Decluttering Your Digital Footprint to Increase Online Security

This time of year is perfect for a fresh start and building new habits. While many focus on organizing their homes or setting financial goals, it’s also a good time to address your digital footprint. Every online action, from social media posts to online shopping, leaves a trail of data.

Over time, this digital “clutter” can be sold or used by scammers. Your compiled data can be “bought and sold by virtually anyone,” allowing fraudsters to build a detailed profile of your identity, habits, and finances. This information makes it easier for scammers to target you for bank impersonation schemes and identity theft. Protecting yourself requires a proactive approach to managing your online presence.

How to Clean Your Digital Footprint

A smaller footprint means less data is available for fraudsters to exploit.

• Review Your Online Presence. Start by searching your name in search engines like Google to see what information is publicly available. You might be surprised to find old forum posts, public social media profiles, or personal details listed on information sites. Google’s Results About You tool can help you find and request the removal of personal information like your home address and phone number from search results.
• Delete Old and Unused Accounts. Take inventory of the websites and apps where you’ve created an account. It’s easy to sign up for services and forget about them, but these outdated accounts are potential security risks, especially if they are part of a data breach. You can check if your email has been part of a data breech by going to haveibeenpwned.com. Delete any accounts you no longer use. For the accounts you do keep, update your passwords to be strong and unique, and enable multifactor authentication (MFA) whenever possible.
• Think Before You Share on Social Media. Oversharing on social media gives scammers the clues to guess passwords or answer security questions. Details like your birthday, pet’s name, mother’s maiden name, or hometown can all be used against you. Avoid posting sensitive information and review your privacy settings on all platforms to control who sees your content. When in doubt, keep personal updates offline.
• Request Removal from Data Broker Sites. Data brokers are companies that collect your information from public records, social media, and other sources to sell it. This data can be used for a variety of things from targeted ads to scams. You have the right to request that these companies remove your data. Services exist to automate this process, but it comes at an added cost.
• Monitor Your Financial Footprint. Your digital footprint also includes your finances. Take advantage of online and mobile banking to monitor your accounts closely. Set up alerts for large transactions, new payees, or login attempts. You should also regularly review your credit report with one of the three major bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, to catch any signs of fraudulent accounts opened in your name.
• Review Stored Payment Methods. The convenience of saving your card details with online retailers can come with a risk. If those platforms are compromised, so is your financial information. Regularly review which merchants have your card on file. Remove your details from sites you rarely use or no longer trust.
• Manage App and Device Settings. Your device itself is a major source of data, but there are steps you can take to limit what’s stored on your device.
  • Disable Ad IDs: Turn off the advertising identifier in your phone and computer settings to prevent companies from tracking your activity across apps and websites.
  • Limit App Permissions: Review the permissions for each app on your phone. Deny access to your location, contacts, or microphone if the app doesn’t need it to function.
  • Wipe Old Devices: Before recycling or selling an old phone, laptop, or tablet, perform a factory reset to securely wipe your personal data. Remember to remove any SIM or storage cards.

A Fresh Start for a Safer Year

Decluttering your digital footprint should be ongoing rather than a one-time task. By taking the time to review your online presence and manage your data, you can build safer, smarter habits for the year ahead. For more resources on online safety and fraud prevention, visit the WSFS Security Center.