As we continue to live our lives more and more online, we leave a greater footprint behind. It's worth taking the time to look at what information about you is available online and do a bit of a spring-clean.
(1) Google yourself
This may sound like an unappealing thing to do, but it shows what a potential employer or friend can see when they search for your name. It can also help identify weak links in your social media security settings.
(2) Security settings
Once you've identified weak points in your online security, take the time to go through each of your social media profiles and ensure you have the correct settings in place.
Facebook make it very easy to understand and alter your settings. Tap on the lock symbol in the top right corner and clip "Privacy Checkup". Facebook will then walk you through the various steps. It's also possible to see what strangers can see on your profile.
Twitter and Instagram also allow users to have private profiles. This option can be found in the Settings section of both apps.
(3) Deseat.me
I am as guilty as anyone in terms of subscribing to newsletters I'll never read. There is a site call Deseat.me that identifies what websites have stored your email address.
It is very easy to unsubscribe from newsletters and revoke permission from here. It's a simple idea but makes a big difference to the amount of junk received daily.
(4) Passwords
Think of passwords like your toothbrush. It's personal to you and you shouldn't share it around. Having a strong password means you are less likely to be hacked and have your information compromised.
There are a number of password generators, but just make sure that it is something you can remember. A mix of upper and lower case letters, along with numbers and a symbol usually does the trick.
(5) Permissions
Have you ever read the terms and conditions when downloading an app? Certain apps require permission to access different parts of your phone. This can include photos, camera, microphone and contacts.
iPhone users can go look through which apps require what permissions by clicking Settings > Privacy.
Android users will be able to review permissions by tapping into each individual app within Settings.
