Cybercriminals can use your “digital footprint” (an accumulation of all your online activities) to conduct targeted attacks and scams. You can help limit your risks by following these tips:
- Delete old accounts.Old email accounts and logins for unnecessary websites and services, such as online stores, can contain sensitive information and expose you to risk of being hacked. Note: Simply deleting an app off your phone won’t delete your account. You’ll need to formally delete your account with the platform, store or website itself.
- Search for yourself.Put your name into a search engine and see what comes up. It’s a great way to see the type of information that’s readily available about you. Try this with multiple search engines. If you find sensitive data you don’t want revealed — or you find information that’s incorrect — contact the site administrator to request removal of the material.
- Tighten your privacy settings.Adjust the privacy settings on your social media accounts to control who can see your posts, photos and personal information.
- Be cautious with social media.The Internet has a long memory. Be selective and thoughtful about what you share online. If information could be misused, don’t post it publicly. Instead, share it only with friends — or not at all.
- Use alternate accounts and names when possible. Use a separate email account when signing up to receive ads, email updates and sale notifications. Of course, it should have a strong passphrase that’s different from any other account. Consider using variations of your name on platforms where real identification isn’t crucial.
