Every click, search, and purchase leaves a trail. Protecting your "Digital Footprint" is the most important personal cybersecurity task today.
I. Master the Art of Password Security
Unique Passwords: Never reuse passwords across different sites. One breach could compromise everything.
Password Manager: Use a secure manager (e.g., LastPass, 1Password, Bitwarden) to generate and store complex passwords.
Complexity: Aim for passwords that are long phrases, not single words, including a mix of characters.
II. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA/2FA)
Mandatory Security: Turn on 2FA for all critical accounts (email, banking, social media).
Best Practice: Prefer authenticator apps (like Google Authenticator or Authy) over SMS text codes, which can be vulnerable to swaps.
III. Audit App Permissions
Review Access: Regularly check the permissions granted to apps on your phone or tablet (e.g., location, microphone, photos).
Principle of Least Privilege: Only grant the minimum necessary access an app needs to function. If a weather app wants microphone access, deny it.
IV. Control Your Browser Tracking
Privacy-Focused Browsers: Consider switching from default browsers to options like Firefox or Brave, which offer stronger built-in tracking protection.
VPN Use: Utilize a Virtual Private Network (VPN) when using public Wi-Fi or when you want to obscure your physical location from websites.
Clear Cookies: Periodically clear your browser cookies and cache to reset tracking data.