Refresh, Reset & Remove: Why and How to Secure your Digital Footprint

Your digital footprint may be bigger than you think.

Over the years, you’ve likely opened dozens of accounts – from banking to investing, shopping to social media, travel rewards, and more. You may have downloaded apps, saved payment information, or logged into accounts on multiple devices. Collectively, from websites visited to searches made to social media interactions, each of these actions creates a digital trail of your online activity.

A few simple habits and regular maintenance can reduce your digital footprint and make it much harder for fraudsters to gain access to your personal or financial information. Here’s how you can think about it: refresh the credentials you use, reset your digital habits, andremove what you no longer need.

Refresh: Strengthen the accounts you use today

One of the most effective ways to protect yourself online is to strengthen the accounts you already rely on. Here’s how:

• Update your passwords: Make it a habit to reset your passwords regularly, starting with your most critical accounts, like banking, email, and social media. Aim for strong, unique passwords – think 12+ characters with a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. Don’t reuse credentials across accounts. If one password is compromised, unique logins prevent a domino effect.

• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA): Turn on 2FA for all accounts that offer it – especially banking, email, and social media. Most platforms make this easy to set up in your security settings. This adds an extra verification step, such as a one-time code sent to your phone. Even if a scammer gets your password, they’ll have a much harder time getting into your account.

• Keep your contact information current: Make sure your financial institutions have your correct phone number and email address. Account alerts only help if they reach you.

• Enable fraud alerts for online banking: With a Fraud Alert, you’ll receive a text message when a transaction is attempted using your bank account/ debit card or credit card. The transaction could be for a particularly high amount, at a location you’re not expected to be in, or at merchant that is uncharacteristic for you. Upon receiving the text message, you simply respond to approve or decline it. 

• Install software updates: Those update notifications can feel inconvenient, but they often contain critical security patches. Keeping your devices current can close vulnerabilities that fraudsters look for.

Refreshing your digital security doesn’t require hours of work, but it can go a long way towards strengthening your most important entry points.

Reset: Rethink everyday digital habits

Scammers rely on the habits of humans – quick clicks, oversharing on social media, and a “it won’t happen to me” mindset. Resetting a few routines can make a meaningful difference in your overall digital security.

Here are some habits to reset:

• Your privacy settings: Take time to review your social media privacy settings. Limit who can see your birthdate, contact details, workplace information, and travel plans. Fraudsters can piece together publicly available information to craft convincing messages.

• Your approach to sharing: It’s natural to want to share milestones, vacations, and celebrations online. But posting travel plans in real time can signal that your home is empty. And sharing personal details (like your dog’s name and birthday) can provide clues for security questions. A simple shift – such as posting after you return from a trip – can reduce your exposure.

• Your device security: Enable strong PINs or biometric locks on your phone, tablet, and laptop. Turn on “Find My Device” features so that if your device is lost or stolen, you have the ability to remotely lock it or wipe it clean, protecting sensitive information.

• Your response time: Scams thrive on a sense of urgency. A message claiming your account is locked, or a package is delayed, is meant to push you into immediate action. When something feels urgent, take a moment to pause: log in to your account directly through a bookmarked website or official app instead of clicking a link. Slowing down is one of the most powerful security tools you can use.

You can’t prevent every scam attempt, but you can make yourself a tougher target with a few key resets.

Remove: Reduce unnecessary exposure

Over time, digital clutter builds up. Between old accounts you haven’t logged into in years, apps you only downloaded once, and devices sitting in a drawer with stored information, your digital vulnerability grows.

Here are some removal tactics that can help:

• Delete unused accounts: If you no longer use an online retailer, subscription service, or social media platform, consider closing the account. The less personal information stored across the internet, the less there is to exploit.

• Remove unused apps: Some apps request access to all your contacts, location, or camera when you first download them – and it’s easy to tap “allow” without thinking twice. If you’re not using an app, delete it. For those you do keep, take a moment to review what access you’ve granted and turn off anything that isn’t necessary.

• Clear stored payment methods: Many online retailers save your credit card details by default. Removing stored payment information from infrequently used sites reduces the risk they’ll be used for fraudulent purposes.

• Factory reset old devices: Before donating, recycling, or selling a phone, tablet, or computer, perform a full factory reset (it’s a function you can find in your device’s settings). Simply deleting files isn’t enough.

Make digital hygiene a habit

Digital security isn’t a one-and-done kind of task. Rather, regularly reviewing your digital footprint is the best way to keep it clean and up to date. Pick a date in your calendar and spend an hour reviewing privacy settings, removing unused accounts, and enabling 2FA where possible. That’s all it takes!

FAQs

For more tips and resources on keeping your digital footprint secure, bookmark and visit

RBC’s Cyber Security Hub.