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Digital footprint Lesson by Google -Christian C

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Digital footprint Lesson by Google -Christian C

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Video lesson explaining what digital footprint is and what things affect your digital footprint. How companies use your digital footprint data from your digital actions to promote and sell you things. How to organize your digital marks and acknowledge them. With the purpose of the article is to inform. A lesson plan made by Google which is the face of the internet these days a creditable source. With google first hand using digital footprints to compile ads for you.

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Lesson: Intro to Digital Footprint - Applied Digital Skills- Applied Digital Skills

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Watch: Introduction to Understand Your Digital Footprint - a video lesson from Applied Digital Skills that is free of charge.

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Ways Your Digital Footprint Can Be accessed. - Justin P (Published February 2024)

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Ways Your Digital Footprint Can Be accessed. - Justin P (Published February 2024)

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The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security who are known for protecting the privacy of people on the internet states internet users are tracked based on the activity the users leave behind. Such as:

Clicking a link that can access sensitive information is a way many websites use to access data easily.

AI becoming more advanced being able to analyze your activity online which can be used to steal your identity.

WI-FI networks are easily able to gather data from a user who uses the network.

Although these methods are effective and easy access to a person's privacy, there are still some ways people can avoid their privacy being accessed.

Always read the privacy policies and terms of use. It will explain the type of information that will be gathered based on your activity.

Deactivate cookies on whichever website you use. The cookies within the website will gather information such as your time usage within the website as well as your IP address.

Set up your settings to default settings. With many websites making your settings set as default, it makes your information accessible to the public. This is why you should always change your settings to the most restrictive settings available.

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Your organization uses the Internet to carry out business activities, provide employees with remote work capabilities, and offer services to clients. As your employees and partners carry out activities on different online platforms and applications, consider the digital footprint they leave behind and take the appropriate security measures to protect it. Digital footprints contain sensitive information that is valuable to threat actors. Using tracking and monitoring techniques, threat actors can access and exfiltrate this sensitive information, jeopardizing its confidentiality and security.

On this page

About digital footprints

A digital footprint is the trail of data you create while using the Internet. This trail of data comes from the websites you visit, the emails you send and the information you submit or download online. You build your footprint both actively and passively.

Active digital footprint: Data left through intentional actions, such as posting on social media, filling out online forms or agreeing to browser cookies.

Passive digital footprints: Data left unintentionally or unknowingly. This data is often collected through monitoring tied to your IP address. Websites and applications may install cookies on devices without disclosure, use location tracking or log your activities.

Understand the risks

Your organization is responsible for protecting the sensitive information it collects, like client names, financial data and personal identification information. Threat actors look for vulnerabilities that they can exploit to gain access to sensitive information.

Securing your clients' sensitive information is extremely important. Compromised digital footprints can lead to identity theft, issues with background checks, and reputational harm. Ensure appropriate preventative measures are in place to protect the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive information. Failure to protect this information can damage the reputation of your organization.

Know the Threats

Threat actors try to exploit vulnerabilities and access sensitive information using techniques that collect data through active and passive footprints. Phishing attacks or website spoofing are common techniques. By clicking on a link, downloading an attachment or sharing sensitive information, you are making your digital footprint more accessible to threat actors.

Artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms can also pose a threat to your digital footprint. They can analyze your digital footprints to track your behaviour online. This data could be used by a threat actor to steal your identity.

Bring-your-own devices (BYOD), smart devices, and unsecured Wi-Fi networks are vectors that threat actors can use to collect data. With many people now working remotely, sensitive data may be shared through devices and networks that do not have the appropriate security measures in place.

If your business handles online orders through a website, there are further considerations for keeping sensitive data secure. For details about encryption and secure browsing, read Using encryption to keep your sensitive data secure (ITSAP.40.016).

Protect your privacy

Privacy is important. To reduce the risks of sensitive data being exploited, consider the following measures.

Train your employees and raise awareness. Your employees should be aware of cyber security and privacy topics and issues. Your training should cover proper information handling and protection measures, as well as other cyber security best practices.

