LinkedIn is a Goldmine...for Hackers. Here's How to Fix That.

LinkedIn shares more info than you think. Here’s what to remove right now to protect your identity and secure your profile.

💥 IMPORTANT LinkedIn security tips 💥

LinkedIn does a lot of things well. Unfortunately, it has surprisingly sketchy security and encourages users to share information that makes it *that much easier* for hackers to target you.

The following are issues I regularly see across profiles.
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❌ Do NOT make your email address public.
⁉️ The email address you use to log into LinkedIn is the same one that shows up under "Contact info." LI does not allow you to use a different email address.

➡️ Your public-facing email address should NEVER be an email address you use to log in anything.
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❌ Do NOT add your birthday.
⁉️ Your birthday is a key identifier for identity theft and other security measures.

➡️ In fact, remove your birthday from all socials, especially Facebook. AI, bots, and scammers are a nightmare, and Zuck wanted to give you fake AI friends.
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❌ Do NOT add your address or phone number.
⁉️ SIM card hijacking, spoofing, and all sorts shenanigans happen when this information is readily available.

➡️ If you feel a phone number is necessary, use Google Voice or similar. NEVER publicly share your actual mobile number.
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❌ Do NOT add your high school.
⁉️ A common security question is "What is your high school's mascot?" so why are you giving away that information so easily?

➡️ If you didn't go to university, don't show your education.
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❌ REMOVE the dates from your education.
⁉️ Hackers can figure out what year you were likely born in.

➡️ Add your attendance and graduation dates to your CV, but it's unnecessary here on LinkedIn.
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❌ Stop LinkedIn from collecting demographic data about you.
⁉️ Just b/c LinkedIn wants to build you a better profile and wants to train its Generative AI doesn't mean that you have to let it.

➡️ Settings & Privacy > Data Privacy > Personal demographic information > Edit/delete, AND Data Privacy > Data for Generative AI Improvement > Off
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✅ Get your account verified if you can.
⁉️ LinkedIn started offering certain users the option to get verified through Clear. If you have this option, do it.

➡️ If you have this option, go to Settings & Privacy > Account preferences > Profile Information (top section) > Verifications.
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✅ Use 2FA.
⁉️ It's 2025. 2FA should be SOP by now.

➡️ Nothing is foolproof, but this is better than nothing. If you can, use a 3rd party app, like Google Authenticator.

Want more practical security tips? Follow me here or check out my Substack newsletter, FFS, Secure Your Sh*t, where I share updates for non-techies who want to stay safe.

Categories: : For Founders & Business Owners, LinkedIn Strategy, Privacy & Data Protection