Control digital footprint

Delete and curtail the personal data across internet

1 Delete unused accounts

one way to figure all the websites for which you have an account, is to list all the saved passwords (generally 100 to 300 credentials!). If you are unsure which ones to delete, then pick the accounts that you have not used in the last 6 - 12 months.

For chrome, go to

chrome://settings/passwords

sites for which user account exists

Deleting the user accounts would take a week or so. 🦥

Deleting can be by Account settings or by sending an email to the support.

2 Delist content from search

For google search, use https://search.google.com/search-console/remove-outdated-content

The url to remove from the google search

3 Cookies

Many sites default to all cookies, but you have an option of opting out of all cookies or keep only strictly necessary cookies.

For example, When you are prompted to accept cookies

Cookies acceptance prompt

Pick Manage Settings, instead of Accept All Cookies ,

Note that only Strictly Necessary Cookies are active

Now select Save Settings.

4 Keep content private

A social media post, an article, a blog, a comment, WhatsApp status can be posted only to the intended audience (minimize as much as possible).

Public user accounts will be beneficial when you are trying to gain followers for commercial purposes. Keep Instagram account private, regularly check for the people you may not know.

If you really want to share some personal photos to friend, personally meet them and show them on your phone - no need to share.

5 Know who have your data

Keep a record of the data you shared with the companies. The following table provides a starting point

Data risk table

Company 🏢	Full name	Date of Birth	Bio Metrics	Full Address	Phone number	Risk
Google	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	High ⚡
YCombinator	yes	yes	no	no	no	Low
Mobile carrier	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	High ⚡

Once you have this table, see how you can minimize the risk by removing the data from the platforms.

FAQ

1. If I shared something online, will it stay permanently? No. If you act immediately and take steps to remove the data from the concerned websites and monitor for the internet search for a reasonable period, we can delete the data.

2. Do I have the right to take control of my digital footprint? Yes, you have all the rights to take control of your footprint. You can request data from the data holder and ask them to delete the data unnecessary.

3. Is it OK to keep all the information about me in public? Of course, No. Keep only the strictly necessary information online. Share any info on a case-by-case and temporarily.

4. Can I share personal family information on a closed group such as WhatsApp? No, you should not share any personal or family info on closed or open groups. We should go by zero trust principle. Share in person on your device (keep secure 🔒 hold of your data!).

5. My boy[girl]friend asked for personal pictures of mine, can I share them? Strictly, No. Most of the info shared in this manner end up on the internet. If you want to, meet him/her personally and show the pictures on your device itself, do not transfer any data from your mobile that you do not want the public to see. Never trust a boy[girl]friend with you personal info, because he/she has no legal or moral obligation not to share it.

6. I have deleted data on my computer or mobile phone, is it permanent? Data stays on a device even after the permanent deletion, so it is wise not to hold any data (images, data files, videos) that is critical incase if it is out.