Understanding Digital Footprints: What You’re Really Leaving Behind

Every click, like, photo, comment, and message leaves a trace online, forming what is called your “digital footprint”. We perform these actions without a second thought, not realizing our actions are painting a picture of us. This picture is used by companies to target content, help potential employers find out more about you, and help advertisers understand exactly what you would be interested in. 

What Is Your Digital Footprint?

Just like how you leave footprints when you walk on sand, showing where you’ve been, your digital footprint is an online trace of all the actions you have taken. Every social media like, your Google search history, your ecommerce purchases, emails, location data, and shows you watched on Netflix are recorded as a digital footprint. 

Some platforms have become aware of consumers’ need for privacy, like the safe and private online casinos you can access now without revealing your identity. These kinds of platforms use SSL security and other measures to protect users. 

But even encrypted platforms can reveal more about you. Over time, your online activities build a profile of all your preferences and behaviours, which is a major security concern. Your online activities are not the only factors that build this profile. Widespread CCTV use, public WiFi, and connecting to cell phone towers all contribute, showing where you have been and what you’re doing in real time. 

How Your Digital Footprint Impacts Your Privacy

Each online interaction adds to your digital footprint. Even though the internet has brought about an age of convenience, it has also given rise to severe privacy and security concerns. 

One of the main privacy concerns is the amount of personal information available in your digital footprint. All the actions you take online are recorded, including the type of content you engage with, your own posts, comments, and images, and where you shop. Your entire daily routine can be determined, especially if you work online. 

This information is valuable to marketers, who can target their advertising. Companies track you using your digital footprint so that they can market specifically to you and also personalize your online experiences. For example, if you have searched for running shoes in the past, you might start seeing Facebook ads for shoes or other running gear. Your digital footprint can be monetized, and it can quickly feel like you’re being spammed or like someone is listening in on your personal conversations. 

However, it is not just used for ads. There are many cybercriminals who want to use this information. Personal data can be used to figure out the answers to security questions, which can lead to greater problems, like identity theft. 

Another concern is a lack of anonymity online. What you do online can reveal where you live and work, who your friends are, and places where you frequently go. For example, if you recently purchased a new MacBook, and you then check into your local coffee shop online, criminals will know exactly where you and your Mac are, and you could be a target for theft. You can also become a victim of cyberstalking and harassment. 

Reducing Your Digital Footprint

The first step to shrinking your digital footprint is to see how much information there is about you online. The easiest way to do it is to search your name and surname on Google, and see what comes up. It might just be your social media profiles, or it can be old Tumblr blogs or Wix sites you attempted to build years ago. You should delete what you’re no longer using. 

You can use a virtual private network (VPN) to mask your IP address and scramble your data while using secure browsers that limit tracking. You can also set your social media accounts to private.

Unfortunately, some of your digital footprint will never be erased, but at least you can control who sees it. 

Final Thoughts

In a connected world, it is important to maintain your privacy online. Your digital footprint is a profile of who you are, in-person and digitally, and can be used by companies and criminals to target you. Being aware of what your digital footprint is is the first step to becoming more secure online.