Risky online presence? Here are 3 strategies to protect your data and privacy.
Today’s world is very much hyper-connected to each other. This will often leave the users with a sense of doubt when it comes to their online presence. This leads to the question on whether or not their digital footprint is possible to be erased? According to some people, what happens online will always stay online, but is it true?
Or is there a way for someone to completely annihilate their footprint in fear of their privacy getting breached? This article will discuss what is digital footprint and explains the possibilities for someone’s online presence to be completely washed away without any trace.
1. Digital Footprint: What Is It?
Speaking in a layman’s terms, a digital footprint consists of the data that you leave behind after sharing your activity on social media. It records your online activity and keeps track of where you have been.
However, the most scary thing about digital footprint is that you can never see it directly with your own eyes nor can it be traced back. Instead, the digital footprint is a transparent thing that will keep piling up with each activity that you have done on social media. Data protection is not exactly the biggest virtue in digital footprint either and more often than not, it will leave the users or you, a risk of being exposed.
2. The importance of data protection
So, it comes to the question of; how important is our data protection in the face of this digital footprint? It is important to know that everything is bare before the internet. But it does not mean that you can forgo your protection online. Here is why it is important to have your data being protected:
- Protect your identity and avoid digital breach
- Prevents your data from being shared online
- Prevents the risk of digital crime being committed against you
While it may sound implausible for some people on the idea of their identity being stolen and data being traced, but with the rising case of a person being misidentified and accused, it is better to be safe than sorry. However, the good news is that some countries are taking measures to combat this issue.
Malaysia, for instance, resorts to the establishment of the Personal Data Protection Department (PDPD) under MCMC where the processing of an individual’s data is required to avoid it from being misused by concerned parties.
Now, how do you manage your digital footprint in order to be more “invincible” online? There are many ways to actually manage it. The thing about digital footprint is that it will never be entirely gone, however, it can be reduced.
Your presence online can also be limited to only a few extents, and instead of having an active digital footprint where your activity can be traced, you develop passive digital footprints where there will barely be a trace of your online activity.
One of the most crucial things that people often overlook is deleting an old social media account. This is a common occurrence for those who forgot their old email and passwords, and decide to just create a whole new account. At the same time, they are also leaving their old account for a viewing. This will increase the risk of other users imitating what they see online, thus gaining insight into committing fraud towards your close circle.
3. Managing digital footprint
It is easy to manage your digital footprint and online privacy as it does not require any external sources. In fact, it takes only a short moment and simple ways to manage your own digital footprint where you can reduce it until your online presence is deemed as “safe enough”.
First, it would be good to check all your old emails, transactions, and accounts to make sure that they do not give any of your information away. It is also better for these accounts to be deleted immediately as doing it will ensure a guarantee that your digital footprint is reduced. In a way, it also helps to secure your online presence and prevents data tracing from a third-party
What can you take from this?
Understanding the basis of your digital footprint is important to make sure that you are heading towards having a safer online presence. In the digital age where everything is constantly at risk, knowing data protection and digital footprint can enhance your safety while at the same time, protecting yourself from anything that poses a potential threat. By doing so, everyone would be well-informed and thus contributing towards a greater online community.
After all, the notions of data protection, data tracing, and online security should not be taken lightly and have become a responsibility that should be embraced by all people. The digital footprint is not only about knowing whether your online activity can be traced, but it also is about shielding yourself from the external presence that is looking to harm you.
Read more on cybersecurity HERE
