October 2, 2024

As we kick off Cybersecurity Awareness Month this October, Align Wealth Strategies wants to empower you with practical tips to safeguard your digital “footprint.” In today’s interconnected world, our devices and apps collect a vast amount of data about our interests, activities, and daily routines. While this information can be used to enhance your personalized experience online, it can also be exploited by criminals if your presence online is not properly managed.

Every time you use your phone, laptop, tablet, or any “smart” device, you generate data that reveals a lot about you. This data is often associated with your device’s advertising identifier (Ad ID), which allows companies to compile detailed user profiles for marketing. These user profiles can be bought and sold by virtually anyone, including criminals who purchase or hack this information to carry out targeted attacks on your credit and finances or at least cause reputational damage.

Take Control of Your Data

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to minimize your digital footprint and protect your privacy. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has put together a helpful guide on how to limit your digital footprint, which we highly recommend checking out. Federal employees are being encouraged to follow this guide. Why not you?

Some key takeaways from the guide include:

  • Disabling your device’s Ad ID: This will help minimize the collection and sharing of your data.
  • Denying apps access to unnecessary data: Only allow apps to access what they need to function properly.
  • Vetting apps before downloading: Minimize or prevent the unwanted sharing of your information with third parties.
  • Adjusting your browser settings: Optimize your experience for better privacy and security.
  • Understanding the risks of social media: Be mindful of what you share on social media platforms.

Empower Yourself

We encourage you to visit the CISA website and explore their “Limit Your Digital Footprint” guide for more detailed instructions on how to implement these tips across various devices and operating systems. Take control of your digital footprint and significantly reduce your risk of becoming a victim!  Align Wealth Strategies helps you navigate the complex world of finance as well as technology, particularly as the two become more closely interrelated.

If you have any questions or concerns about protecting your digital footprint, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

CISA Article: https://www.cisa.gov/resources-tools/training/limit-your-digital-footprint