Read privacy policies and terms of use. Before downloading an application and using a service, read and understand the types of information being collected, the ways in which it can be used and the security measures in place to protect personal information.

Deactivate cookies, if possible. Even if you are not actively sharing information on applications and websites, your data is still traced through your device, IP address and network.

Configure default settings. Some applications have their default settings open for public access. Configure your privacy and security settings with the highest and most restrictive settings available.

Stay up to date with any changes with application's terms of agreements, updates and privacy settings.

Other cyber security considerations

To secure your actions online from cyber threat actors, consider the following preventative measures:

install anti-virus software and a firewall to reduce the risks of data being passively shared

implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) and enforce the use of strong and unique passphrases or passwords for all accounts and devices

avoid using public Wi-Fi and instead use secure networks and a virtual private network (VPN)

deploy mobile device management or mobile application management to monitor bring your own devices (BYODs)

restrict unencrypted website browsing

install privacy-enhancing web browser extensions like ad-blockers

implement allow lists or block IP addresses, domain names and file types that are known to be bad

remove old accounts and any privileges from employees who no longer need access

permit access to only those with a need to know and classify data based on the level of sensitivity

create a social media policy to clarify expectations on what can be shared on organizational accounts

remove metadata from photos before sharing and posting online
this information is stored in the image file and can expose personal details such as your location

Learn more

For more information, consult the following publications:

The Cyber Centre's Learning Hub also offers related training courses:

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Digital footprint (ITSAP.00.133) - Canadian Centre for Cyber Security

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What is digital footprint? And how to protect it from hackers ensuring your safety to be the first priority  while online.

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Intro To Digital Footprint including Problems/Solutions - Andrew C. 

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Intro To Digital Footprint including Problems/Solutions - Andrew C. 

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This article is from a company called Kaspersky which is a company that protects over 400 million people and 240,000 companies worldwide, it is seen in the about me section on the bottom of the page. They primarily focus on protecting your usage of the internet of the daily things you do such as the trail of data you leave when viewing the internet. Which leads to the definition of digital footprint which is used to track a persons online identity through devices. A digital footprint can happen in many ways such as posting on social media or writing a newsletter there is two types of of digital footprint such as active digital footprints is where the user has deliberately shared information about themselves – for example, through posting or participating on social networking sites or online forums. The other type of digital footprint is called passive digital footprint A passive digital footprint is created when information is collected about the user without them being aware 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. Usually passive digital footprints is a hidden process which users realize that it isn't taking place. This showing digital footprint is a very important matter to worry about because it means many things Colleges and universities can check their prospective students’ digital footprints before accepting them too. Here is the ways to protect your own digital footprint

-Limit the amount of data you share

Every time you provide your personal information to an organization, you widen your digital footprint. You 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 there other ways to obtain that information or service without sharing your data?

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 you no longer read. Getting rid of dormant accounts minimizes your exposure to potential data breaches.
Keep software up to date

Outdated software could house a wealth of digital footprints. Without the latest updates, cybercriminals could gain access to this information. Cybercriminals can easily access a victim’s devices and data by exploiting vulnerabilities in software. You can help prevent this by keeping your software up to date. Older software can be more vulnerable to attacks by hackers.

Act fast after 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 bank or credit card provider to report the breach. Change any passwords that might have been exposed. If it's a password you have used for other accounts, update it across the board.

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What is a digital footprint? And how to protect it from hackers

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A digital footprint is the trail of data you leave when using the internet. Digital footprint examples, active & passive digital footprints & how to protect your digital footprint.

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What is Digital Footprint?And how to be fully aware of it

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Digital Footprint By Malwarebytes - Imran B

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Digital Footprint By Malwarebytes - Imran B

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This website is from a company called Malwarebytes which protects users from malware,as digital footprint means:Your online behavior leaves a trail of data that is known as your digital footprint. Websites viewed, searches performed, posts and comments on social media, and any other activities are all part of your digital footprint. Your digital footprint can expose a lot of personal information about you, so it's crucial to be aware of it.

