A survey by the Allstate Insurance Company reveals that nearly one-third of active social media users may potentially risk a home break-in by posting online before or during a vacation trip.

The survey further reveals that:

• Over half of those planning to travel out of the country this summer plan to post about their trip on social media.
• Nearly 10% post before their trip to share their plans; and
• Almost one-third post during their trip to show they are traveling – a number that climbs to nearly 40% among parents (as opposed to those traveling without kids).

Posting about travel in real time is generally unsafe. Publicly broadcasting your location signals that your primary residence is vacant, significantly increasing the risk of a home burglary. It also makes you vulnerable to physical stalking and online scams.

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Related: Safety While Traveling: The Throwaway Vallet
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As travel consumers increasingly rely on tech tools and online advice, there has been an unsurprising proliferation of travel-inspired internet content—and an accompanying rise in incidents in which creators take risks with their own safety and that of others. From the public dissemination of a traveler’s itinerary and location to the high-octane nature of the exploits that go viral, posting about one’s adventures carries a degree of risk.

The insurance company’s own data shows that property theft has risen over the last decade during the summer holidays, peaking in August, making summer a critical time to prioritize home safety and security.

Ironically, that same survey shows that

• A strong majority (62%) say their main concern is making sure their home is safe while they’re away; yet
• 15% shockingly say sharing on social media is a higher priority than protecting their homes from a break-in.

To safely share your travel experiences, experts and security professionals recommend a few best practices:

Delay Your Posts: Wait to publish your photos, videos, and check-ins until you have left the location or safely returned home.

Remove Geotags and Metadata: Disable precise GPS tagging in your social media apps and use your phone’s privacy settings to remove geolocation data from photos before posting.

Protect Your Travel Documents: Never post images of your boarding passes, passports, or itinerary details, as they contain sensitive personal data that could lead to identity theft.

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Related: Is It Safe To Travel Abroad?
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Horrifying statistics and a lack of caution in one’s own surroundings are only one of the dangers to consider here. The rise of online publishing includes live location sharing and time-limited releases like Instagram Stories, posted for only 24 hours. These formats create risk in themselves. They effectively reveal to others where the original poster is geographically, within a given timeframe. That means bad actors could physically stalk the poster or deduce that they are “not at home” and target an empty domestic address.

While increasingly popular technologies like smart cameras and alarm systems (in addition to old-fashioned helpful or nosy neighbors!) contribute to home security when residents are away, travelers should also take precautions to mitigate the risks posed by their social media posts.

Is it possible to stay safe in this universe?

Hide Your Home Environment: Avoid sharing images of your street address, neighborhood landmarks, or house numbers, as advised by Forbes Travel. A safety initiative from Yale University notes that “cybercriminals will use all methods to learn about your travel plans. When you post on social media about your plans, you make it easier for them to target you.” Yale urges people not to post itinerary details and to wait until they return home before sharing holiday posts. The university also recommends setting accounts to private and turning off GPS tracking.

Other good practices for travelers include setting up a “safeword” or “emergency word” with friends and relatives, using emergency contact features on their phones, and informing trusted local providers, such as hotels or walking refuges, of their plans.

Travelers Risk a Home Break-In by Posting Online Before or During a Vacation Trip, compiled by Tor Kjolberg.