Smart Online Communication: Protecting Your Digital Footprint
You also leave a trail whenever you go online Every search you make website you visit and photo you upload adds to this digital trail The evidence of your online activity is called your digital footprint SEARCH ENGINES SUCH AS GOOGLE CAN TRACK YOUR ONLINE SEARCHES 5
Tracking Software Tracking software keeps a record of your online activity Internet service providers web browsers and websites use tracking software It tracks the sites you visit and the things you post online Most web browsers keep track of what you do online 6
Some tracking software saves your log-in information A computer cookie is one kind of tracking software This text file stores usernames preference settings and other information Information stored on a cookie can allow a website to welcome you by name every time you go to that site Cookies can also store your passwords Then you don’t have to enter them every time you log in to your accounts Cookies aren’t considered harmful They don’t carry viruses They don’t steal information from your computer 7
