Sometimes valuable items are right in front of your eyes, but no one notices them. For example, how many times have you come across an ordinary 25-cent coin? And the 1984 quarter worth $35,000 can be not a myth but a reality. It’s just that most people don’t pay attention to such details. In the digital world, it’s the same way: we leave traces everywhere, but we don’t always realize their significance and how much they can cost us in case of emergency.
Just as Coin ID Scanner helps uncover hidden features and even the value of coins, knowledge about cybersecurity and anonymity helps people realize the value of security and “disappear” into the information flow. From trivial data collection by advertising services to serious digital surveillance, stealth is becoming a valuable skill in today’s world.
So today we would like to break down what technologies are tracking us, how to reduce your digital footprint, hide your location and secure your privacy.
How We Are Tracked: Basic Techniques
Modern people interact with dozens of digital services every day, often without even thinking about how much data is collected about them in real time. Search queries, purchases, messenger messages, and smartphone movements all create your digital profile.
Technologies that Track Us
Today, surveillance is no longer the domain of secret agents. In the XXI century, it was automated and divided into several levels. First of all, it is worth mentioning government surveillance. Here we are talking about government programs and intelligence services that can intercept Internet traffic, track calls and monitor suspicious transactions. For example, the US NSA’s PRISM program allowed the US NSA to collect user data from major technology companies.
We may also be talking about corporate surveillance. Google, Facebook, Amazon and other Internet giants collect information about user behavior in order to show personalized advertising and predict their actions.
And we cannot fail to mention that sometimes surveillance is done for the purpose of committing cybercrime. Hackers use database leaks, software vulnerabilities and phishing attacks to gain access to your personal information.
But unfortunately, the personal security situation is still far from ideal. According to a study by Statista, in 2023, more than 85% of internet users were concerned about their privacy, but only 25% of them were taking real steps to protect their personal information.
A Few Words about Your Digital Footprint
A digital footprint is a collection of all the data we leave online. It is generated automatically and includes:
- History of search queries. Every word entered into Google, Yandex or Bing is stored and analyzed.
- Social media. Likes, comments, photos, geolocations create your digital portrait.
- Devices and apps. Phones, tablets, smart watches, browsers – all collect data about your location, habits and interests.
- Online purchases. Even if you don’t make a purchase, product browsing is captured and analyzed.
Data collection tools and their functions
| Method | How it works | What data it collects | Who uses |
| Cookies | Stores information about your visits to websites | Browsing history, logins, preferences | Corporations, advertising networks |
| Social network trackers | Built-in pixels and “Share” buttons capture activity | Social media activity, interests, contacts | Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc. |
| Geolocation systems | Tracks movement via GPS and Wi-Fi | Your routes, frequently visited places | Google, Apple, telecom operators |
| Browser fingerprinting | Analyzes unique device and browser settings | Device type, screen resolution, plugins installed | Advertising networks, analytics platforms |
| Wi-Fi tracking | Analyzes traffic on public Wi-Fi networks | Visited sites, correspondence, payment data | Hackers, public network owners |
| Voice command analysis | Smart speakers and voice assistants record conversations | Voice commands, preferences, potential interests | Amazon (Alexa), Google (Assistant), Apple (Siri) |
| Cameras with face recognition | Use AI to identify a person | Appearance, movements, emotions | Governments, stores, security systems |
By the way, some studies show that more than 80% of smartphones in the world have at least one app that secretly collects users’ data without their explicit consent.
Turning off the Digital Footprint: Detailed Recommendations
Digital anonymity is not just a conspiracy theory, but a real necessity for those who want to control their data. It is almost impossible to completely disappear from the online space, but minimizing your digital footprint is realistic and for that it is important to act consistently.
Step 1: Clear History and Limit Tracking
The first and easiest step is to delete the data already collected and prevent further data collection. What do you need to do?
Now it is time to delete the data already collected about you and prevent further collection. Clear your browser history and cookies, disable personalized ads on Google and social media, and use private search engines like DuckDuckGo or Startpage that don’t track users.
Interesting fact: Mozilla’s research shows that more than 70% of websites use trackers, and Google tracks up to 85% of all internet activity. That is why, it is important not only to remove traces of being online, but also to prevent them from occurring.
Step 2: Encrypt Your Messages and Data
Your correspondence, files and voice calls can be subject to surveillance. To protect yourself you can use messengers with end-to-end encryption. These can be Signal, Telegram (secret chats) and Threema, which offer end-to-end encryption to protect your data from being intercepted. Also, don’t forget to activate two-factor authentication (2FA). This will prevent your accounts from being hacked even if your password is leaked. It is better to use apps like Authy or Google Authenticator rather than SMS codes (as they can be intercepted). That said, be careful with cloud storage. Cloud services like Google Drive and iCloud are convenient but potentially vulnerable. If privacy is important, use encrypted storage such as VeraCrypt.
Tip: If you need to transfer files anonymously, try OnionShare, a tool that allows you to share files securely via Tor.
Step 3: Disable Location Tracking and Protect Your Devices
Geolocation is one of the most valuable data for tracking, because it allows you to track not just your online activity but also your actual movements, moreover, even analyze your routes. What do you need to consider and do right now? Turn off GPS for unnecessary apps, don’t leave Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on in public places, and if necessary, use location masking VPNs like Surfshark to prevent snooping.
But even if you follow all the rules of online security, your phone or computer can be a weak link. What other additional protective measures should you take?
- Use an antivirus and firewall to protect you from malware that could pass your data to third parties.
- Turn off your microphone and camera when you’re not using them. Many devices can be hacked to record covertly (on a computer, you can cover the webcam with a sticker or use special plugs).
- Encrypt your device’s storage. iPhones and Android have built-in data encryption – turn it on in your security settings.
Step 4: Minimize Social Media Activity
Today, few people can imagine their personal lives without keeping up with social media, Instagram, TikTok and other social networks. However, social media is one of the main sources of data collection, as well as information leakage. Thus, the less you post, the harder it is to track you. It is also important to set your privacy settings as high as possible, delete old posts and tags, and avoid using real personal information wherever possible.
A major scandal with Cambridge Analytica showed how valuable social media information is: the company used the data of 50 million Facebook users for political targeting. Therefore, it is important to control what exactly you leave in the public domain.
Disappear from the Radar
In a world where data has become the new currency, anonymity is not a luxury but a skill. Due to protecting your digital footprint, you are able not to hide, but also to take back control, because ultimately, the less information you leave behind, the harder it is to find you. So, let that information serve you well.
