"If a scammer wanted to build a file on you, they'd start by looking for your date of birth, your location and the names of the people closest to you. Many of us save them the trouble. We package all three into our email addresses and scatter them across the internet. I'm far from an IT expert, but as part of my job I regularly interact with patients online, including emails about medications and prescriptions."
"Putting date of birth or child's name in your email address or social media handle gives 'spear phishing' scammers a head start"
Scammers build personal profiles by seeking dates of birth, locations and the names of close contacts. Many people place those identifiers in email addresses and social media handles, making them easily discoverable. That ready access to personal details gives spear-phishing attackers contextual information to craft convincing fraudulent messages. Regular online exchanges about healthcare, such as emails about medications and prescriptions, increase the stakes when personal data is exposed. Reducing publicly visible personal details in account names and addresses limits the information attackers can use to target individuals.
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