What Is a Digital Footprint? (And How To Delete It)

Who Can See Your Digital Footprint? 

Without the right precautions, nearly every piece of information you share online (or action you take while browsing) can be tracked, collected, and used against you. 

While there are some benefits to your digital footprint — such as increased personalization and easier online shopping experiences — the risks of a large online presence are much greater. 

84% of internet users are concerned about what’s in their digital footprint — and with good reason [*].

Not only can hackers and identity thieves research you online or find your sensitive information and passwords — a recent study found that 75% of recruiters search an applicant’s digital footprint during the evaluation and interview stages [*].

In this guide, we’ll explain what could be contained in your digital footprint, why it matters, and how to find and clean up your online presence before it puts you at risk.

What Is a Digital Footprint?

Your digital footprint is the trail of data you leave online as you browse, shop, make social media posts, and interact with online services and tools. 

Sometimes called a digital shadow, the data points in your footprint paint a picture of who you are online — from the sites you visit to the types of posts you interact with and the services you sign up for. 

There are two types of digital footprints that everyone should be aware of:

1. An active digital footprint includes information you've intentionally shared, such as posts on social networking sites or the contact information and personal details you share when you sign up for services. You have total control over what is in your active footprint.
2. A passive digital footprint comprises data collected without your knowledge, such as browsing history and online purchase behaviors. It’s much harder to take control over your passive footprint, as data collection is often built into site or app functionality that you can’t opt out of (unless you stop using the service and delete your profile).

While apps, websites, and online marketers use your online footprint to personalize your browsing experience (often called a “positive digital footprint”), it’s also the basis of your online reputation. Without your knowledge, there could be facts revealed about you online that you don’t want everyone to know. 

What Information Is Contained In Your Digital Footprint?

With the amount of data collected online today, it’s hard to get an accurate picture of the total amount of information found in your digital footprint. However, it’s safe to assume that if you’ve been online for at least a few years, your footprint most likely includes:

• Personally identifiable information (PII). This is data that can directly identify you — including your full name, address, birth date, phone number, email address, and even your Social Security number (SSN).
• Internet browsing history. A historical log of the websites you've visited and searches you've conducted can reveal your interests, habits, and preferences.
• Past online purchases. Records of your online transactions show what you buy, when, and possibly why — including items like books, clothing, or electronics.
• Location data. Information that discloses where you've been, this data is tracked through your mobile devices and highlights places like restaurants, stores, or frequently-traveled routes.
• Subscriptions. This includes all paid memberships for websites, apps, newsletters, and news sources, indicating the types of content that you engage.
• Health and fitness information. Data from apps and devices track your health and online activities, such as step counts, diet logs, or workout routines.

💡 Related: What Information Do Cybercriminals Steal? (How To Protect Yours) →

Why Does Your Digital Footprint Matter? 6 Risks To Know 

There are some benefits to having a digital footprint. For example, companies can use the data they collect to offer more personalized online experiences, shopping recommendations, and search results. 

While your digital footprint makes browsing and shopping online more convenient, there is a privacy and cybersecurity trade-off.

For one, hackers can exploit vulnerabilities in third-party apps to gain access to data you’d prefer was kept private. Unfortunately, not every company is careful when it comes to data privacy. Even reputable healthcare and government agencies that collect data could compromise your digital identity if they are targeted in cyberattacks.

Another worry is that your online history may include things you don’t want others to know — 76% of U.S. internet users found unflattering or negative results when exploring their digital footprints [*]. 

This begs the question: what does your digital footprint expose you to in return for a better online experience? 

• Your public PII could be used to steal your identity. Scammers could dig into your digital footprint to collect personal information, like your address or phone number. With enough details, con artists could impersonate you, hack your online accounts, or target you and your family with scams. 
• Old photos and comments could be taken out of context. If you've been active on social media since a young age, chances are some photos or posts might make you cringe today. Even if you're a different person now, old content taken out of context could tarnish your reputation.
• Scammers will find it easier to get your passwords on the Dark Web. Over 60% of  Americans reuse the same password across several accounts [*]. Because hackers buy and sell lists of login credentials online, you could be at greater risk of account takeovers as your digital footprint grows.
• You could be more vulnerable to online scams. A larger online footprint may make you a target for convincing phishing emails and imposter calls — as fraudsters can fine-tune their social engineering tactics because they already know a lot about you.
• Job recruiters may deny you employment based on your online history. There is huge competition for jobs in 2024. Employers and recruiters carefully examine candidates online before inviting them to interview. Your digital footprint could make or break your chances.‍
• You could be turned down for a loan. Financial lenders often review online information about applicants to determine their suitability. Potentially irrelevant or old information may count against you.

