You Don’t Need to Be a Hacker to Hack Someone
How Google, LinkedIn, and Your Digital Breadcrumbs Are Making You a Target
It only takes 15 minutes.
With nothing more than a person’s full name and a basic internet connection, it’s now possible to uncover where someone lives, works, eats, shops — even details about their family. All without hacking a single system.
That’s the reality we’re living in.
At AKATI Sekurity, we’ve demonstrated how this can be done — not as a stunt, but to raise awareness. Using publicly available information from LinkedIn, Instagram, Google Maps, Facebook Marketplace, and even old PDF resumes floating on the web, it's possible to build a disturbingly complete picture of someone’s life.
And you don’t need to be a hacker to do it.
Welcome to the World of OSINT — Open Source Intelligence
Most people think cyberattacks begin with malware or brute-force tools. In truth, many begin with something far simpler: research.
Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) is the practice of gathering data from public sources. And every day, people give away everything an attacker could want — voluntarily. A birthday post. A job update. A school tag. A delivery slip.
Individually, they seem harmless. Together, they form a digital dossier.
What Criminals Can Learn About You Without Ever Hacking You
Here's how online breadcrumbs are turned into bait:
LinkedIn reveals your job title, office location, and chain of command.
Facebook shares who you're married to, your children’s names, and your weekend hangouts.
Instagram posts show where you vacation and which cafés you frequent.
Google brings up old registrations, media mentions, or your résumé in cached directories.
Marketplace platforms expose your phone number and potentially your home address.
This isn’t speculative. It’s operational reality. Social engineers and scammers use these data points to:
Craft spear-phishing emails that sound authentic.
Impersonate you in deepfake voice calls.
Trick your friends, HR department, or even your bank.
And they don’t need to break in. You’ve already opened the door.
“But I’m Not Important Enough to Be Targeted…”
That’s exactly what attackers hope you’ll think.
You might not be a CEO, but you might:
Handle payments, invoices, or credentials at your workplace.
Be a parent in a WhatsApp group targeted by school scams.
Use public Wi-Fi or shared devices at cafés or libraries.
Be connected to someone who is a high-value target.
Attackers don’t always go after the strongest lock. They go after the weakest link.
What You Can Do Today — And Why It Matters
You don’t have to delete your accounts or go off-grid. But you do need to be smart.
Search Yourself : Look up your name, job title, phone number, and email. See what others can see.
Update Your Privacy Settings : Set your Instagram to private. Hide your connections on LinkedIn. Review who can tag you on Facebook.
Think Twice Before Posting : That travel photo may reveal you’re away from home. That invoice screenshot could leak sensitive info. That birthday post could hint at your security question answers.
Talk About It : Awareness is protection. Share this article. Have this conversation with family, friends, and colleagues.
In a World Full of Data, Silence Is a Superpower
Cybersecurity today isn’t just about firewalls or antivirus software. It’s about people — and what they knowingly (or unknowingly) expose.
At AKATI Sekurity, we believe protecting people begins with education. That’s why we share insights like this — not to frighten, but to empower.
If cybercriminals are evolving their tactics, then so must we.
About AKATI Sekurity
AKATI Sekurity is one of the top cybersecurity companies in Malaysia, trusted by global clients for our expertise in threat prevention, digital forensics, and 24/7 managed security services. We don’t just respond to threats — we help you prevent them.
If this article made you pause before your next post, it’s time to take action. Our Cyber Hygiene Program is designed to help individuals and businesses clean up their digital footprint, reduce exposure to social engineering risks, and build a security-first mindset.
Because staying safe online doesn’t start with software.
It starts with you.
