Most of our businesses and daily lives have moved online, which is usually good because we can reach more people and have access to a wide range of products and job options.
However, there are also dangers to having everything online, such as hackers using your digital footprint to target you. Tools like proxy servers can help protect you, so read more about proxy prices and guarantees. Now, we look into what this concept refers to, how hackers use it, and what you can do to protect it.
What is A Digital Footprint?
Like you leave footprints in the sand as you walk along the beach, you leave a trail behind when you access the internet. This trail is called your digital/electronic footprint or your digital shadow. It includes information like which websites you visit, the information you add online, devices you use to access the internet, and emails you send.
Part of a digital footprint is the cookies a website creates when you visit it or when apps collect your information and give it to affiliated third parties. Information that people who know what they’re doing can gain from your electronic footprint is your email and residential address, leaked passwords, information on your family, and more. This digital shadow has two possible types, active and passive footprints.
Active
Active digital shadows happen when you provide the information knowingly. Examples are when you subscribe to a newsletter, post a social media post, complete online forms, or even click “Accept Cookies” when you visit a new website. You’re completing the action, and you know you’re giving your information to someone online.
Passive
Passive electronic footprints are when you’re not aware you’re sharing information, or at the very least; you’re not actively sharing it. Passive electronic footprints happen more often than you’d think, but we’re all used to the results of it.
If you search for something in your browser, and ads for that item or service pop up the next day when you use sites or social media, then it’s due to passive information collected about you. It’s a background process the website runs and includes information like your IP address, how many times you visit the site, how much time you spend on each site, etc.
Why Do They Matter?
A digital footprint matters because you have little control over it once it’s on the internet. It’s permanent information about you that hackers and other people can find. As it’s semi-permanent, people can use it to run checks on you, like when you apply for a job or meet someone new. As such, after researching proxy prices and features, it’s best to use a secure proxy server when browsing online to protect your sensitive data.
How Hackers Use It
Your digital footprint is a significant part of your cybersecurity; unfortunately, hackers will take advantage of it. Hackers run extensive operations where they look into your information online and see what they can use. They collect anything they can about you to build a unique footprint that they can follow and track. With substantial research and preparation, they can learn almost anything about you, which they can use for nefarious purposes as those we explore below.
Gain Your Data
Hackers can gain all the data about you that matters, like your personal email, your residential address, account passwords, and more. They can sell this information on the black market, especially if you’re an essential figure at work, like a director or manager.
Hackers also use techniques like IP address detection for footprinting when actively looking for information on you. Your IP address reveals much information about you, so you must hide it to protect your anonimity.
Compromise Your Online Services
Hackers can access your personal servers or network using the trail you leave behind. If you have a website, they can mess with it, changing information or gaining access to your clients. They can compromise your servers and learn better ways to try and scam you. It also means they can use your network or website to learn about your hobbies or interests, which means a phishing attempt has a better chance of success.
Target Your Family Members
No one wants their family involved in danger, but that’s what can happen if you leave information about yourself on the internet, especially if you’re an important figure. Hackers can use you to get your family’s data, which puts them in danger. With a better understanding of who your family is, they might also be able to hack your accounts, especially since security questions often ask for information like your mother’s maiden name, etc.
How to Protect Your Digital Footprint
Hackers use extensive footprinting techniques to learn more about your personal information, so you should always check to see whether you’re safe. Using reliable and secure proxies is a way to hide your IP address, immediately making it much more difficult for hackers to track your digital footprint.
You must limit the data you share online, ensure you have the proper privacy settings, and don’t use public networks or wifi. Check out the average proxy prices and find a secure one to help protect your digital footprint.
