Did you know that hackers don’t need advanced skills to target you? Your digital footprint can reveal more than you think.
Everything you post, share, like is all collected. Your digital footprint collects all traces of your online activity. And once something is online, traces of it stay there forever. That’s why protecting your online privacy and thinking carefully about what you share is so important. An innocent selfie in a coffee shop or a cute picture of your dog and, suddenly, Hacker Joe knows where you live, where you work, your pet’s name. Nothing is private anymore.
Doxxing and Cyberstalking
In more serious cases, your digital footprint could be used for doxxing, where someone’s personal and private information is share without their consent, most often this is to harass or harm the individual. The next thing you know, Hacker Joe is demanding money, or he’ll share more of your personal information. This could escalate even further and contribute to cyberstalking you like an online Joe Goldberg. Now your innocent selfie has turned into a doxxing, money demanding, cyberstalking nightmare.
What should you do?
Before you share your mocha or your cute cocker spaniel online, take a closer look at the image. Is there anything in the background that reveals personal information? Is your location visible? Who can see your post?
Conclusion
Check your privacy settings, think about who you’re sharing content with and be mindful of what your posts could reveal.
These quick checks could keep you safe online.