Different kinds of digital footprints exist, including:

Active digital footprint: Information that you knowingly entered into the internet, such as completed forms or posts on social media.

Data generated by your phone while you're using it, or by a website you visited, is an example of a passive digital footprint. It is information made without your awareness or consent.The data that is accessible to the general public, such as postings you make on social media or details on your public profile on a website, is known as your public digital footprint.

Private digital footprint: Information that is only available to a specific set of users, such as group chat messages or online member-only groups.

Information may spread widely

If you are making the most of both your active and passive digital footprints, you risk becoming quickly disoriented from it. The Internet is expanding quickly, and there are lots of places to store your information.

Information exploitation

Your information can be used by a malicious party in a number of ways. For instance, they might utilize your information to create a spear-phishing attack and discover more about you.
A significant and public digital footprint can potentially be used by a malicious actor to launch a doxxing attack. To put it another way, they might make public whatever private information you provide.

Individuals who have a prominent online presence, like streamers of video games, are susceptible to swatting assaults.

Websites, platforms, advertisers, and businesses can all make use of your information. For instance, a website might use your digital footprint in a passive way to target you with advertisements.

Shopping via the internet

Whether you shop via websites or mobile apps, your online purchasing activity is part of your digital footprint. Online retailers may keep track of your purchases as well as your personal data, including your name, address, phone number, and credit card information.

Trackers As previously indicated, utilizing some of the following trackers is one way to increase your digital footprint among all kinds of digital activities:

trackers for fitness
examining trackers
Time-keeping devices

How to look up your online history

interactions on social media, including friendship requests, likes, shares, uploads, and posts.

Online money exchange
The following categories of internet banking practices can increase your digital footprint:

requesting a credit card.
purchasing bitcoin.
selling the stocks.
receiving financial newsletter subscriptions.

How to remove your digital footprint fully

Unfortunately, if you use Internet-connected gadgets on a regular basis, there is no way to totally erase your digital footprint. You can control your digital footprint, though. For example, you have the ability to remove or edit any dubious content you come across on a social media site that includes your name. You can ask the site administrator to delete content that is hosted on other websites if it is something you would like to remove.

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What is Digital Footprint? How to Manage and Protect Yours

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Your digital footprint can reveal your interests, habits, & personal information. It is important to take steps to manage it as part of your online reputation & privacy.

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Limiting Your Digital Footprints in a Surveillance State -Zachary Zhuo

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Limiting Your Digital Footprints in a Surveillance State -Zachary Zhuo

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This article is about Paul Mozur, who is "the global technology correspondent for The New York Times, based in Taipei. Previously he wrote about technology and politics in Asia from Hong Kong, Shanghai and Seoul." Even though this article was written in 2019, it is very relevant to today. It's good to take inspiration from this article, especially because it's about a reporter explaining how he makes it difficult for the Chinese police to take his data.

Using VPN's to insure that your connection is secure and that nefarious people can't see what your doing.

Keep your devices close-by. This is so you know that people aren't taking your info.

Use encrypted messaging apps so that people can't see what your saying or talking about.

Keep your data on secure apps or hard drives.

Try avoiding Bluetooth devices that people can read the signals of.

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Limiting Your Digital Footprints in a Surveillance State (Published 2019)

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To protect himself and his sources from prying eyes in China, Paul Mozur, a technology reporter in Shanghai, leaves just an “innocent trace” of digital exhaust.

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What is a digital footprint?  by Education From The National Crime Agency - Christian c

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What is a digital footprint?  by Education From The National Crime Agency - Christian c

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The article talks about the importance of monitoring the content that children post online. As it can have long-term consequences on their reputation, education, and future jobs. It explains the potential negative effects such as embarrassment, impact on school, grooming, and exploitation in extreme cases. But a digital footprint can be good in some ways. The article provides tips for children to consider before and after they post something online. Such as thinking about the content and its duration, being careful about giving away too much information, and considering the impact it has on others. It also tells children how to manage privacy settings, choosing friends wisely, removing and reporting inappropriate content, monitoring your online presence, and shutting down accounts on social networks if necessary or if they are not going to be used anymore.

