Digital Footprint: How to find and delete?

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What is a Digital Footprint?​

A digital footprint is all the information that a user intentionally or unintentionally leaves about themselves online. This includes email addresses, social media posts, browser search history and data that is collected automatically. Every internet connection - whether from a computer, mobile device or even a fitness tracker - creates a portrait of the device owner based on their actions and publications.

Examples of Digital Footprints​

Let’s explore the types of digital footprints.

• Active Digital Footprints are data that users consciously leave online. For example, social media posts, likes, photos and videos, comments on forums, filled-out forms, emails, and messages. This also includes online purchases, reviews, and comments about products, services, and places.
• Passive Digital Footprints are information collected without the user's active participation. For instance, data about their location, browsing history, IP address, device information when connecting to the internet, metadata from photos and videos, cookies and log files that track user actions. Passive digital footprints also include data transmitted by smartphones and smart devices. For example, GPS data, information about physical workouts, distances traveled and calories burned can be sent to cloud services.

Why is a Digital Footprint Important?​

A digital footprint can influence a person. For example, websites and applications use information about user activity to improve service quality and tailor recommendations. This enhances user experience, simplifies their lives and increases security.

• Personalization of Services. With the collected data about users online, companies can offer personalized services and improve their recommendation systems. For instance, streaming platforms can predict content that users might enjoy and online shopping becomes significantly faster and more convenient. By analyzing customer preferences, companies develop their products and services.
• Simplifying Information Search. Search history and website visit history help internet services provide more relevant results and retain previously found information. This speeds up access to important data and facilitates the completion of repetitive tasks.
• Improving User Security. A digital footprint can be used to protect accounts and prevent fraud. For example, timely detection of user anomalies - such as suspicious login attempts (password guessing, logging in from a new device in a new country or city) can alert users to potential security threats.

However, it's also important to be aware of the negative aspects and security threats that a digital footprint can bring...

• Privacy and Security. A digital footprint contains data that can reveal personal information about the user: full name, usernames and passwords, location, search history, statements and even financial information. This information can be exploited by malicious actors, for example, in targeted phishing attacks, account hacking, theft of money and personal data and stalking.
• Reputation. A digital footprint shapes a user's online reputation, which can affect their career, education or social life. For instance, negative or explicit posts on social media can influence employers' opinions or lead to cyberbullying.
• Personalization and Targeting. Companies use digital footprints for personalized advertising and services, but sometimes aggressive tactics can lead to intrusive company presence, bordering on invasion of privacy.
• Control and Management Issues of Public Information. Once information is online, controlling its spread becomes difficult. Even if an unfortunate comment, photo or video is removed from one resource, it doesn't guarantee that it will disappear forever.

There is a saying: the internet remembers everything. Therefore, the general recommendation for users is to be mindful of what and how is published about them in public sources.

When Does a Digital Footprint Appear?​

A user's digital footprint appears every time they access the internet and mobile applications, use various digital devices connected to the network. The history of visits is formed throughout the use of online services and digital technologies.

• Creating Accounts and Registering on Websites. When registering on platforms (social networks, forums, online stores), an active digital footprint is created - this includes personal data such as full name, email address and date of birth.
• Visiting Websites. Each time a user visits a website, the site's servers collect data about their actions. This often includes information such as IP address, browser used, operating system, time of visit and pages viewed.
• Search Queries. Any queries entered into search engines are saved and can be used to improve search results, personalization and contextual advertising.
• Using Social Media. Any content that a person publishes on social media: posts, comments, photos, videos, likes - forms a digital portrait of the user. Additionally, actions such as adding friends, joining groups and viewing specific content are also recorded in the systems.
• Online Purchases. When placing orders or even browsing products, a user's history is collected: completed or saved purchases, preferences, delivery addresses and payment methods. All of this shapes the buyer and is used to analyze their behavior.
• Using Mobile Applications and Online Games. Many mobile applications collect data about users, including location, contacts, actions within the app and even physical activity data.
• Using Cloud Services. By uploading files to cloud storage or working with online documents, users leave traces of their activity that are stored in the systems of cloud providers.
• Digital Devices and Gadgets. Fitness trackers, cars with GPS or smart home systems collect data about user's actions and habits.

How to Find Your Digital Footprint​

Analyzing your digital footprint can help you understand what data about you is already available online and take steps to enhance your personal privacy and protection. To find and understand your digital footprint, you can use several methods and tools. Here are some steps that can help you identify your digital footprint.

