Your digital footprint is made up of everything you knowingly share online, such as social media posts, emails and online purchases. This article will help you understand what your digital footprint means and what kinds of risks are linked to it.
We’ll explain how you can manage this information and protect your privacy online. You’ll also get practical tips on how to avoid revealing more than you intended and how to make sure you share your information safely. Finally, we’ll look at your passive digital footprint, which consists of information that is collected about you online without you noticing.
Below, you can see three posts from different people
Lucy
“Hi everyone,
I am currently seeking new career opportunities in Marketing and Communications. If anyone knows of any openings or can offer advice, I would love to connect! Please find my CV attached for your reference. Thank you for your support!
Best, Lucy
#JobSeeker #Marketing #Communications #CareerOpportunity #LinkedIn”
John
“Enjoying every moment of our surfing adventure down under in Australia with my amazing girlfriend! 🌊🏄♀️✨
The waves here are unbelievable, and we’re having a blast riding them every day.
Grateful for these perfect beach days and planning our next surf trip already! 🌞
#SurfingLife #Australia #BeachAdventures #CouplesWhoSurf #SunAndWaves”
Sarah and Tom
“After months of hard work, we’ve finally completed our home renovation!
Here’s a look at the incredible transformation from before to after. We’re proud to have made our home more eco-friendly by installing solar panels and setting up a rainwater harvesting system. We believe in sustainable living and it feels fantastic to be part of a community that cares about the environment. 🌿💚
#HomeRenovation #BeforeAndAfter #EcoFriendly #SustainableLiving #GreenInitiatives”
What information do these posts reveal?
Laura’s LinkedIn post reveals personal information, such as contact details, work history and educational background.
This information could be used, for example, for phishing or identity theft. The post can be seen by people outside Laura’s network, and the information may spread further than she originally intended.
Juho’s holiday post on social media reveals location information and the relationship between family members.
By sharing real-time location information, criminals could find out that Juho’s home is empty. In addition, information about hobbies and relationships could expose him to harassment or misuse of his personal information.
The before-and-after photos of Saara and Tomi’s home renovation reveal significant details about their home and personal preferences.
This could attract burglars or lead to profiling for targeted advertising. Publicly shared opinions and preferences could also expose them to harassment or cyberbullying.
Illustrations: Storyset
