Your Hidden World Of Data

DIGITAL FOOTPRINT

Whenever you do anything online, like post on social media, you could be leaving a trail of your persona; data.  This is a digital footprint.

SOCIAL SHARING

Social media, the place where family, friends, strangers and exes converge.  Whether it's a picture of you and a rescue pup at the park, or a vacation snapshot, your footprint could tell the world more than you intend.

Using social media is a fun way of life for many.  But when you overshare with people beyond your circle of friends, those who you don't trust might learn personal information like your new purchase or vacation schedule.  Keep these tips in mind next time you give your followers a look inside your life.

Don't Make It Too Personal

• Check your social media privacy settings every few months to ensure you're still protected as new features are rolled out.  Terms of service can change occasionally, making it easier for companies to collect data on your usage, tagged photos and more.
• Think twice about posting anything to revealing.  Even if you have strict privacy settings, anyone can take a screenshot of content you post online.
• Avoid sharing info like your full birth date or personal email address that can be used to reset your password.
• If you're married, make your maiden name private to prevent would-be identity theft.
• Make sure your photos don't contain sensitive data, like a credit card in the corner of that birthday dinner snapshot.

On Your Vacation, Thieves Are Still Working

Posting a pic from that tropical beach 2,000 miles away is like telling the world you're not home.  Each photo you take contains metadata that could reveal your location even if you don't physically tag a location.

HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT

Posting photos or statuses on social media is fairly visible, but data can be much more discreet.

LOCATION SERVICES

You don't need to be on a path of self-discovery to find yourself; your devices already know.  Whether of not you're using them, apps can predict where you are.  What's convenient for you can mean currency for others.

Have you ever wondered how the traffic apps on your phone are able to update in real-time?  Any nearby phone with location services turned on helps predict the rate of traffic on the road.

But sometimes an app's reasons for monitoring locations aren't very clear, they may even hide why they're tracking you in the terms of service or help sections.  While the data collected may make an app more convenient, it could also be sold or leaked.  However, you can strike a fine balance between "going off the grid" in the Arctic and having your devices transmit their location at all times.  Here's how you can walk that line if you'd like more privacy.

Stay Safe On The Road And Beyond

• Several apps can track your location for your convenience, even when not in use.  That's how GPS, food delivery and ride sharing apps can quickly serve up routes, food or available cars near you.  Check your phone's privacy settings to adjust which apps can access your location and when.
• Legitimate apps will request permission before using your location.  If an app doesn't ask, look further into the company and check out its reviews online.
• Many new cars have keyless entry and on-board Wi-Fi.  Make sure your car's computer has the latest security software to prevent unwanted tracking of your vehicle.  Some thieves might exploit unpatched car software with lines of code from their personal computers.

MAKE SENSE OF YOUR FOOTPRINT

The amount of data you share online impacts the nature of your digital footprint.  A more active footprint may require more protection.

ONLINE SHOPPING

It isn't magic that turns pixels into packages from your favorite online retailer.  But unlike a magic trick, the financial footprint you create is more than just a hidden illusion.

Whether you need some retail therapy or forgot an anniversary, online shopping can save the day.  However, that convenience is exchanged for your personal and financial data.  And if you're someone who would rather not be followed around the internet by a pair of shoes you considered buying, it might be uncomfortable.  Here are a few tips to keep your digital footprint safe while still enjoying the convenience of online shopping.

Take Care Of Your Cart

• Stick with trusted websites, like those verified by TrustArc or Verisign.  Icons for these security organizations are most commonly found at the bottom of a website or during an online checkout process.
• Think twice about doing business over public Wi-Fi.  Passwords and credit card numbers are less secure on those free coffee shop connections.
• It's convenient to save your account login information on your favorite retail sites.  But if you share your device, there's an opportunity for anyone with access to use your identity.  Keep following the trail to "Safe Surfing" to learn more about this.

Don't Get Wooed By Shoes

If your privacy is very important to you, consider not connecting your social media accounts to your favorite retail sites.  They sometimes share data about users to inform marketing efforts.

Use Credit If You Can

Paying with a credit card or online digital wallet service instead of a debit card limits your liability and gives you a better chance of disputing unknown charges.

AN ACCIDENTAL FOOTPRINT

Sometimes you unknowingly grant access to your digital footprint when you share info with a shady source.

PHISHING

Phishing can happen even if you don't live near water.  Scammers can try to take your personal info with fake emails and messages.  Before you take the bait, learn what to look for.

