What is an online footprint?
Definition
An online footprint is the trail of information about you on the internet, including what you post and what websites, apps and data companies collect or publish about you.
- Category
- Privacy
- Also called
- digital footprint, digital shadow, online presence
- Last updated
Your online footprint is everything that can be traced back to you online. The UK's National Cyber Security Centre describes it as information about you that is available online. It's also called a digital footprint, and the two terms mean the same thing.
What's in it
Part of it is what you chose to put there: social media posts, photos, comments, reviews, profiles. Part of it is collected as you go. CISA points out that your device and app activity can reveal your interests, habits and whereabouts, and that data brokers compile this into profiles that can be bought and sold. A third part comes from other people and public records: someone tags you in a photo, a local council publishes a planning notice, a people-search site lists your address.
Why it matters
A bigger footprint gives more material to scammers, stalkers and identity thieves. Someone who wants to guess your security question answers or craft a convincing message can use it. It can also affect you without any criminal involved: an old post can come up when an employer or landlord searches your name.
You can't get to zero, and you don't need to. The goal is to know what's out there, and to shrink the parts that expose your home address, phone number and similar details.
Active and passive footprint
A rough split that many guides use: the active footprint is what you deliberately share, and the passive footprint is what gets collected about you without you doing much, like location data or browsing activity. The line is blurry, but it's a useful way to decide what to fix first.
How to protect yourself
- 1
Search for yourself
Look up your name, email address, phone number and usernames. Note what shows up and which results include your home address or phone number.
- 2
Tighten your settings
CISA suggests disabling your device's advertising ID, denying apps data they don't need, deleting apps you no longer use and using privacy settings on social media to control who sees your posts.
- 3
Ask sites to remove you
Data brokers and people-search sites often have an opt-out. Google's Results about you tool covers search results that show contact details. Serus finds where your address and phone number are listed and removes them for you.
- 4
Limit what you share
Keep your birth date and Social Security number off the internet. Check a site's privacy policy before giving it personal information.
- 5
Secure your accounts
Use a password manager and the strongest multi-factor authentication available, so a breach doesn't add to your footprint.
See where your personal data is exposed
Serus finds it on data brokers and people-search sites and removes it.
Frequently asked
Is a digital footprint the same as an online footprint?
Yes. The terms are used interchangeably.
Can I delete my online footprint?
Not entirely. You can delete accounts, ask sites and brokers to remove information and limit new data being collected, but copies and other people's posts can remain.
What is the difference between an active and a passive footprint?
An active footprint is what you post or share on purpose. A passive footprint is data collected about you as you use devices and services, often without much attention from you.
Sources
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