A Guide for Understanding Digital Footprints

Your digital footprint is the trail of data you leave behind when you’re online. Any time you use the internet, wherever you are in the world, whether you’re browsing, emailing, or posting on social media, you’re contributing to it. The implications for business owners and managers mean that it’s important to know what’s out there about you or your business, how others might view it, and the potential risks it brings.

Why Does Your Digital Footprint Matter?

The trail of personal information that we leave in our wake online can impact career paths more than you may think. Consider these elements and how they could be impacted by an untidy digital footprint:

Reputation: Prospective clients, partners, or even potential employees might search your name or business online. Old posts, comments, or anything unprofessional can hurt your reputation before you’ve even met them.

Hiring: When recruiting, companies check candidates’ online activity. What’s out there could make or break their chances, even if the impressions the hiring managers finds are from years ago.

Security: Cybercriminals can gather data from your digital footprint, which could expose you to scams, phishing, or identity theft. This obviously has the second-hand risk of leaving your business vulnerable to identity theft, phishing or spoof attacks.

How to Find Out What’s Online About You

You may not realise how much information is publicly available. Start by taking a look yourself.

1. Google Yourself: Search for your name or business name on Google. Check the different sections: web, images, and news.
2. Review Social Media: Look at your accounts on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and others. Make sure nothing unprofessional is there and check privacy settings.
3. Check Data Brokers: Websites like 192.com store public information. Some let you request removal of your data.
4. Clear Browser History & Cookies: Your browsing habits also contribute to your digital footprint. Regularly clear your history and cookies.

How Scammers Exploit Your Digital Footprint

Once your data is online, scammers can search for it easily, and exploit it against you or your organisation in various ways. Using the personal information found in your digital footprint, they can craft highly convincing phishing emails or messages, tailored to you based on your personal information. With enough details like your name or job title, they can even impersonate you, leading to plenty of terrible outcomes that come along with identity theft. Dedicated scammers may also use social engineering tactics, posing as trusted contacts or colleagues to manipulate you or your employees into revealing sensitive information.

Steps to Clean Up Your Digital Footprint

Taking action is essential for protecting your privacy and business. Here’s how:

• Delete Old Accounts: Clear out unused accounts from old platforms.
• Update Privacy Settings: Regularly review your settings on all platforms.
• Remove Unprofessional Content: Go back and delete posts or comments that might harm your professional image.
• Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): This adds an extra security layer to your accounts.

One overlooked area is password security. If you’ve shared personal details like birthdays or pet names on social media, cybercriminals can easily guess your passwords. Here’s what you can do:

• Create Strong Passwords: Use three random, unrelated words, combined with numbers and special characters.
• Use a Different Password for Each Site: Don’t reuse passwords. If one is compromised, the others remain safe.
• Use a Password Manager: These tools generate and store strong passwords securely.

Take Control of Your Digital Footprint

Being aware of what’s out there about you can prevent security risks and protect your professional reputation. Cleaning up your digital footprint and adopting strong password practices is an easy yet effective way to safeguard yourself and your business.

At Crosstek, we help SMEs in Kent and surrounding counties secure their online presence. Managing your digital footprint doesn’t have to be overwhelming—take these simple steps to stay protected.

You may also be interested in: How bad personal Facebook security can cause business headaches