Advice for staying safe online
Advice from West Mercia Police about YOUR DIGITAL FOOTPRINT
We all need to think more about the trail we leave online, and how it may affect us, our families and friends now, and into the future.
DID YOU KNOW?
Every time you use visit a website, send or receive a message or email, buy or book anything online, comment on a post, upload a photo or find directions on your phone, you’re adding to your digital footprint. When you stream music, make a video call or use a smart speaker that adds to your digital footprint too.
What happens when you have a digital footprint?
Your digital footprint is part of your online history and can potentially be seen by other people, or tracked and held in multiple databases, however careful you are with your privacy settings. Here are just a few examples of what can happen:
• Prospective or current employers can look into your and family members’ background.
• Applications for schools, colleges, universities, scholarships, clubs or even sports teams could be rejected.
• You, family members or friends could fall victim to fraud or identity theft … or both.
• Your children could be at risk of criminal activity threatening their online or physical safety.
• Records of your online activity could fall into the wrong hands, including organised crime groups.
• Tech companies such as browser and search engine providers can track and record what you’ve searched and viewed. This, in turn, could be shared with other parties
• You could be refused life, medical, property or vehicle insurance based on information you have shared online.
• Advertisers can track your movement from site to site to gauge your areas of interest.
• Companies can target you with specific marketing content on social media and other websites. You could also receive emails, letters or phone calls from these companies.
• Entertainment providers (such as music or films) could target you with unwanted recommendations for content based on what you download or stream.
HOW CAN YOU PROTECT YOURSELF AND OTHERS?
• Think twice before sharing information about yourself, family members or friends that would be better kept private. That applies to social media, forms on websites and apps, responding to texts and messages, and when taking part in surveys and quizzes.
• Think before you post. Even if your social media privacy settings are set up correctly, there’s no guarantee that your posts or photos will not be shared beyond those who you want to see them.
• Be aware that every time you visit a website, your activity is visible to tech companies like website owners, browsers and search engines.
• Read terms and conditions and data privacy policies on websites and apps before providing any personal data or making transactions. What can the providers do with your data, and why would you agree to it? If you’re not comfortable with the information being requested, don’t provide it.
• Check geolocation settings on mobile devices, apps and cameras. If you don’t want anybody to know your whereabouts – or where you’ve been – disable them.
Finally, never stop enjoying the many excellent benefits of using the internet, but always bear in mind the digital trail you may be leaving, who may be able to access it, and how they may be able to use or abuse it.
SOURCE: Get Safe Online.
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Please feel free to share this information with any family, friends, or neighbours that you think it may be able to assist.
