Your digital footprint (see What is a Digital Footprint?) is an invaluable asset that can be just as easily used against you. Knowing what to do and what not to do is crucial to staying safe online. Below is a list of 6 top tips for you to keep safe while browsing the web and maintain a positive digital footprint.

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01. Use Privacy Settings

This is pretty straightforward. You likely don't want other people looking at your pictures or posts, so I suggest toggling all your social media accounts to private. This prevents random strangers from taking pictures from your accounts and potentially producing some heinous replications.

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02. Keep A List Of Your Accounts

To help keep you organized, keep a list your accounts. It doesn't even have to be limited to just your social media accounts. Your list could include anything from KhanAcademy to Instagram. You just need to remember to stay on top of your game. If at any point there is an account you feel you don't need anymore, delete it.

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03. Google Yourself

Doing a background sweep on yourself every once in a while will help you to understand how you look on the internet. Do the results show you in a positive light? Can you even find yourself? You may be shocked at what you find.

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04. Use A Secondary Email

Having a second email account can be beneficial. This allows you to separate your work emails from those in your personal life, filter spam emails, and to have a separate social media account that won't be linked to your business. Your second email may even come in handy as a backup account if you lose access to your first.

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05. Understanding Digital Permanence

Anything you send will be online permanently. That means forever. If you don't want other people to see it, don't post it. (see Digital Permanence)

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06. Install An Antivirus

Ensure you actually have an antivirus and keep it up to date as many viruses applications are designed to harvest data from you and are constantly being updated.