Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
banking, read up on the latest news, and took the time before bed to video chat with a far-
flung childhood friend. Even after logging out and turning off your computer, the informa-
tion you've just accessed or created continues to wander the great plains of the World Wide
Web. This information that we leave behind about ourselves on a daily basis is known as
our digital footprint.
Like stepping in wet concrete, these trails we unwittingly leave behind can be tough to
erase. With the rise of identity theft, corporate tracking, and the ability of “Big Brother” to
access our private data, it is more important than ever for Internet users to be aware of how
past and future data can be erased and controlled more effectively.
How big is My Footprint?
To truly understand just how big your digital footprint is, there are several tools available
that can be easily accessed and added to your computer for constant monitoring and con-
trol. Google is one of the most commonly accused mediums for collecting our data, and
rightfully so. That ad that just popped up on your Gmail page for cookbooks does indeed
have something to do with your search for a killer Spam recipe for last Sunday's tailgate
party.
On a daily basis Google pings your browser for information about browsing history, allow-
ing the search giant to improve their search algorithms and target advertising. Interested
in seeing just how often this is happening? Download the free software offering Google
Alarm, created by F.A.T. Labs, which is available for both Firefox and Chrome browsers.
This add-on will notify you each time you are sending data to Google. Just make sure you
