How to clean up your digital footprint: The ultimate guide

Understanding digital footprint

Sure, let's delve into understanding digital footprints. Your online activities that are traceable and saved on the internet constitute your digital trail, often classified as either active or passive.

Passive footprint

Your inactive digital presence, on the other hand, is primarily technical and encompasses your IP address and the operating systems you employ. This includes various details logged by devices like smartphones and IoT wearables:

• Your geographical location
• Visited websites
• Duration spent on individual pages
• Count of mouse clicks
• Devices utilized
• Specific operating system

This level of tracking generates a comprehensive personal trail that can be traced by others.

Active footprint

Every action you take online creates an active digital footprint, including your searches on Google, posts on Facebook, emails, and reviews on apps.

Review your social media privacy configurations

It might be evident, but have you ensured that all your social media profiles are private? If not, you're essentially opening up your life to many people. It's a good idea to periodically check and adjust your privacy settings, and also consider hiding or removing old posts and photos every six months to a year.

As we evolve, our online presence should reflect our current selves. Content shared on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram from a decade ago may not align with who you are today. Additionally, you can go a step further by deleting specific accounts, although keep in mind that deactivating them isn't the same as deleting them entirely.

Search for yourself online before your employer does

Checking your online presence may seem self-centered, but it's crucial to manage how others perceive you. What you find when you Google yourself, like old blog posts or photos, can also be discovered by potential employers or dates.

Using Google in incognito mode ensures unbiased search results by avoiding personalized cookies. This way, you'll see what others see when they search your name.

If you encounter outdated information or sensitive content, reaching out to the content owner to take it down is a good first step. If that doesn't work, consider contacting Google for assistance, especially if the content poses risks like identity theft.

Having a Google Account allows better control over your information, including your bio and contact details.

Locate and remove your outdated accounts

Discovering and erasing your old accounts can be done with these steps:

Utilize Google Password Manager
Google's password manager serves as a comprehensive directory for your login information, including forgotten accounts.

Search your email inbox
Using terms like "welcome" and "your account" in your email search can reveal old accounts for removal.

Conduct a social media audit
Platforms like Google, Facebook, and Twitter link to various websites and apps; disconnecting your data from these apps is possible, though deleting individual accounts is more effective.

Leverage "Have I Been Pwned?"
This website identifies if your email or phone number has been compromised and provides insights into old accounts and potential password leaks.

Mask your IP address using a VPN

Using a virtual private network (VPN) enables you to enhance your online privacy by concealing your IP address. Advertisers rely on your IP to pinpoint your location and target you with ads, but hiding it safeguards your internet freedom by making it challenging for them and authorities to track your whereabouts.

For instance, if you reside in Montreal, Canada, using a VPN app allows you to switch your IP to Stockholm, effectively browsing the web as if you were in Sweden.

Opting for a no-logs VPN ensures that your passive data becomes untraceable, guaranteeing anonymity in your online activities and making it an effective privacy tool.

Consider before you share

In the end, you can't predict who will view your photos, videos, or social media posts, even with VPNs. Messages sent via private apps like WhatsApp can be screenshotted and shared rapidly with your employer or significant other. It's wise to consider potential reactions before sharing anything online.

As our relationships, professions, and perspectives evolve, the internet retains a detailed record of our lives. However, by managing your digital footprint, you can avoid exposing unnecessary photos or opinions to your boss or partner.