This article is the first of a three part series regarding digital footprints. This article will go over the definition of a digital footprint, part 2 will cover how a digital footprint is created and part 3 will cover how to delete a digital footprint.
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Digital Footprint Definition
A digital footprint is a term used to describe the trail, traces or ‘footprints’ that can be left online. This information is transmitted online via registration for websites, emails, attachments, uploading media and any other form of information upload.
All of this information leaves a trace of personal and identifying information which can be seen by others online.
How Does a Digital Footprint Affect a Small Business?
Small businesses can be susceptible to security flaws originating from the leak of personal information via the digital footprint. The Malware, viruses, and other malicious code will target a business computer over a personal computer, since a business computer typically has a much higher potential to contain financial information.
Example of a Simple Data Leak
Mr. Smith works with 40 different customers, providing them support and a multiple different services on a monthly basis. Mr. Smith uses the same laptop for both personal and work activities. On a discussion forum one evening Mr. Smith mentions that he works with 40 different customers, and his account on that discussion forum has his full name and age.
A malicious user uses this information to find the rest of Mr. Smith’s information via LinkedIn, and sends Mr. Smith an email pretending to be a fellow user of the discussion forum that he posted on. In the email is a malicious PDF attached that installs a memory scanner on Mr. Smiths computer that looks for sensitive data (such as credit card info, SIN numbers, etc.), and sends it back to the malicious attacker. Over the course of the next few months, the financial data of 40 customers, as well as 5 employees have been leaked.
Best Practices Regarding Digital Footprint on Business Computers
It is always best practice when using a business computer to separate work and leisure. If possible, separate devices should be used for interfacing with business information and personal information. If the use of two unique devices is not possible, then two distinct user accounts should work. Ensure that neither of the user accounts has shared folders.
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