Phishers try to obtain financial or confidential info from people like you, by sending an email or message that looks as if it's from a legitimate company such as your bank.  Hidden in those emails are links to fake websites that collect any personal data you enter.  Fortunately, there are a few tell-tale signs that can help prevent you from putting your digital footprint at risk.

Keep Your Eyes Open

• Look further into urgent requests such as "Act now so your account isn't closed!" which are common signs of scams.
• Scrutinize the email address.  Fake senders often mimic trusted sources, like your real-life bank or favorite social network.  For instance, the sender may appear to be "customer service", but if you click on the sender's name it will reveal an email address not associated with the company.
• Frequent typos, blurry images and odd email formatting usually signify fraud.
• Reputable sources will never ask for your SSN, birthday or password via email.
• When in doubt, hover over or right-click on a link to see its real destination.  This is an easy way to check if it's safe.

Be Ready When The Hook Comes

If you think you've been a victim of phishing, immediately freeze or close your account to prevent any damage.  Have important phone numbers close-by just in case.  Here are a few examples of what might happen if your personal information falls in the wrong hands:

• Financial loss
• Identity theft
• Unwanted emails or phone calls
• Computer viruses and malware

YOUR PERSONAL FOOTPRINT

Having a digital footprint is expected and can make life easier.  But managing what you share can keep you safer.

SAFE SURFING

Using the internet is like a two-way mirror, what you can see about your digital footprint is different from what your browser collects.  Understand and manage your privacy without sacrificing convenience.

Web browsers enable you to check your social media accounts, read the news, and search for answers to questions.  But within each browser or website there are things you can't see, like user cookies and behavioral pixels.  And if you've ever delayed updating your device browser security vulnerabilities could be used to lift your data.  Here's how to guard your digital footprint.

Keep Yourself Secured

• Look for a standard padlock symbol on your browser's address bar near https:// when you are visiting a website.  Most browsers will alert you if a website isn't secure and prevent the site from loading.
• Consider using an encrypted password manager instead of saving passwords directly into your browser.  A password manager creates hard-to-crack passwords for each of your accounts, leaving you with a few less things to remember.
• Cookies are small files stored on your computer after you visit a website.  This keeps your favorite site features tailored to your unique needs each time you load their content.  To increase your privacy, most browsers allow you to limit the types of cookies stored.
• Popular social networks use pixels to monitor traffic to an from websites for ads.  To improve your privacy, consider what ads you click on and if you're comfortable seeing even more ads from that site in the future.
• Make sure your device is running the latest version of its operating system.  Software updates often include "security patches" to help keep you protected from new threats they identify.
• Ensure your browser has auto updates setup.
• Always read the privacy policy of each site before you create an account.  Ask yourself, "what am I giving up in exchange for membership?"

Strength In Numbers, Letters And Symbols

If you don't have a password manager but want to create a strong password that's hard to crack, follow these tips:

• Avoid common words
• Use a combination of upper and lower case letters
• Include numbers and special characters (!@#$)
• The password should be 8 characters long at a minimum

So, what does that look like?  Here's an example of a password that fits the bill: Incredulous60654!

A NEW TYPE OF TELLER

Your digital footprint should be like a good bank teller; it knows your info but also keeps everything as safe as possible.

ONLINE BANKING

The only downside to online banking should be the lack of free lollipops.  Viewing your account balance or sending money to others without going to a bank is easy, and it doesn't need to compromise safety.

Every time you open a banking app, it's like viewing a hidden vault.  But instead of an armed guard, there are different security measures between you and your accounts.  This is especially important if you're one of the millions of people who send money direct from bank account to friends, family or caretakers each month. You can help keep your digital footprint safe in these ways.

Keep Your Guard Up

• Call your bank or check out their website to see if they offer a service called "two-factor authentication" (2FA) for your online account.  2FA requires two passwords for account access to increase security.  This means you'll receive an immediate text message or email with a secondary password to confirm your identity.
• Only download banking apps from reputable app stores to avoid fakes that skim your data.
• Always log out of your banking app when it's not in use.
• Never use public Wi-Fi to send money.
• If requesting or sending money through an app, double check the person's identity first.

React Fast To A Stolen Identity

If you're a victim of fraud, freeze your accounts and change passwords.  Then, place fraud alerts with the major credit bureaus and review your latest credit report.  Quick action can limit what you're responsible for covering.

Source: Allstate Insurance Company