In the daily use of the Internet, personal and professional information about us is collected and stored, directly or indirectly (accounts and profiles on web pages, photos or publications added to social networks, comments and opinions, etc.). With this we create what is called a “digital fingerprint”.
This concept should not be confused with our fingerprint or electronic signature with a fingerprint. We refer to trail of information that we leave as we use the Internet. In most cases, we are aware that this information is available and accessible to the public. This is because some action had to be taken (by us or by third parties with whom we have a personal, professional or commercial relationship), which has led to the publication of data on the Internet.
What is worrisome – therefore – is not the fingerprint, which is a set of information about us that, more or less, we can control, privatize or limit, but the digital shadow. This concept refers to all information that is automatically stored on devices (mobile phones, smart watches, car navigators, etc.) and programs or applications.
In fact, it is currently estimated that the data collected through digital shadow is triple the amount we consciously provide (fingerprint). These data can be considered much more valuable than any of our photographs on the internet, because they allow the creation of profiles. That is, it offers the possibility of knowing our tastes, habits, physical health, personality, lifestyle, beliefs, ideology and other information, which, if we were to choose whether to share it or not, we would probably prefer not to, because it is considered private. intimate or very personal.
Remember that the use of new technologies makes our lives much easier, and more if they are free. But, the price we pay for it is usually our own information . Therefore, before browsing a website, using a social network, creating an online account or downloading an application, Read carefully the Privacy and Data Protection Policies or the General Conditions of Use thereof.