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The photos we share, the comments we write, the videos we 'like' all say something about us to other people. Even if we delete them, they may still be out there - saved and shared by others, or even kept by the site or app itself.

What does the content you post online say about you?

As adults, this may have less of an effect on our futures, the people we meet online and the relationships we build, but for your child, the consequences could be far reaching.

Having been brought up in a digital world, your child's 'digital footprint' is likely to be much larger than yours. Most of us did things as teenagers that we wouldn't want people to have a photo or record of today. Most young people's lives are documented daily, by them, their friends and even their family, sometimes even before birth (ever seen a proud friend or relative share their ultrasound scan image on social media?).

How much room does this leave for children to make developmental mistakes, without having lasting proof and possible longstanding embarrassment?

Things to consider

Embarrassment is one thing which young people may face but it's also possible that the things they post, or are posted about them, could have a negative effect on their reputation, education or future employment.

Impact on school. Things that happen online, but involve fellow students, can be brought to the attention of their school, and children may be sanctioned as a result of their actions, even if they were not directly involved in wrongdoing. They may have been a bystander who allowed bullying to take place, or perhaps liked or shared something they thought was funny, but which then caused harm or upset to others.

Grooming and exploitation. In extreme cases, if your child has posted or shared sexual content, there is a possibility that they have shared this with strangers online without realising it. This could lead to them being pressured into continuing contact, or even being threatened into taking more images or meeting face to face.

A digital footprint can also be a good thing. Your child can have a positive reputation online and there will be things that they do, such as volunteering or achievements, which they may want people (or future employers) to know about. The key is to have control over who and what people can find about them.

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The photos we share, the comments we write, the videos we 'like' all say something about us to other people. Even if we delete them, they may still be out there - saved and shared by others, or even kept by the site or app itself.

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How to protect your digital footprint solutions by Mcafee - Andrew C #2 post 

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How to protect your digital footprint solutions by Mcafee - Andrew C #2 post 

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This article is from Mcafee a site that professions in online protection they focus on customer needs not only device protection you can see more in the " About Mcafee "section on how very reputable it is , In this article it explains the definition of digital footprint that can be seen in other articles on this padlet but this is not what it mainly focuses on it focuses on that you NEED to check your digital footprint and they show you tell you how which can be seen in such examples like including social media activity, online purchases, and even email conversations. Knowing how to check your digital footprint allows you to be more mindful of your online privacy and security. The main focus on this article is for Mcafee to have multiple security solutions designed to protect and safeguard your personal information it is just a huge layer of added protection meaning If your details are found on these nefarious platforms, you’ll be alerted immediately, allowing you to take proactive steps to protect your identity and financial information. Furthermore they talk more about the in depth definition of digital footprint and the leverage it has on the daily things you do and it requires you to have some type of responsibility to Find the best strategies and practices that can help you take control of your online presence. Thankfully, there are ways to manage our digital footprints effectively, like McAfee they help you comprehensive solutions to help you keep your personal information safe. With the right measures in place, we can enjoy the benefits of the digital world without compromising our privacy. But the first step always stay the same protecting your privacy is awareness. Understand what a digital footprint is and its potential risks, and then take proactive steps to manage and reduce your digital footprint. Ultimately, the key is to strike a balance between the convenience of the digital world and the privacy of your personal life.

