Ever wondered how much of your personal information is floating around on the internet? It's likely more than you think, and easier to access than you'd hope. Whether through a casual browse on LinkedIn or a deep dive into your social media history, every shared detail can potentially be pieced together by someone with enough motivation. So let's look at how you can secure your digital doorstep.

The Reality of Digital Exposure

Let's start with something simple: your email address or a frequently used username. These bits of information, while seemingly harmless, often serve as keys to the kingdom for skilled internet users practicing open-source intelligence (OSINT). With just these details, someone can uncover your real name, address, and much more through targeted searches.

What’s at Stake?

Every post, like, or share can be pieced together into a comprehensive profile. This can be used in ways you never intended, from benign advertising to more sinister activities like hacking or identity theft.

Quick Test: Google your own email address or username and see what comes up. You might be surprised. For deeper insights, try searching your name with additional keywords related to your location or employer, like “John Smith” + "Microsoft."

AI Lowers the Bar to Information Collection

Manual searches take time, but AI tools now allow almost anyone to collect extensive data by simply querying, “Tell me everything about John Smith at Microsoft.”

Securing Your Digital Doorstep

Here’s how you can protect yourself:

1. Audit Your Online Presence: Review your profiles across all social networks and forums. You might reconsider the necessity of keeping decades of social media history. Opt for maintaining only the last six months of posts, deleting the oldest as you add new ones to keep a relevant and limited online presence.

2. Tighten Your Privacy Settings: Familiarise yourself with and adjust the privacy settings on each social media platform to minimise your exposure.

3. Be Mindful of What You Share: Think about how the information you post online might be used against you. Avoid sharing sensitive details like your home address or holiday plans. With advancements in AI, even still images can be transformed into realistic video simulations—it's not just science fiction anymore.

4. Secure Your Accounts: Use strong, unique passwords for each of your online accounts and manage them with a password manager. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever possible for added security.

Understanding how online information is gathered can significantly enhance your digital privacy strategy. Start securing your personal and business online presence today. Don't overlook details like outdated business invoices that could be replicated and misused.

By becoming more aware and taking proactive measures, you can enjoy the internet's benefits without becoming a cautionary tale. Regular checks and updates are essential, especially for businesses—incorporate these into your business plan.

Action List:

1. Search for and clean up outdated personal and business information.

2. Implement a rolling history on social media.

3. Tighten privacy settings.

4. Think critically before sharing online.

5. Employ strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication.

6. Be vigilant about how pictures and audio can be manipulated with AI.

If this article has raised concerns, don't panic. Our Cyber Path Team can assist with an audit to determine what's out there and how it may impact you and your business. We're here to help, so don't hesitate to reach out