Social Media and Digital Footprints

Digital footprint – meaning and definition

A digital footprint – sometimes called a digital shadow or an electronic footprint – refers to the trail of information you lot leave when using the cyberspace. It includes websites you visit, emails you lot ship, and information you submit online. A digital footprint can be used to rail a person'due south online activities and devices. Internet users create their digital footprint either actively or passively.

What is a digital footprint?

Whenever y'all use the cyberspace, you leave behind a trail of data known equally your digital footprint. A digital footprint grows in many means – for example, posting on social media, subscribing to a newsletter, leaving an online review, or shopping online.

Sometimes, it's not ever obvious that y'all are contributing to your digital footprint. For example, websites tin can track your activity past installing cookies on your device, and apps can collate your data without yous knowing it. One time you let an organization to admission your information, they could sell or share your data with 3rd parties. Worse still, your personal information could be compromised as part of a data alienation.

You ofttimes 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 about themselves – for case, through posting or participating on social networking sites or online forums. If a user is logged into a website through a registered username or contour, whatsoever posts they make form part 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 take cookies on your browser.

Passive digital footprints

A passive digital footprint is created when data is nerveless well-nigh the user without them being aware that this is happening. For case, this occurs when websites collect information about how many times users visit, where they come from, and their IP accost. 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 you and target you with specific content.

Why do digital footprints affair?

Digital footprints matter because:

• They are relatively permanent, and once the data is public – or even semi-public, every bit may be the case with Facebook posts - the owner has little control over how others will use it.
• A digital footprint can decide a person'southward digital reputation, which is at present considered every bit important every bit their offline reputation.
• Employers can check their potential employees' digital footprints, particularly their social media, before making hiring decisions. Colleges and universities can check their prospective students' digital footprints before accepting them too.
• Words and photos which yous mail online tin can be misinterpreted or altered, causing unintentional law-breaking.
• Content intended for a private grouping can spread to a broader circle, potentially damaging relationships and friendships.
• Cybercriminals can exploit your digital footprint – using it for purposes such equally phishing for account access or creating false identities based on your information.

For these reasons, it is worth considering what your digital footprint says about you lot. Many people effort to manage their digital footprint by existence cautious well-nigh their online activities to control the data that tin can be gathered in the first place.

Digital footprint examples

An internet user could have hundreds of items form part of their digital footprint. Some of the ways in which users add together to their digital footprint include:

Online shopping

• Making purchases from e-commerce websites
• Signing upwards for coupons or creating an account
• Downloading and using shopping apps
• Registering for make newsletters

Online banking

• Using a mobile banking app
• Buying or selling stocks
• Subscribing to financial publications and blogs
• Opening a credit card 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 articles and information you read

Health and fitness

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

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Protect your digital footprint

Because employers, colleges, and others can look upwardly your online identity, information technology's a adept thought to exist mindful of your digital footprint. Here are some tips for protecting your personal data and managing your online reputation.

Utilise search engines to cheque your digital footprint

Enter your name into search engines. Include your starting time and concluding name and any variations on spellings. If you lot have changed your proper noun, search for both current and former names. Reviewing the search engine results volition give you a sense of what information about you is publicly available. If whatever of the results evidence you in a negative low-cal, yous could contact the site administrator to see if they tin can remove it. Setting up Google Alerts is one mode to keep an eye on your name.

Reduce the number of information sources that mention you

For case, real estate websites and whitepages.com may have more information virtually you than yous may wish. These sites can often include personal information similar your telephone number, address, and age. If you are non comfy with this, you lot can contact the websites and request that the information is removed.

Limit the corporeality of data you lot share

Every time you provide your personal information to an organization, yous widen your digital footprint. You lot also increase the possibility that one of the organizations storing your data will misuse it or suffer a breach, putting your data in the wrong hands. So, before you submit that form, consider if it's worth it. Are at that place other ways to obtain that information or service without sharing your data?

Double-check your privacy settings

Privacy settings on social media allow you lot to control who sees your posts. Review these settings and ensure they are set to a level yous are comfortable with. For case, Facebook allows yous to limit posts to friends and make customized lists of people who can see sure posts. Nonetheless, comport in mind that privacy settings simply protect you on the relevant social media site.

Avoid oversharing on social media

Social media makes information technology like shooting fish in a barrel to connect with others only can also make oversharing easy. Think twice before revealing your location or travel plans, or other personal information. Avoid disclosing your phone number or email accost in your social media bio. It'south also a proficient idea to avoid 'liking' your own bank, healthcare provider, chemist's, etc. – as this tin can lead cybercriminals to your critical accounts.

Avoid unsafe websites

Make certain you'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. There should as well exist a padlock icon to the left of the address bar. Never share whatsoever confidential information on unsecured sites, peculiarly payment details.

Avert disclosing private information on public Wi-Fi

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

Delete old accounts

One way to reduce your digital footprint is by deleting old accounts – for example, social media profiles you no longer use or newsletter subscriptions yous no longer read. Getting rid of dormant accounts minimizes your exposure to potential data breaches.

Create strong passwords and use a password managing director

A stiff password will assist yous maintain internet security. A strong countersign is long – fabricated up of at least 12 characters and ideally more – and contains a mix of upper- and lower-example letters plus symbols and numbers. The more complex and involved your password, the harder it is to cleft. Using a password manager will help generate, store, and manage all your passwords in one secure online account. Keep your passwords private – avoid sharing them with others or writing them downward. Try to avoid using the aforementioned countersign for all your accounts, and remember to change them regularly.

Proceed an eye on your medical records

Practice adept data hygiene by periodically reviewing your medical records. Identity thieves target medical and health information as well as fiscal data. When criminals apply your personal information to obtain medical handling in your name, their wellness records can become intertwined with your own.

Don't log in with Facebook

Logging into websites and apps using Facebook is user-friendly. However, every time you sign into a third-party website using your Facebook credentials, y'all give that company permission to mine your Facebook user information – potentially placing your personal information at adventure.

Keep software upward to appointment

Outdated software could business firm a wealth of digital footprints. Without the latest updates, cybercriminals could gain admission to this information. Cybercriminals can easily access a victim'southward devices and data by exploiting vulnerabilities in software. Y'all can help prevent this past keeping your software upward to date. Older software can be more vulnerable to attacks by hackers.

Review your mobile apply

Set a passcode for your mobile device then that it can't be accessed by other people if y'all 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 email, location, and online activities. Check that you are comfortable with the information being shared before you use the app.

Think before you post

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

Act fast afterwards a alienation

If y'all suspect your data might have been compromised in a alienation, take action immediately. If a financial loss is involved, contact your bank or credit carte du jour provider to report the breach. Change any passwords that might have been exposed. If information technology'south a password yous have used for other accounts, update it across the board.

Apply a VPN

Using a virtual individual network, or VPN, tin can aid safeguard your digital footprint. This is because VPNs mask your IP accost which makes your online actions virtually untraceable. This protects your privacy online and can prevent websites from installing cookies that rail your cyberspace browsing history. Kaspersky Secure Connection enables you lot to take a secure connection between your device and an cyberspace server that no one tin can monitor or access the data you are exchanging.

Related articles:

• How to protect your privacy online as business organization and personal use converge
• How to hide your IP address
• How to set up a secure dwelling network
• What is VPN? How information technology works and types of VPN

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