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Protecting the enterprise digital footprint - Justin Lopez

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Protecting the enterprise digital footprint - Justin Lopez

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This article focuses on organizational footprints. Thanks to developments like the rise of cloud computing and remote labor, organizational footprints are becoming more expansive and dispersed. There are risks associated with this increase. Cyber criminals target every program, gadget, or user with a digital footprint. Hackers can get access to business networks by taking advantage of weaknesses, taking control of accounts, or deceiving people. As a result, cyber security teams are implementing solutions that provide increased control and visibility over the company's digital footprint. Some businesses use Google Alerts or other search engine notifications to keep tabs on the publicly accessible parts of their footprints. This enables the company to keep track of articles, reviews, and other content that may have an impact on its internet reputation. The digital footprint of an organization includes the personal information it gathers from both clients and staff. Regulations regarding data privacy and industry-specific issues may apply to a large portion of this data.

Types of digital footprints :

Active digital footprint

The entirety of an organization's online activities, resources, and information that it directly and consciously manages makes up its active digital footprint. The items in the active footprint include

The company's public branded content, such as websites, social media accounts, blogs, ads and other media.

Apps and online services created and controlled by the organization, including client portals and customer accounts on these apps and services.

Passive digital footprint

Online activity, assets, and data that are associated with a firm but not directly controlled by it make up its passive footprint. Examples of passive footprints are

Vendor activity and assets connected to the company network, such as third-party software packages used in company apps or endpoints that service providers use on company systems.

Shadow IT assets, which include all apps and devices used on or connected to the company network without the IT department's approval and oversight.

Orphaned IT assets that remain online even though the company no longer uses them. Examples include old accounts on social media platforms or obsolete software still installed on company laptops.

-Justin Lopez

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A digital footprint is the unique trail of data that a person or business creates while using the internet.

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Examples Of Digital Footprint. - Justin P (Published June 2023)

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Examples Of Digital Footprint. - Justin P (Published June 2023)

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Tibor Moes, a graduate from Stanford university with his cybersecurity graduate certificate states digital footprints can be easily traced back to a person and is split into two categories. Information can be tracked without the user's knowledge and another way is the user's information being tracked by cookies and servers. But within these methods are other methods commonly used to tracks a person's data.

People using social media often post photos, send messages, friend new people and exchanging information making a traceable footprint that can be easily tracked.

Many people use the internet to buy products, open credit cards, invest in stocks and exchanging banking information. This also creates a traceable footprint many websites use to track people's information.

A lot of people use tons of fitness apps in order to stay in shape at home. Along with these apps are apps that ask personal questions about weight, height, age, questions that ask personal information which goes into your digital footprint.

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What is a Digital Footprint?

The concept of a digital footprint goes by many names. Some call it an electronic footprint, digital shadow, or digital breadcrumbs. But whatever fancy term you come across, all refer to the same thing. That's the trail of information you leave behind when performing regular activities on a network or on the internet.

If the digital world was a giant, snowy landscape, every action you make online would leave an imprint behind. As you might suspect, this is one of the many things that allow others to track you online.

But how noticeable is a digital footprint? It depends on your online habits, internet usage rate, activities, and other factors.

Types of Digital Footprints You Need to Know

To better understand the ramifications of adding to your digital footprint, it's vital to familiarize yourself with the two types of digital footprints.

Active Digital Footprint

Active digital footprints are created and sustained by any action in which you willingly share information about yourself or your location. Examples of this would be social media platforms, comment sections, websites that require registration, completing an online form or questionnaire, subscribing to newsletters, and allowing the installation of browser cookies.

These examples refer to information and data shared deliberately.

Passive Digital Footprint

A passive digital footprint is the exact opposite of an active footprint. This type of footprint is created by data and information collected about you without your express knowledge. Sometimes, even without consent.

Passive digital footprint examples include website visits, IP addresses, browsing patterns, and even shares of your social media content.

In most cases, this type of digital footprint is generated using hidden processes and without the user's knowledge. This makes passive digital footprints the most dangerous to leave behind because you can't be certain what information third parties can collect about you and your online activities.

Common Digital Footprint Examples

Not everyone understands what they should or shouldn't do to avoid leaving a noticeable digital footprint behind. Some examples of leaving breadcrumbs include social media uploads and posts.

