A Person's Digital Footprint Is

Digital footprint – meaning and definition

A digital footprint – sometimes called a digital shadow or an electronic footprint – refers to the trail of data you leave when using the net. It includes websites yous visit, emails y'all ship, and information you lot submit online. A digital footprint tin can be used to track a person's online activities and devices. Internet users create their digital footprint either actively or passively.

What is a digital footprint?

Whenever you use the net, you get out behind a trail of information known every bit your digital footprint. A digital footprint grows in many ways – for instance, posting on social media, subscribing to a newsletter, leaving an online review, or shopping online.

Sometimes, it'south not e'er obvious that you are contributing to your digital footprint. For case, websites can track your activity by installing cookies on your device, and apps can collate your information without y'all knowing it. Once you allow an organization to access your information, they could sell or share your data with tertiary parties. Worse still, your personal information could be compromised equally role of a data breach.

You oft hear the terms 'active' and 'passive' in relation to digital footprints:

Active digital footprints

An active digital footprint is where the user has deliberately shared information near themselves – for example, through posting or participating on social networking sites or online forums. If a user is logged into a website through a registered username or profile, any posts they make course function of their active digital footprint. Other activities that contribute to active digital footprints include completing an online form – such as subscribing to a newsletter – or agreeing to accept cookies on your browser.

Passive digital footprints

A passive digital footprint is created when information is collected about the user without them being enlightened that this is happening. For example, this occurs when websites collect information about how many times users visit, where they come from, and their IP address. This is a hidden process, which users may not realize is taking place. Other examples of passive footprints include social networking sites and advertisers using your likes, shares, and comments to profile y'all and target you with specific content.

Why exercise digital footprints matter?

Digital footprints thing because:

They are relatively permanent, and once the information is public – or even semi-public, as may be the case with Facebook posts - the owner has little control over how others volition apply it.
A digital footprint can determine a person'due south digital reputation, which is now considered every bit important as their offline reputation.
Employers can bank check their potential employees' digital footprints, particularly their social media, before making hiring decisions. Colleges and universities can check their prospective students' digital footprints earlier accepting them besides.
Words and photos which you lot post online can exist misinterpreted or altered, causing unintentional offense.
Content intended for a individual group tin spread to a broader circumvolve, potentially damaging relationships and friendships.
Cybercriminals can exploit your digital footprint – using it for purposes such every bit phishing for business relationship admission or creating imitation identities based on your data.

For these reasons, it is worth considering what your digital footprint says about you. Many people try to manage their digital footprint past being cautious about their online activities to control the data that can be gathered in the first identify.

Digital footprint examples

An net user could have hundreds of items form office of their digital footprint. Some of the means in which users add together to their digital footprint include:

Online shopping

Making purchases from e-commerce websites
Signing up for coupons or creating an business relationship
Downloading and using shopping apps
Registering for make newsletters

Online banking

Using a mobile banking app
Ownership or selling stocks
Subscribing to financial publications and blogs
Opening a credit carte account

Social media

Using social media on your computer or devices
Logging into other websites using your social media credentials
Connecting with friends and contacts
Sharing information, data, and photos with your connections
Joining a dating site or app

Reading the news

Subscribing to an online news source
Viewing articles on a news app
Signing up for a publication's newsletter
Reposting manufactures and information you read

Health and fettle

Using fitness trackers
Using apps to receive healthcare
Registering your email accost with a gym
Subscribing to health and fitness blogs

Almost all online activities can contribute to your digital footprint. Image shows somebody holding their phone and credit card up in front of a computer screen with an online shopping window open.

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Protect your digital footprint

Because employers, colleges, and others can await up your online identity, it'southward a good idea to exist mindful of your digital footprint. Here are some tips for protecting your personal data and managing your online reputation.

Utilize search engines to check your digital footprint

Enter your proper noun into search engines. Include your first and last proper noun and any variations on spellings. If you have changed your name, search for both current and quondam names. Reviewing the search engine results volition give y'all a sense of what information about you is publicly available. If any of the results bear witness you in a negative light, you could contact the site ambassador to see if they can remove information technology. Setting upward Google Alerts is one way to keep an centre on your name.

Reduce the number of information sources that mention yous

For example, existent estate websites and whitepages.com may have more data about you than you may wish. These sites tin oftentimes include personal data like your telephone number, address, and age. If yous are not comfortable with this, you can contact the websites and request that the information is removed.