• Search for Information About Yourself in Search Engines. Start with a simple search of your name in popular browsers. Include variations using your full name, nicknames or other data that might appear online (for example, previous workplaces, schools). Look at images and videos associated with your name, as well as the "News" and "Social Media" sections. Check what search systems return for your phone number or email address to find out what information is linked to these contact details. This will help you understand what is publicly available and determine what information can be hidden or removed.
• Check Social Media Accounts. Look at which profiles, posts, photos, videos and comments are publicly visible on social media and run a search for your name in social networks to find mentions where you have been tagged.
• Search for Old and Forgotten Accounts. Recall old internet services, forums and websites where you might have had accounts. For example, previously created email accounts, blogs, forum accounts, online stores or gaming platforms.
• Review your email history to remember which sites you registered on. This will help you find accounts on old or forgotten resources and unsubscribe from unwanted newsletters.
• Cookie and Tracker Settings. Use special services to see which trackers collect data about your digital footprint when visiting websites. Check your browser's privacy settings to limit the amount of information collected about you.
• Activity in Mobile Applications. Check the apps on your smartphone: what data they collect and transmit. For example, location, contacts, access to multimedia.

How to Delete Your Digital Footprint​

It's impossible to completely remove your digital footprint from the internet, as information can be copied and spread in various ways beyond your control. However, you can minimize it by reducing the amount of available data about yourself.

• Delete Accounts or Deactivate Accounts You No Longer Use: on social networks, forums, gaming services, blogs and email services.
• Remove Personal Data from Search Engine Results. For example, you can request search engine owners and websites to remove photos and old links containing your personal data.
• Clear Browser History and Cookies. Clear your browser history, cookies and cache, and delete autofill data to reduce the amount of information that websites collect about you.
• You can also use "incognito mode" or "private mode" in the future to minimize traces of online activity. This does not delete activity traces but prevents them from accumulating in the local browser history.
• Delete Old Posts and Comments on Social Media. Review your social media profiles and delete posts, comments, photos and videos that are no longer relevant or may compromise you. The same should be done on forums and any other resources where you openly post information about yourself.
• Limit the Circle of People Who Can See Your Personal Data using privacy settings and disable tracking by advertising services and use extensions to block trackers.
• Unsubscribe from Unwanted Newsletters: either manually in your email inbox by checking your subscription list or using special services to unsubscribe from promotional newsletters, such as Unroll.me or Clean Email.
• Delete Old Files from Cloud Storage. Check your accounts on services and delete old documents, photos and videos. It's also advisable to check synchronization settings to prevent apps and devices from saving unnecessary data in the cloud.
• Remove Unnecessary Metadata. For example, location or author information before publishing files online.

How to Protect Your Digital Footprint​

There are several key recommendations on how to reduce risks and maintain control over your data:

• Create Complex Passwords. Complex passwords include letters, numbers and special characters. Store them in password managers if the service doesn't support fingerprint or facial recognition authentication.
• Enable Two-Factor Authentication on all services that support it. This adds an extra layer of protection by requiring confirmation of login via SMS or an authenticator app.
• Control Privacy Settings. It's especially important to do this on social media and applications. Limit the circle of people who can see your posts. Remove or hide personal information from your profile and disable geolocation. In your browser settings, enable the feature to block third-party cookies or the "Do Not Track" mode. Regularly clear your browser history, cookies and cache. Also, limit app access to geolocation, contacts, camera, photos, videos and microphone if they are not necessary for the app's functionality.
• Regularly Check Old Accounts. Delete accounts that you no longer use to reduce the number of resources where your data is stored.
• Be Cautious with Public Wi-Fi Networks. This is important because these are generally unsecured networks and malicious actors can intercept user information. It's especially recommended not to perform banking operations or log into important sites while on a public network. If you must connect, use a VPN to protect your connection
• Use Temporary Email Addresses and Aliases for Registration. This applies to temporary sites. If you don't want to disclose your primary address, come up with aliases and unique usernames.

Conclusion​

A digital footprint may seem daunting, especially when you realize how much information about each person is stored online. However, in the modern world, it's nearly impossible to completely eliminate a digital footprint, as many everyday activities occur online. If you manage your digital footprint correctly, you can gain more benefits from technology than risks.