When you go online, you expect to leave some information or traces of yourself behind. After all, you knowingly input your username and password, post on social media, and send emails. But what you might not realize is that there is also a passive digital footprint of information collected in the background as you interact with the world of the web.
Left Behind
With every website visit and every keystroke, you leave behind information you don’t often consider. The first of these is your IP address. This is essentially a unique identifier that tells the site you interact with, your geographic location, your ISP, device type, and other data. You also leave identifying information that tells what type of device you’re using and even its operating system. Your browser type and hardware information are also often a part of this digital breadcrumb trail.
Cookies, Anyone?
“Cookies” aren’t just about the Girls Scouts and the Keebler Elf. Instead, they are a type of tracking technology that helps systems remember background information so that you can access frequently used sites quickly. Cookies also help to build a profile of your specific interests and how you behave online across your different devices. Cookies also keep track of unique tags in web pages, images, and emails that you’ve opened or viewed on a specific website.
Always Watching
While “cookies” and other collected data can improve your online experience by making it more personal, it’s crucial that you and your employees are aware of the key risks involved with unsecured online activities. Identity theft, privacy violations, social engineering attacks, doxing, blackmail, reputation damage, discrimination and profiling, and even physical safety risks linked to sharing photos with geolocation information are all possible.
The good news, however, is that there are ways to help reduce the amount of data that blows around in the proverbial wind once you sign off your devices. It starts by ensuring your network and devices are secure. Be selective with app permissions and use Incognito mode for sensitive tasks. Avoid the “sign in with social media” option when possible and purge the web of unused or old accounts.
You will always leave a digital trail, but it is possible to reduce the amount of information about you that lingers online. If you’re looking for more ways to protect yourself and your assets, contact ITC today to learn more about how professional information technology services providers can help shield your online activities from unwelcome eyes.
