Here are some quick and simple techniques to help you fine-tune your cybersecurity concerns and keep your fingerprints as clean as possible.
You’ve definitely heard the term “fingerprint,” but do you fully understand what it means? The content you post on social media, various online payment transactions, location history, emails written, conversations sent through instant messaging systems, and the use of passports are just a few examples of the data that comprises your fingerprint.
Depending on how you approach your internet privacy and socializing habits, this data may be collected and utilized to develop a thorough portrait of you, which might be exploited fraudulently for malignant purposes or sold in dark web markets. If you share stuff too frequently, an internet stalker, cyberbullies, or fraudsters could misuse the information. If you’re still doubtful, consider this: “Everyone can be a target.”
The good news is that you can fine-tune your digital life with a few simple actions. It’s not necessary to become a hermit; it’s more about making wise decisions and striking a balance between solitude and convenience.
Analyze your social media accounts and privacy settings
Your first step should be to do an in-depth study of your social media account privacy settings, which includes filtering who can see your accounts and how much information they can see. This stage may appear difficult at first because you must pick through a list of various settings, and each platform may have its own settings… But it is well worth the work.
It’s time to clear out your friends list once you’ve sifted through your posts and secured your profile with security and privacy settings. It may appear to be an extreme measure, but it is more about having a list of those people who want to be kept up to speed with your updates and personal profile. Begin by deleting strangers you have no recollection of adding to your list, then move on to acquaintances you don’t know well or people you don’t talk to, and so on. If you’re thinking, “What’s the harm in keeping strangers who see my postings?” think again. Your posts might tell a lot. In one of the most recent cases, cybercriminals were able to piece together the routines of celebrities, monitoring their Instagram accounts, in order to loot their residences.
Check other accounts you have-and delete those you don’t use
The majority of people have dozens, if not hundreds, of internet accounts. You’ve probably signed up for a few shopping sites that you’ve only used once or twice, or you’ve downloaded a few fitness trackers, cookery applications, games, and other things. Each platform most likely saves a distinct type of information, such as name, date of birth, and body measurements, as well as phone numbers.
To keep things easy, we frequently create accounts with easy login choices (SSO), such as our social media accounts or email addresses. You probably haven’t kept track of all the services, stores, or applications you’ve signed up for over the years, so the SSO option may be beneficial here. Whether you’ve signed in with Google, Facebook, or Apple, you’ll be able to see which third-party apps have access to your account. You can use this list to delete accounts that you no longer use or that are no longer valuable to you. However, if you did not use any of the SSO alternatives and instead used your email address to sign up for numerous accounts.
Review newsletter subscriptions
Since we’ve already discussed examining your inbox, another approach to reducing your fingerprints is to unsubscribe from any emails you’ve received. Many newsletter subscriptions begin with the creation of an account for various services or online markets, which then use emails to bombard you with various discounts for articles or subscriptions in the application. Companies may have more information about you that could fall into the wrong hands.
Let’s face it: most people don’t read lowercase letters when they sign up for a job; they just click on whatever gets them through that step the quickest. As a result, these folks receive hundreds and hundreds of emails in their inbox, which they, of course, do not read. So, once you’ve unsubscribed, it’s a good idea to set up a separate email address for one-time transactions. This has two benefits: the first is that the primary email is saved for important matters, and the second is that you will have an overview of all single-purchase accounts under “one roof,” with your data kept secure elsewhere. Alternatively, when you join up for something that you just intend to use once,
Bonus tips
The preceding tips aren’t the only way to reduce your fingerprints. A Virtual private network (VPN) is another vital step you may take. VPNs function as encrypted tunnels for your internet traffic, keeping your surfing habits private from prying eyes and avoiding tracking. They are also used by businesses to provide distant personnel with access to secure networks.
If you live in the European Union, you can also invoke the statute that guarantees your right to be forgotten. For example, by submitting this request to erase your personal information, you can instruct Google to erase specific information. You can also use Google’s Privacy Checkup and other tools to find out what data is being monitored and how to remove it. If you’re still here, you should look at your Facebook privacy settings. If you want to check what information it has kept about you on Facebook or other social networks, such as Twitter, you can obtain a copy of everything it stores.
In conclusion, though minimizing your fingerprints may appear tough at first, it is well worth the work, and you will be happy with the privacy you have achieved.