Last week, I discussed some things that I learned about my digital footprint. For those of you who are unaware, your footprint is the data that you leave behind from your online activities, whether they are active or passive. As an extension of this post, I am sharing with you 4 resources that I found that allow you to understand your footprint and how to control it better. They are simple and easy to navigate, and they are free.
Cover Your Tracks - A project from the Electronic Frontier Foundation, an international non-profit that defends digital rights, it's a website that tests your web browser to see how well it protects you from tracking and fingerprinting. To test it, all you have to do is click the Test Your Browser button, and it will run the test, where you will get detailed results on how good the browser is. This is very informative, as it explains what each element is and allows you to adjust the browser settings accordingly. This is a good resource as it allows you to understand web browsers better, and the only thing you have to do is simply click a button.
Ip.me - Created by Proton, one of the top players in privacy focused technology, it's a service that allows you to look up IP addresses. When you first go to the site, it will provide your public IP address along with additional information that goes along with it. An IP address is a unique number that can track and dictate your location and online activity. If someone knows your exact IP address, they can piece together where you are located. That's why it's important to use a reputable VPN service, as it can mask your true IP address.
In addition to IP addresses, you can also look up WHOIS, which consists of domain names, and DNS, which provides public information for domains. Overall, it is a good resource, and you should check it out if you're interested in your IP address.
Have I Been Pwned - Created by Superlative Enterprises and operated by a three-member team, Have I Been Pwned is a resource that allows you to look up your email address and passwords to see if they were involved in a data breach. Data breaches are all too common these days, and it's hard to keep track, so this service is especially helpful. It's simple and straightforward, as all you have to do is insert your information to get your answers. In addition to emails and passwords, you can also do domain searches, and you can even opt-in to notifications of future pwnages.
Privacy Checkup - Independently supported by Theerma, the Swiss private messenger, it's a quiz that determines how knowledgeable you are about online privacy. It's simple; just answer the questions, and you get a score at the end that dictates how well you know how to stop online surveillance. Regardless of the score you get, they also share a list of resources that help you better protect yourself online, which is really helpful. You can also go straight to them if you are not interested in the quiz.
Hopefully, you find these resources invaluable and help you understand your footprint and privacy. Make sure you share this with others and if you know of any other resources similar to the ones above, please feel free to leave them in the comments.
Hi everyone. I am letting you know that I am reverting back to Wednesday postings. It was easier, and I felt like there was more engagement during a weekday than the weekend. I also have some other ideas for the newsletter, but I’ll share them once I am sure and have a concrete plan.
Until Next Time,
Monique 🔐
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