Other actions that expand your digital footprint include leaving reviews, reading articles, listening to music, or watching videos. Even going on a shopping spree in your favorite online store leaves a data trail that makes your digital footprint bigger and easier to track.

Did you install cookies recently? Cookies track your activity and add to your footprint. What's even worse is, you can contribute to your digital footprint unknowingly and unwillingly. With that said, there are certain digital footprint examples you must know based on the type of activity or website you might visit.

Social Media

Social media digital footprints are created when you use a device to log in to your favorite social media platforms. Connecting with new friends, making fresh contacts, exchanging photos and information, and other activities can leave a noticeable digital footprint.

Banking

Online banking, despite its convenience, is another way to contribute to your digital footprint. Opening a new account, getting a credit card, investing in the stock market, and using your credentials to make payments involve the willful sharing of information and create active digital footprints.

Shopping

Online shopping is one of the easiest ways to leave behind more than a few digital breadcrumbs. Everything from logging into shopping apps to newsletter subscriptions to coupon use to clicking ads will contribute to your digital footprint.

Tracking Apps

Fitness apps and trackers probably seem appealing if you want to get in shape but lack guidance and time. Like any other apps with tracking features, fitness trackers can make your digital footprint even more visible by collecting personal or confidential information and activity habits.

The same problem can be seen in other health-related apps, blogs, and devices.

News Websites

Online news publications collect a lot of information like article views, topic preferences, where you post or share content, etc. This user behavior data is added to your digital footprint, whether you like it or not.

How Are Digital Footprints Used?

By now, you're probably already aware of the many tracking habits of corporations, advertisers, governments, and your friendly neighborhood internet service providers. Information is king in the digital age, and consumer data is a valuable resource.

But how can your digital footprint be used, and why is it important to understand this concept?

For the most part, once data becomes public online, others can manipulate it in many ways. Imagine posting something on Facebook or Twitter and thousands of people re-sharing it, maybe taking your thoughts out of context.

Your digital footprint can be used as a business card, resume, or a means of establishing your reputation. These days, business partners and employers care about digital footprints as much as real-world perception.

Every breadcrumb you leave behind could either make you look good or bad. But given your limited control over this data and lack of context, digital footprints can do more harm than good.

The more obvious use is in advertising. Your likes, dislikes, shopping patterns, necessities, and other preferences can be extrapolated from your digital footprint. That's why it's so common these days to get spammed with advertisements showing exactly the products or services you need.

At least those can show you something you want. But not all advertisements are useful, non-invasive, or trustworthy. This brings us to the next point: cybersecurity risks.

A person's digital footprint can be used to learn more about them and gain their trust. This can make people vulnerable to phishing and other types of cyberattacks.

There's also the issue of privacy. Leaving a digital footprint pretty much means you don't have any privacy, at least not online. Yet seeing how often the physical and digital environments become intertwined, your digital footprint can lead to a breach of your real-world privacy.

How to Protect Your Digital Footprint

Whether you want to keep your preferences and habits to yourself, you worry about identity theft, want to minimize ad placements, or just don't like the idea of leaving a digital trail, digital footprint protection is essential.

Fortunately, you can take actions to minimize your online presence, maintain anonymity in various scenarios, and limit the amount of identifiable information left behind.

Separate Personal, Business, and Other Email Accounts

One of the great things about most email services is that they're free to use. Arguably better is the ability to make as many disposable email accounts as you want. Switching between Google accounts is very easy, regardless of your browser.

Multiple email accounts with dedicated purposes will allow you to be more selective with the information you offer to specific online platforms and web services.

In addition, if you don't mix business with personal activities, whatever information you leave behind isn't enough to generate an accurate profile.

Tighten Privacy Settings

Are all of your social media profiles still set to public? Even influencers and celebrities have started restricting access to their so-called public pages. It's a good idea to do the same.

This can prevent oversharing, and especially sharing information with untrusted individuals and companies. Limiting access to your posts and information is a lot more effective than you think.

