Incognito is not enough: Know your digital footprint

We leave behind the daily wanderings in the online world and the use of various services or social networks digital track. Like the snail, behind which there is a clearly visible trace, so does our access to the Internet one after the other leaves some of that imprint.

Most users are not even aware of such a thing, and therefore logically pay absolutely no attention to it. And that’s a pretty big mistake in today’s information-filled world.

It’s not just about comments, photos, our social media profiles, or content we’ve viewed or downloaded. Somewhere in the online space, things like the IP address, the type of device and in some cases the location from which we accessed remain. Even digital tracks simply have different types.

We often deceive ourselves in protecting privacy

The issue of the digital footprint is complex, but you need to think about it and pay attention to it. Many regular Internet users naively think that it is enough to turn on incognito mode in their browser, create a random profile and suddenly have complete anonymity. That is a mistake. It’s not that simple.

Digital identity is also directly related to the fact that we leave behind a digital footprint. Simply put, it is a comprehensive set that reflects our behavior in the online space. Of course, this may not fully correspond to reality, but it can approach it quite well.

The easiest way to demonstrate this in practice is with targeted advertising, which appears on almost every page we visit. You’ve probably noticed several times that an ad that seems to be chasing you has hit a nail in the headline and shows exactly the product that falls within your field of interest.

In this case, it is a very simplified example. In this context, targeted advertising is just the tip of the iceberg and can be effectively addressed.

In the case of the digital track as such, it’s a little different. You won’t get rid of it so easily, so you need to approach the use of the Internet with the idea that everything you post there will stay there. This relatively simple principle can help you a lot.

Tame your digital footprint

You will never have full control over the digital track, but by following a few simple tips you can greatly influence it. It’s good to take care of your digital footprint, otherwise it may take revenge over time. It may or may not. The reality of the threat in this case is very difficult to estimate, but why risk it?

In practice, there is not so much to do. Just be aware of the possible risks, embark on control the privacy settings of the services you use and study which threatens you if you don’t care about your digital footprint.

Once you have a basic idea of ​​the possible risks, you can naturally choose an acceptable defense strategy. Sometimes as little as is enough a more proactive approach to privacy. Not every thought and photo belongs to the online world. A not every free service is really free.

This article was created in collaboration with