Limit the amount of data you share

Every fourth dimension you provide your personal information to an organization, you widen your digital footprint. Y'all besides increase the possibility that one of the organizations storing your information volition misuse information technology or endure a breach, putting your data in the wrong hands. So, before yous submit that form, consider if information technology's worth information technology. Are in that location other means to obtain that information or service without sharing your information?

Double-check your privacy settings

Privacy settings on social media let you to command who sees your posts. Review these settings and ensure they are set to a level you are comfy with. For example, Facebook allows yous to limit posts to friends and make customized lists of people who can come across certain posts. However, bear in mind that privacy settings only protect you on the relevant social media site.

Avoid oversharing on social media

Social media makes it easy to connect with others but can too make oversharing easy. Recall twice earlier revealing your location or travel plans, or other personal information. Avoid disclosing your phone number or email address in your social media bio. It's too a skillful idea to avoid 'liking' your own banking company, healthcare provider, pharmacy, etc. – as this can lead cybercriminals to your critical accounts.

Avoid dangerous websites

Make sure y'all're transacting with a secure website – the URL should start with https:// rather than http:// - the "due south" stands for "secure" and indicates that the site has a security certificate. In that location should too be a padlock icon to the left of the address bar. Never share any confidential information on unsecured sites, specially payment details.

Avoid disclosing individual data on public Wi-Fi

A public Wi-Fi network is inherently less secure than your personal one since you don't know who set it up or who else might be watching. Avoid sending personal information when using public Wi-Fi networks.

Delete old accounts

Ane way to reduce your digital footprint is by deleting erstwhile accounts – for example, social media profiles y'all no longer apply or newsletter subscriptions you no longer read. Getting rid of dormant accounts minimizes your exposure to potential information breaches.

Create strong passwords and use a password manager

A potent countersign volition help you maintain cyberspace security. A strong password is long – made up of at to the lowest degree 12 characters and ideally more – and contains a mix of upper- and lower-case letters plus symbols and numbers. The more than complex and involved your password, the harder it is to crack. Using a password manager will assistance generate, shop, and manage all your passwords in i secure online account. Keep your passwords private – avoid sharing them with others or writing them downwards. Try to avoid using the same password for all your accounts, and remember to change them regularly.

Proceed an eye on your medical records

Practice good data hygiene by periodically reviewing your medical records. Identity thieves target medical and health information as well as financial information. When criminals utilize your personal data to obtain medical treatment in your name, their health records tin can become intertwined with your ain.

Don't log in with Facebook

Logging into websites and apps using Facebook is convenient. However, every time you sign into a tertiary-political party website using your Facebook credentials, yous give that visitor permission to mine your Facebook user data – potentially placing your personal data at chance.

Continue software upward to date

Outdated software could house a wealth of digital footprints. Without the latest updates, cybercriminals could gain admission to this data. Cybercriminals tin can hands access a victim'due south devices and data past exploiting vulnerabilities in software. You can assist forbid this by keeping your software upward to date. Older software tin exist more than vulnerable to attacks by hackers.

Review your mobile use

Set a passcode for your mobile device then that it can't be accessed by other people if you lose it. When installing an app, read the user agreement. Many apps disclose what kind of information they collect and what information technology may exist used for. These apps may mine personal information like your electronic mail, location, and online activities. Check that you are comfy with the information being shared earlier you employ the app.

Think earlier you post

What you post or say online sends a message about who you are, as does what others reveal about y'all. Aspects of your digital footprint, such as uploaded photographs, blog comments, YouTube videos, and Facebook posts, might not portray the way you would like to exist seen. Create a positive digital footprint by posting only those things that contribute to the image of yous that you want others to encounter.

Human action fast subsequently a breach

If you suspect your data might have been compromised in a breach, take action immediately. If a financial loss is involved, contact your banking company or credit card provider to report the alienation. Alter any passwords that might have been exposed. If information technology'south a countersign you take used for other accounts, update it across the lath.

Employ a VPN

Using a virtual private network, or VPN, can help safeguard your digital footprint. This is because VPNs mask your IP address which makes your online deportment virtually untraceable. This protects your privacy online and can prevent websites from installing cookies that track your internet browsing history. Kaspersky Secure Connection enables you to take a secure connection betwixt your device and an internet server that no 1 can monitor or admission the data you are exchanging.

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