Your digital footprint is the trail of information you leave behind when you use the internet. Every time you share a photo, post a message or visit a website, you leave behind a small piece of information. All these pieces together form your digital footprint.
Most of the time, you share this information consciously:
- posts or photos on social media,
- comments on websites,
- completed online forms, newsletters, competitions, etc.
But you also often leave traces unconsciously:
- on websites that use cookies,
- through apps that track your location or view your contacts without your conscious consent,
- through searches or videos you watch.
Your digital footprint says a lot about you: your interests, where you live, your school or work, who you are in contact with, etc.
In Belgium, organisations are required to inform you what data they store, but few people read the privacy policy when they visit a website or download an app.
People with bad intentions can misuse your data
If you enter your name, telephone number, email address or location everywhere on websites or in apps, others can use or misuse that data. Think of advertising, unwanted messages, or worse: someone harassing or hacking you.
If you share your location, plans, or photos with others on social media, people with malicious intentions can take advantage of this (e.g., breaking into your home while you are on holiday), or someone may approach you personally (e.g., sending messages about free puppies when you are looking for a dog).
Sports or walking apps detect your place of residence and habits, making it easy for people with bad intentions to predict when you will be away from home. This information, combined with health data, is very interesting to fraudsters.
Greater cyber security when your privacy is protected
When you handle your data consciously, you are less vulnerable to fraudsters, phishing (fake messages), identity fraud or data leaks.
Limit what you share about yourself
- Do not enter your full name, telephone number or address everywhere, unless it is really necessary.
- Choose a username that is not your full name.
- Only share sensitive information such as account numbers, your ID card number or photo, or your national registration number on official websites.
- Delete old accounts that you no longer use.
- Read the privacy settings and limit what you share.
Only share your location when necessary
- Only accept location tracking in apps that really need it (route planners, weather reports) and only when you are using the app.
- Ensure that the app does not use your location “in the background”.
Share with friends, not strangers
- Check the settings of your social media account to see who can see your posts: only friends, friends of friends, or public? It is preferable to choose “friends” or a limited circle.
- Turn off tagging or automatic sharing.
- Consider making your profile “private” so that only people you know can see your updates.
Beware of phishing
By clicking on a fake link, you may end up on a fake website designed to obtain your data.
- Contact the organisation or person using the data.
- Keep evidence.
- File a complaint with the Data Protection Authority:
- More information for young people and teachers: https://ikbeslis.be/ (nl) or https://jedecide.be/ (fr)
