TECH TOOLBELT
AUGUST 2026
Protecting Your Digital Footprint
Our August Theme: Back-to-School Cyber Safety
As students head back to school, it’s a great reminder that everyone—not just kids—should think about their online safety. Every photo you post, account you create, app you download, or comment you leave contributes to your digital footprint. While some of that information is intentional, other pieces can remain online long after you’ve forgotten about them. Taking a few minutes to review your online presence can help protect your privacy, reduce your risk of identity theft, and keep your personal information out of the hands of scammers.
Review Your Social Media Privacy
Not everything needs to be shared with the entire internet:
- Review your privacy settings: Limit who can see your posts, photos, and personal information.
- Be selective about friend and follower requests: Only connect with people you know and trust.
- Turn off location sharing: Avoid broadcasting your home, workplace, or vacation location.
- Think before you post: Once something is online, it can be copied, shared, or saved—even if you delete it later.
Clean Up Old Accounts
Unused online accounts can become easy targets for hackers:
- Delete accounts you no longer use: Old shopping sites, forums, and apps often contain personal information.
- Update passwords on accounts you keep: Use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication whenever available.
- Review saved payment information: Remove outdated credit cards and unnecessary personal details.
- Check app permissions: Revoke access for apps that no longer need your contacts, photos, camera, or location.
Practice Safe Posting Habits
Protect yourself and your family by sharing wisely:
- Avoid posting sensitive personal information: Birthdays, home addresses, phone numbers, and travel plans can all be valuable to scammers.
- Wait until you return from vacation to share trip photos: Announcing you’re away from home can attract unwanted attention.
- Keep work information private: Avoid sharing jobsite details, customer information, or company business that isn’t intended for public view.
- Consider your audience: Before posting, ask yourself if you’d be comfortable with your family, coworkers, or future employer seeing it.
Quick Builder’s Digital Footprint Checklist
- Review your social media privacy settings
- Delete old or unused online accounts
- Remove unnecessary app permissions
- Think before posting personal or work-related information
- Use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication
Bottom line: Your digital footprint tells a story about you. By managing your privacy settings, removing old accounts, and thinking carefully before you post, you can reduce your exposure to scammers and better protect your personal information. Good online habits today help protect your identity tomorrow.
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