How To See What’s In Your Digital Footprint

It’s almost impossible to know exactly how big your online footprint is because many apps and sites share information without your consent. But it's worth following the digital trail, as the information you leave behind could impact your reputation, financial accounts, and prospects.

A digital footprint exists in different forms and places. Here are some methods you can use to find out what’s in yours:

• Google yourself. Enter your full name in a search engine to see what websites currently hold information about you. If you have a common name (or the same name as a celebrity), you can add your city or job to find information about yourself (e.g., “Taylor Swift +Seattle +photographer”). For ongoing awareness, set up a Google alert for your name.
• Contact data brokers. Data brokers compile and sell personal data, which they sell to advertisers and government agencies. Check sites like Spokeo or PeopleFinder for your information — or, let Identity Guard do the work for you and help you automatically opt out of data broker sites.
• Scan the Dark Web. The Dark Web is a hidden section of the internet where cybercriminals buy and sell stolen or leaked personal data. You can use a Dark Web scanner to find out if your information is exposed— such as your login credentials, credit card numbers, or SSN.
• Review your social media content. What you share on social media platforms significantly contributes to your digital footprint. Review the privacy settings on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to manage what is visible to others. You might need to purge old posts, contact lists, and photos to protect yourself from scams. 
• Inspect your online shopping history. E-commerce sites track browsing and purchasing activities to provide a more personalized experience. But if this data is leaked, it could compromise your security and financial accounts. 

Once you know what information is available about you online, you can start reducing your digital footprint to improve your privacy and security.

💡 Related: The 7 Most Reliable Dark Web Monitoring Services of 2024 →

How To Clean Up Your Digital Footprint: 8 Steps

1. Remove sensitive personal data from search results
2. Opt out of data broker lists
3. Disable ad-tracking and location services
4. Adjust your social media privacy settings
5. Delete old accounts
6. Use a VPN when you browse online
7. Check for leaked information on the Dark Web
8. Set up a secondary email address

Unfortunately, removing all of your personal information from the internet is practically impossible. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't try to reduce the information available about you online.

Here's what you can do to minimize your online presence, and protect your footprint.

1. Remove sensitive personal data from search results

A Google search will uncover most of your digital footprint — and probably highlight some information you don't want publicly available. Thankfully, Google allows you to request the removal of sensitive data from search results. 

• Google your name. Take note of any website that is hosting your details. This includes your government-issued ID, bank account numbers, login credentials, and contact information.
• Submit a personal content removal request from Google Search. You’ll be asked to describe the type of information showing up, your location, and a few other details. 
• Reach out to websites that are hosting your data. A request to Google won't delete the information — it simply stops it from appearing in search results. If you want to completely erase the information, you must contact the site and request a takedown. Look for a “Contact Us” section and send a request — however, be aware that not all sites will comply. 

2. Opt out of data broker lists and people search sites

Data brokers search the internet for your private information and create personas that they sell to marketers. Sometimes, their data sets may fall into the hands of nefarious individuals. For that reason alone, it’s worth contacting brokers to opt out of their data collection processes.

• Make a list of data brokers. You can visit Privacy Rights’s data broker list to identify all data collection agencies in your state or those that offer an opt-out process. 
• Search for your information. Next, go to each broker’s website and search for your details. If you find anything, follow their opt-out or data removal process to scrub your information.‍
• Keep monitoring broker sites. Brokers may still add your data to their lists or collect your details in the future, even after you request a removal. So, you must regularly check the sites again and potentially lodge further takedown requests.

3. Disable ad-tracking and location services

Online trackers record your activity on apps and websites. By understanding your geographical location, advertisers, search engines, and online services can tailor their results to show you what’s available in your local area. 

However, to protect your privacy, it's best to limit how much tech companies and businesses can find out about you from your online behavior. You can do this manually by refusing to share data with websites, but it doesn't always work. While most websites will honor your request, malicious ones will not.

• Activate Google’s “Do Not Track” feature: Open Chrome on your computer or Android device, and navigate to More > Settings > Privacy and Security > Third-party cookies. Tap or toggle on Send a "Do Not Track" request.‍
• Switch to a privacy-focused browser. Some of the best privacy-focused browsers include Brave, Mozilla Firefox, and Safari. There’s also DuckDuckGo, which is a private search engine.‍
• Use an ad blocker. You can improve your online experience by blocking intrusive ads and irrelevant content. Some ad blockers and anti-track tools also prevent web-tracking scripts that follow you as you use the internet.

💡 Related: How To Remove Your Information From the Internet (For Free) →

4. Adjust your social media privacy settings

Limiting what you share on social media websites will dramatically reduce your digital footprint. Nobody needs to see sensitive information — such as your phone numbers, home address, or finances. 