Don't Agree to Everything

There's hardly a website or application so crucial that you can't refuse their request to collect and sell your information. Here's something you may not know. While you might have to agree to sharing information or installing specific cookies, you don't have to agree to let companies sell the collected data to advertisers or even share it with their partners. Audit your current selections and start opting out of these agreements.

Stay Off Unsecured or Public Wi-Fi Networks

Unsecured networks are teeming with nosy individuals and businesses who want to learn more about you. The lack of security makes data breaches easier to execute and can render your most careful browsing practices useless.

Only Visit Secure Websites

Your passive digital footprint is often created with the help of cookies you didn't want, security breaches, and malicious software.

These situations and practices are less common on trusted and secure websites, such as those that start with "https" rather than "http." Revise your browsing habits and remove unsafe websites from your go-to list.

Use a VPN

You can't exercise complete control over the digital breadcrumbs you leave behind. For example, your ISP will almost always cause you to leave an active digital trail and passive digital footprint.

The active component stems from agreeing to share information with your provider when signing the contract. However, the passive component comes from the various means ISPs use to track your online activities, many of which you don't even have to agree to.

Bypassing ISP monitoring and eliminating those digital footprints isn't easily accomplished just by using new browsing habits, multiple email addresses, and gaining a newfound respect for cybersecurity.

For this, you'll need a VPN. Routing your connection through a virtual private network will hide your geolocation, IP address, and other identifying information contained in data packets. Cookies and other tracking methods can be useless against you.

Whenever you try to access a website, your request will be sent from a proxy server or bounced around multiple servers to mask your identity. This lets you browse anonymously and minimize your digital footprint.

Keep in mind that even when using a VPN, you can still create an active digital footprint by logging into websites using your credentials, sharing posts, commenting, subscribing to services, etc. A VPN only helps you reduce a passive digital footprint.

Minimize Your Passive Digital Footprint and Sharing Habits

Whether it's changing your behavior on social media sites, being more mindful of sharing private data, using different social media credentials, or taking the security of your online activity more seriously, taking steps to minimize your digital tracing data is vital for your safety, privacy, and peace of mind.

Everything you post online can be used to collect information and used against you. Better browsing habits and a VPN can help minimize or even hide your online presence, even from the most prying eyes.

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What is a Digital Footprint? 5 Examples You Need to Know

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"What is a digital footprint" is a burning question for many online users. Find out what it means, how it's used, and whether you should feel safe having one.

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How to Protect Yourself from Online Scams -Zachary Zhuo

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How to Protect Yourself from Online Scams -Zachary Zhuo

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This YouTube video was made by ABC 7 months ago. This means that the things that were said are very up-to-date.

1. Never give your personal info to someone you've never meet in person.

2. Only talk to trusted people.

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How to protect yourself from online scams

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Top 10 Important Facts To Know About Digital Footprint Easily

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10 Things To Know About Digital Footprint - Imran B

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10 Things To Know About Digital Footprint - Imran B

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This pdf document comes from the website kathleenamorris.com ,as this website covered research skills, edtech, worldwide collaboration, digital citizenship, and online publishing.

1

Whenever you search online,a trace of that data that you searched is left behind.

2

Parts of your digital footprint(What you search) can be searched or shared with others.

3

Digital Footprint may harm or help your reputation depending on what you search or do on the web.

4

Once you post something online,it stays there forever even if you deleted.

5

Always keep on eye on what you post and think before you post something that's harmful to your reputation.

6

Anything you share with someone who you think is going to keep it a secret, however they can share it with a large audience hurting your reputation.

7

Search yourself up time to time to see if there are any harmful stuff about you that Can ruin your reputation.

8

Any old or unused account thats just sitting in the corner untouched should be deleted, so it doesn't trace back to you.

9

Always keep your personal details private and control the privacy on your accounts settings.

10

Be mindful of others digital footprint(ex: ask them before snapping a picture of them.

