Why You Should Delete Your Digital Footprint Now

Understanding and Managing Your Digital Footprint

What is a Digital Footprint?

Imagine someone shadowing you everywhere, eavesdropping on your conversations, tracking your movements, and noting everything you read, say, or buy. This scenario sounds dreadful, yet it happens online daily, often without your knowledge or consent. This is why understanding your digital footprint and controlling the information you share online is crucial.

Why Your Digital Footprint Matters

Your digital footprint is the trail left behind whenever you engage in online activities, such as shopping, using search engines, or posting on social media. These actions are recorded and can create a detailed profile of who you are, what you do, and even what you think. This profile can be accessed by marketers, potential employers, and even cybercriminals. Fortunately, tools like Norton AntiTrack can help you enhance your privacy.

Reasons to Care About Your Digital Footprint

Risk of Online Crimes

One of the primary reasons to be cautious about your digital footprint is the increased risk of fraud and other online crimes. The more information a criminal can gather about you, the easier it is for them to target or impersonate you.

Impact on Reputation

Your digital footprint can also affect your reputation. The things you do online might be discovered by potential employers, customers, or even dates, influencing their perception of you.

Managing Your Digital Footprint

Basic Security Measures

Most digital devices come with basic security features, but they may not be sufficient to protect your privacy or reduce your digital footprint. However, with the right tips and tools, you can control the information you share online and keep your devices more secure.

Practical Steps to Take

1. Search Yourself Online: Use Google or Bing to search for your name and any previous names. Don’t forget to check image and video searches.
2. Adjust Social Media Privacy Settings: Social networks often encourage sharing data with a wide audience. Limit this in your privacy settings.
3. Use Breach Detection Services: These tools can tell you if your email has been leaked in a data breach.

Advanced Tools for Privacy Protection

Anti-Tracking Software

While basic steps can help, they can’t reveal what secret trackers have recorded or what information marketers hold about you. This is where anti-tracking software like Norton AntiTrack comes in.

The Safer Way to Surf

Norton AntiTrack Features

Norton AntiTrack uses anti-fingerprinting technology to prevent sites and services from tracking your online activities, offering privacy protection beyond what incognito mode can provide. This technology also enhances your browsing experience by blocking trackers that slow down web pages, resulting in faster, smoother, and more responsive browsing with fewer invasive ads.

Email Privacy

Another common privacy invasion is when sites share your email address with other companies. Norton AntiTrack’s Private Email feature on Windows masks your private email address, removes hidden email trackers, and creates unlimited unique email aliases for safer online interactions.

Comprehensive Online Privacy Solutions

You can get Norton AntiTrack as a standalone service or as part of certain Norton 360 plans. These plans offer additional online privacy features, including:

• A VPN for anonymous internet use
• Anti-virus and anti-malware protection
• Tools to detect if your personal information is on the dark web
• Credit report and score monitoring¹

These protections can be shared across your devices and with your family.

¹ Norton Credit Portal features provided by TransUnion International UK Limited. Accessible to +18 residents of UK, IOM & Channel Islands, after successful registration & verification. Terms apply.