Once you adjust your privacy settings on social platforms, you’ll be much better protected against phishing scams and identity theft. 

• Adjust your privacy settings. Make your social media accounts more private by restricting who can see your profile and posts. 
• Restrict what information is visible. Consider what PII is visible on your account. You should be able to hide or remove your email address, username, phone number, and home address.
• Think carefully about what you share. People make it easy for scammers by oversharing on social media sites or completing online forms without really thinking about who they’re giving information to online. The less you share, the less likely you will be of becoming a victim of fraud.

5. Delete old accounts that you no longer use

Your digital footprint includes all of the old websites, e-commerce stores, and email accounts you've created throughout your lifetime. While you may have forgotten many of these accounts, they cause weaknesses in your security posture — especially if they have simple, easy-to-guess passwords that you created when you were younger.

• Select your Google Account button at the top-right, and then go to Manage your Google Account > Security. 
• Scroll down to Google Apps with the account address, and then select Manage Access. 
• Scroll down to the bottom to Password Manager and Linked Accounts. Here, you'll find accounts linked to your email address.

Once you find old accounts, visit each site to tighten security. Ideally, you should delete or archive all old accounts. At the very least, remove all personal information from each profile, and limit access by adjusting the privacy settings and enabling two-factor authentication (2FA).

💡 Related: Is Your Google Account Hacked? How To Tell (and What To Do) →

6. Use a VPN when you browse and shop online

A virtual private network (VPN) encrypts your traffic when you use the internet. With a VPN enabled, your IP address, location, downloads, gaming, and streaming activities remain hidden. 

Using a VPN is a great way to prevent hackers, websites, and government agencies from intercepting your data. However, a VPN does not completely erase your internet history and activity — your default web browser can still retain your online searches.

How to choose a reliable VPN:

• Prioritize security. A VPN's protocols and encryption determine how safe your information is during a data exchange. Look for commonly trusted VPN protocols — like OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2, SSTP, and PPTP.
• Think about server location. When you have nearby servers, you should be able to maintain a stable connection, even when accessing content from another country. If you need a VPN for U.S.-based content, consider a provider like Aura, which has high-quality U.S.-based servers. 
• Speed matters. The best VPNs offer unlimited bandwidth and have high-quality servers near you to ensure that your traffic runs at high speeds — which could be critical if you work from home or need to perform important tasks like online banking.

7. Check for leaked data on the Dark Web

In January 2024, a massive collection of 26 billion records was leaked online. The leak — which has been called the Mother of All Breaches — contains user data from many popular sites, including LinkedIn, Twitter, Weibo, and Tencent [*]. 

Often, the perpetrators of data breaches leak or sell stolen data on the Dark Web. If fraudsters get their hands on your PII or login credentials, you could be at severe risk of identity theft.

• Check for data breaches. You can use sites like HaveIBeenPwned.com to search your email or phone number against recent data breaches. Also, it’s a good idea to periodically conduct Google searches for news about any breaches. 
• Update your passwords. If you confirm your accounts are compromised — or if you're concerned they're at risk — immediately create new passwords. Your accounts are most effectively protected by long, complex, unique passwords that combine uppercase and lowercase letters, symbols, and numbers. ‍
• Use Identity Guard’s free scanner. You can check your personal data exposure by scanning the internet for any breaches that contain your email address. Get your free scan here.

8. Set up a secondary email address (or use email aliases) 

Anyone who gains access to your email account could take over other connected accounts by changing your login credentials. They might even send emails from your email address and successfully trick others into disclosing sensitive information — such as your family members, friends, or accountant.

• Create a second email address. You can use a separate account exclusively to sign up for new services, newsletters, and e-commerce stores. This way, your primary email address will remain safe, regardless of all the new third-party integrations you add.
• Set up an email alias. Your email provider should allow you to create aliases for your primary email addresses. To do this, simply add “+[alias name]” to the email. So, for instance, if your email address is “John@gmail.com,” you could create an alias of “John+subscriptions@gmail.com.”  

💡 Related: Was Your Email Found on The Dark Web? Do This →

The Bottom Line: Your Digital Footprint Puts Your Privacy at Risk

The amount of publicly available data that companies, apps, and websites collect about users has skyrocketed in recent years — paving the way for opportunistic cybercriminals to take advantage of people.

Identity Guard protects your privacy, identity, and finances. In addition to award-winning identity theft and privacy protection, you get access to automatic data broker opt-outs, Dark Web scanning, Safe Browsing tools, 24/7 support, and up to $1 million in identity theft insurance for every adult on your plan. 

Secure your identity and privacy online. Try Identity Guard risk free today.