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Delete Your Digital Presence: How to Remove Yourself From The Internet -Zachary Zhuo

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Delete Your Digital Presence: How to Remove Yourself From The Internet -Zachary Zhuo

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This YouTube video was made by a YouTube channel that talks about the internet and on how to protect yourself. This video was made only a year ago, but is still very relevant.

Request data brokers to remove their data on you.

Delete old accounts that you aren't using.

Delete old email's that you no longer use.

Make a burner account.

Use browsers that block sites from collecting your info.

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Delete Your Digital Presence: How to Remove Yourself From The Internet

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Is it possible to manage and safeguard your digital footprint? - Justin Lopez 

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Is it possible to manage and safeguard your digital footprint? - Justin Lopez 

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The digital trail you create while navigating the online environment is known as your "digital footprint." It is an all-inclusive log of all of your conversations, actions, and habits on different digital platforms. Every click and keystroke you make, whether on social media, on websites, during online transactions, or in email contact, shapes your digital identity.

Who holds it: Your digital footprint is held by a variety of entities, including social media platforms, search engines, online retailers, government agencies, and third-party data brokers (both with permission and without permission) – a 2020 Nord Pass study, cited here by TechRadar, suggested the average internet user has around 100 online accounts that hold their information.

Who sees it: Depending on your privacy settings and security measures, your digital footprint can be visible to a wide range of individuals and organisations. Friends, family, employers, advertisers, and even cyber criminals may have access to various aspects of your digital presence.

The pros and cons: Your digital footprint offers numerous benefits, including enhanced connectivity, personalised experiences, and access to valuable resources. However, it also poses significant risks, such as privacy breaches, reputational damage, and exposure to cyber threats.

Safeguarding your digital footprint is paramount to protecting your privacy, security, and reputation online. Let us delve into the compelling reasons why

Protect sensitive data: From passwords and private chats to financial information and medical records, your digital footprint holds a wealth of private and sensitive data. By safeguarding your digital identity, you can prevent hackers from having simple access to your information.

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Is it possible to manage and safeguard your digital footprint?

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What is your digital footprint? How important is managing your digital footprint? And best practice for protecting your digital footprint both personally and professionally.

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Why You Should show awareness to Digital Footprint - Andrew C post #3 

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Why You Should show awareness to Digital Footprint - Andrew C post #3 

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This video talks about how digital footprints are very important and leave a trail behind you without even knowing it. You leave little clues about who you are and what you want every time you get on your device, and the clues combine together to make it a digital footprint. The person in the video talks about the things that are made up, such as social media posts and comments, which lead to active digital footprints. More examples include website data collection and collecting information when you go on your device. In fact, Amazon is very profitable, and you help into their 26 billion dollar revenue because it knows what you already want to buy. To add on, you have to be careful because you do not want your digital footprint to lead strangers to your private information. To add to the apps you download, you have to spend some time before downloading them, searching for the pros and cons of the app. You have to really ask yourself Are the benefits of the service worth the data this app or platform will collect about me? If you have apps you don't use, you should delete them because they will have the data you already collected when you first downloaded the app. Next, another big solution you can do without using any security add-ons is the importance of what you post and who will see it, Before you post take a look at the privacy settings because what you post matters for - Data Protection , Reputation Status and For you're own safety.

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Digital Footprint: What It Is, Why It Matters & How to Protect It

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Real-World Footprint Has a Digital Counterpart by Terranova Security- christian c

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Real-World Footprint Has a Digital Counterpart by Terranova Security- christian c

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The article explains how your digital footprint is like a path you leave behind. It warns about the risks, and digital crimes, if this information falls into the wrong hands.

The main points are understanding the risks if your sensitive data gets out. How to know if things are bait/ scams. How to protect your privacy on the internet. To not share too much information on social media and trying to avoid public WIFI. Overall, it's about being careful online and keeping your information safe.

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Your Real-World Footprint Has a Digital Counterpart: Here’s What You Need to Know About Digital Footprints

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Your digital presence online speaks volumes. We explain what digital footprints are and why protecting your digital reach online is important.