Protect and manage your online data

On this page:

• What’s a digital footprint?
• What can I do to protect myself?
• What are your data privacy rights?

What’s a digital footprint?

A digital footprint is the trail of data left behind when using the Internet, mobile/smart devices, and apps. An active digital footprint is data that you knowingly create or share online like social media posts, emails, and online profiles. A passive digital footprint is data collected without your awareness like your internet browsing history, purchases and transactions, the digital address of your computer, and the data tracked by your web browser. With all this data circulating, know your risks:

• Data breaches – Unauthorized parties access data leading to potential identity theft, financial theft, or data misuse.
• Privacy or reputation impact – Publicly available data can affect how others perceive you. This can lead to credit damage or missed financial or job opportunities.
• Targeted advertising – Companies buy data to display ads to specific people with certain traits.

What can I do to protect myself?

• Prevent identity theft
  • Review your financial accounts and credit reports regularly.
  • Set up fraud alerts and use credit freezes if you see a suspicious charge.
  • Update, strengthen, and use different passwords for all your accounts.
  • Enable two-factor (2FA) or multifactor (MFA) authentication.
  • Verify all requests for personal information.
  • Avoid using public Wi-Fi networks.
  • Take immediate action with data breaches.
  • Report identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission.
  • Report cyber scams and fraud to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
• Protect your online privacy
  • Log out of your computer, browser, and apps when you are not using them.
  • Browse the internet in “incognito mode.”
  • Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN).
  • Limit how much information you share on social media (set accounts to private); online forms, surveys, and applications; and smart devices.
• Reduce your online data footprint
  • Review and delete old accounts.
  • Unsubscribe from unused services and newsletters.
  • Carefully review app permissions and opt out of data brokers and people search sites.
  • Regularly clear browser cookies and cache.
• Request to delete your data
  • Review the privacy policies of the websites, apps, social media platforms, and online accounts you use. Look for options to remove your data.
  • Follow-up and confirm that requested data has been removed.
  • Consider using a data removal service.

What are your data privacy rights?

The California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) protects consumer privacy and ensures that businesses comply with California’s data protection laws. The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) is a state law that enhances privacy rights:

• Right to know about the information a business collects and how it is used and shared.
• Right to delete collected personal information.
• Right to opt-out of the sale or sharing of personal information.
• Right to non-discrimination for exercising CCPA rights.

If you believe a business, service provider, third-party partner, or contractor has violated the CCPA, submit a complaint.