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The cost of digital clutter: What you’re leaving behind online

Everyone’s always talking about decluttering their closets, pantries, and homes, but when do you ever hear about decluttering your digital life? These days, we live and breathe anything and everything online. Did you know that every search, click, and upload adds to the invisible trail of data that is your digital identity?

Yes, you clean out your inbox, delete old posts, and unsubscribe from mindless newsletters, but that trail never really goes away. According to an , nearly two-thirds of Americans have trouble saving critical documents digitally, especially older generations. A lack of digital safety knowledge leaves room for messy digital footprints and inadequate data privacy.

As scammers become more sophisticated, the digital clutter people leave behind can cost them more than just storage space. It can become dangerous.  shares what you can do to reduce your digital clutter, which can help reduce the chances of your personal information falling into the wrong hands.

The Growing Issue of Digital Clutter

Anything you do online adds another breadcrumb to your digital trail. Over time, this builds into a detailed picture of who you are, one that’s valuable to advertisers and cybercriminals alike. 

One  found that over 81% of Americans say the potential risks of companies collecting their data outweigh the benefits. Even so, most people rarely take the time to check what’s already out there.

Especially with the rise of generative AI, your digital identity is more at risk. Today, scammers don’t need to do guesswork about your details—they can just scrape them. 

With enough public information, fraudsters can easily use AI to craft messages that make it sound like your boss, your child, or even your bank. That’s why knowing what you’ve left behind online is key to protecting your privacy and security.

Digital Clutter You’re Leaving Behind

Do you think it might be time to digitally declutter? Read on for the most common culprits and how they might be putting your information at risk.

1. Digital footprints

Your digital footprint encompasses everything that can be traced back to you. That could include photos, public records, newspaper articles, and even social media posts.

Over time, these small bits of data can create a surprisingly detailed portrait of you and your life. The stronger your digital footprint is, the easier it is to find and exploit you, according to a study by , especially if you reuse passwords or make personal information public.

Pro tip: Regularly search for your name to see what’s public. You can search for your name using a  tool to locate outdated or inaccurate information about yourself online and request its removal.

2. Cookies

At any site you go to, you’re asked to allow cookies. And, unfortunately, these aren’t the edible kind. They track what you click, view, and buy, often across multiple sites. While cookies make browsing more convenient (aka you can save three seconds to log in your info), they also enable detailed advertising profiles that follow you around the web.

The good news is that over 45% of internet users in Europe block or delete cookies regularly. So there is some growing awareness of online tracking.

Pro tip: Clear cookies and browser history often, or use privacy-focused browsers like Firefox or Brave. You can also turn off the “third-party cookies” option in your settings to limit cross-site tracking.

3. Oversharing online

We know it’s fun to post your vacation pics for the public to see, but in reality, if you’re not managing your online presence properly, you’re feeding into any scammer’s dream. Sharing too much online can expose details like your home address, family members, or financial milestones, all of which can be used in social engineering scams.

An FTC warning even highlighted a rise in fraud originating from social media, with losses topping over $1.4 billion last year.

Pro tip: Review your privacy settings on every platform you use. Avoid sharing your location in real time, and think twice before posting personal or family details publicly.

Cleaning Up Your Digital Clutter

Digital decluttering might not be as satisfying as cleaning out your closet, but it can definitely save you from serious privacy issues later on. Here are a few smart steps to begin with:

1. Audit old accounts: Delete or deactivate profiles you no longer use.
2. Use strong, unique passwords: Search up password managers to make it easier.
3. Review app permissions: Remove apps that over-collect location or contact data.
4. Back up critical documents securely: Use encrypted drives or password-protected cloud storage.
5. Regularly search your name and contact info: Keep tabs on what information is available about you so that you can take steps to remove any new details you don’t want to be public.

How to Avoid or Report Scams

Scammers thrive on overshared and outdated information. Staying vigilant doesn’t necessarily mean being paranoid, but rather being aware and taking security measures.

1. Verify unexpected calls or texts: Use a reverse phone or email search before responding.
2. Report scams promptly: There are many resources online to report fraud or identity theft.
3. Freeze your credit: If your data’s been exposed, consider calling up your bank to freeze your credit lines.

The Bottom Line

Your online history doesn’t have to haunt you, but it can if you choose to ignore it. Every piece of it—from old cookies, forgotten profiles, or any ancient posts you forgot to delete—all contribute to the growing cost of losing your privacy.

Taking even just a few minutes to review your digital footprint isn’t just about staying neat. It’s about staying safe. Using a  can help you see what’s already out there about you so you know what to remove, update, or lock down before someone else does. The less data you’ve got lying around in the galaxy of the Internet, the less there is for others to find. 

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