Your Digital Footprint

How many online accounts do you maintain? Be in the know of what’s out there with your name on it.

What you need to know

Having multiple online accounts on platforms such as email, social media and online retail sites is common. However, it’s important to remember that each one of these accounts holds some of your personal information. Keeping track of what information you have given to which sites helps you reduce the risk of being hacked. Here are some tips to follow:

Avoid using the same password for everything

Hackers have multiple ways of getting a hold of your password — most commonly by guessing or by accessing it via insecure services or password leaks. If your password is released, it can be used to access other accounts such as your online bank account. Always use unique passwords for different services to reduce your chances of being hacked across the board. Learn more about password safety.

Spring clean

Allocate time in your calendar annually for reviewing your online accounts and their privacy settings. During this process you can delete accounts you no longer use and update the ones you do use with the appropriate information and privacy settings.

Establish how you want to be represented online

Decide how you would like to present your personal and academic or professional identity online. Keep these accounts consistent and separate them when necessary. It is helpful to Google yourself once in a while to see what’s out there with your name on it, including images, articles and videos.