather information about them.2

Thieves can find a wealth of useful information on social media, such as:

  • What you have and what it’s worth
  • Where you live
  • When you leave and return home
  • When you leave on vacation and when you come back

Burglars check when people check in to locations like airports and hotels using applications like Facebook. They know where you are thanks to the geolocation of your photos and your posts, and take note of any valuables in your photos. Think about the typical beach photo — geolocation can identify what hotel you’re staying, or a photo showing your new smart watch — geolocation can pin down your location, or even a photo showing the make of your new toy or the use of a keyword, like a hashtag. These types of posting habits provide sensitive information to hundreds of people in no time at all.

By knowing where you live and when you’re not home, whether during the day while you’re at work or while on vacation, burglars can enter without worry. Worse yet, if they know you’ll be away for an extended period, they’ll take the time to steal more of your valuables.



1 Social Media Use in Canada, 2017, CanadiansInternet.com, 2017.

2 Where Americans Don’t Lock Their Doors, Eyewitness Surveillance, 2017.

Looking for advice?

Your home is a big investment for you. Whether you own a house or a condo, one of our advisors can help you find the right home insurance for your needs.

Get a quote

Tools and advice

  • iA Financial Compass
  • Home Insurance - Homeowners and Renters
  • Tips for a successful move
  • Preventing damage to your roof
  • How to prepare for a power outage
  • About iA
  • Careers
  • Contact us
  • Find an advisor
  • Make a claim
  • Connect to My Client Space
  • Advice Zone
  • Sustainable development
  • COVID-19
  • Site map
  • Unsubscribe
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy and security
  • Terms of use
  • Unclaimed property

INVESTED IN YOU. © 2023 Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc. – iA Financial Group. All rights reserved.