Today, the Internet is one of the technologies used daily by people all over the world. As a result, incidents of cyberattacks and privacy breaches are also increasing. There are attack methods that target this digital footprint to obtain personal and behavioral data. Therefore, it is essential to understand how to protect your digital identity.
The principle behind these types of attacks is to use a JavaScript script to generate digital fingerprints and then send them to a remote server for identification. By identifying differences between browser fingerprints, attackers can gather personal information such as operating systems, screen resolutions, users’ browsing histories, and behavioral data.
But what are the main tracking methods we find on the internet that can lead to these types of attacks?
Cookies are text files that websites and web applications can create and store in your browser.
They are used in browsers on all kinds of devices: desktop computers, laptops, phones, tablets—virtually anything with a browser. Cookies can be used to store information about how you use a website.
For example, an online store could create a cookie containing the items you added to your shopping cart. Any type of website could store a record of the pages you visited: your username if you have an account on their web app, site preferences, whether you prefer “Dark Mode” or “Light Mode,” or even which city or town you are in.
At this point, it is important to clarify that cookies themselves are not inherently bad—but they can be.
For example, if an online shopping website where you use your credit card stores the number in a cookie, that’s very dangerous. Cookies are not encrypted, so anyone with access to that cookie could obtain your information. Criminals could charge your card or steal your identity—all thanks to your digital footprint.
You should only do so when you trust the website or organization and avoid clicking “Accept” if it could affect the site’s functionality, that is, how it works for you.
This is similar to the question of whether you should open email attachments or not. Email attachments can be useful—or they could be malware, such as a computer virus.
Ultimately, it all depends on trust and your own judgment.
There are several ways to protect yourself from these types of attacks and safeguard your digital footprint and personal data:
On one hand, cookies can be legitimately used by websites to personalize user experiences, remember preferences, and improve site functionality. However, there is also a risk that the data stored in cookies could be compromised by cyber attackers or malicious third parties, which could lead to serious consequences such as theft of personal or financial information.
This highlights the importance of users understanding how cookies work and how to manage their digital footprint safely. Trust in websites and organizations is crucial, and users should be aware of the potential risks of clicking “Accept” without carefully considering the possible impacts on their privacy and security.
It is essential to balance the convenience of cookies with the need to protect online privacy and security. Users should take proactive steps such as using online security tools, properly configuring browser privacy settings, and staying informed about cybersecurity best practices.
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