Digital footprint refers to any information you leave behind, willingly or not. For instance, users can see how posts or comments can survive even after getting deleted. Sophisticated software can dig out many details, examining hacked data dumps and publicly available records.
If we put all digital footprints together, we would get a clear picture of a person. For example, IP-based tracking constantly checks your approximate location. And many of your online activities get linked to this identifier.
Let’s see just how digital footprints work and when they cause concern. After all, you would not want some posts from a decade ago to ruin your chances of getting a particular job.
What is a digital footprint?
Whenever you access the internet, social media apps, websites, etc., you leave small traces of your information behind. It can include your name, email, phone number, liking someone’s posts, interacting with certain content, etc.
However, you may not notice that you are leaving small breadcrumbs all over the internet, just like Hansel and Gretel. While you leave your small traces, someone might be chasing after you.
It may seem insignificant to leave such data around. After all, anyone can find out your name and some of your personal information. But digital footprints are not just about leaving something behind. It is about what happens to the data you leave behind and who uses it afterward.
The dangers of leaving a digital footprint
After your internet activity and interactions, someone will come to pick up what you have left behind. For instance, data brokers control users’ digital footprints, bundle them, and sell them to interested parties. Usually, such data gets anonymized, meaning it does not relate to a real person. However, experts have showcased that enough data could demask users’ identities.
What happens to your footprint depends on the type of data you leave behind and who picks it up. Here are some dangers of leaving a digital footprint and how they can harm you.
Targeted advertising
The first thing you will notice with digital footprints is advertisements. Have you noticed that when you search for something, an ad pops up almost immediately with the thing you were looking for?
Although it may not seem like a big deal and may even seem helpful, targeted advertising is just the beginning of your journey. Whenever you search for something, you create an autobiography someone else can read.
In this case, targeted ads play a role in your likings and habits. The footprint will determine what you like, collect data about your preferences, and see when you usually shop or browse the internet. By developing such advanced knowledge about you, targeted ads can only be the beginning of a horror story. Most personalized online content happens through your activities and digital footprints.
Invasion of privacy
Many internet users have profiles on social media apps. Moreover, most of these people post photos, videos, and other content to their social media almost daily. Again, it may not seem like a big deal to post a picture of you smiling in front of a tourist attraction or your location to your Instagram story. These actions can snowball into something very problematic.
We cannot deny that using social media is fun. You can play games, chat, take funny pictures and videos, watch various types of content, etc. But when you post something, especially with a location, you may prepare a trap for yourself. Someone on the internet can see where you are and that you are not at home, which can cause serious harm. Moreover, someone can stalk you in the virtual and real world if you overshare on social media.
Cybercrime threat
Lastly, while using the internet, you may fall victim to cybercrime. There are numerous types of cyber-attacks, and you may not notice when you are in danger.
Just like regular criminals, cybercriminals can steal your personal data, bank accounts, virtual valuables, and even your identity. No one is safe while browsing the internet unless they protect their data. And since users do not know what information about them is online, it becomes far more difficult to control.
In this scenario, we can compare the internet to a vacation. You go on a vacation to enjoy yourself, visit various attractions, and have fun. But, while you are sightseeing, someone grabs your bag with all your money and possessions and leaves. You don’t know what happened, who robbed you, and how they did it. It is the same with cybercrime. It can happen unexpectedly, like connecting to a fake network that secretly steals your login credentials.
How to protect yourself?
As you can see, the internet is a scary place. However, there are numerous tools you can use to defend yourself from the consequences of your actions.
A Virtual Private Network is one of the best ways to delete your digital footprint. This tool can help you hide your virtual location, making you undetectable online. Also, a VPN encrypts your internet traffic, preventing entities from collecting as much data about you. So, download VPN services and connect to secure servers to protect yourself.
Furthermore, you should be wary of what information you share willingly. Take the time to see whether certain posts or comments are appropriate. Also, do not supply companies or apps with more access privileges than necessary. If an application requires access to your camera, question how it will be useful to your experience.
Conclusion
Although the internet can be an entertaining and educational place, it holds dangers beyond recognition. There will be consequences for every action you make online. We have explained digital footprints and how they can affect your life.
If you want to avoid these possible dangers, you should use a security measure, such as a VPN, to wipe out all the steps you make in the virtual world. While private browsing modes on browsers cannot do much, they are also useful. Use incognito together with other privacy-focused tools for a safer online experience!