A digital footprint is the permanent record of everything you do online. It is like a trail of virtual breadcrumbs that follows you everywhere.

Your Online Trail

Active footprints are made of things you choose to share. This includes your social media posts, emails, and online comments.

Intentional Sharing

Passive footprints are created without you knowing. This happens when websites record your location or the type of phone you are using.

Hidden Background Data

Cookies are tiny files websites save on your computer to remember who you are. They help keep you logged in but also track which pages you visit.

Website Cookies Explained

An IP address is a unique number that identifies your internet connection. It acts like a mailing address so websites know where to send the data you requested.

Digital Home Addresses

Websites can identify you by looking at your unique combination of screen size, battery level, and software. This creates a digital 'fingerprint' that is hard to hide.

Device Fingerprinting

These are invisible tools from companies you didn't visit that follow you across different sites. They watch your habits to build a detailed profile of your life.

Third Party Trackers

Data brokers are companies that collect and sell your personal information. They buy your habits from apps and websites to sell them to advertisers or researchers.

Data Brokers

Companies use your tracking data to show you specific ads they think you will like. This is why you see ads for shoes right after searching for them.

Personalized Ad Targeting

Most digital photos contain metadata, which is 'data about data.' This can include the exact time and GPS location where a picture was taken.

Hidden Photo Data

Private or incognito modes only hide your history from other people using your computer. Websites and your internet provider can still see exactly what you are doing.

What is a Data Broker?