Profile Clean-up for Safety

If you are looking for spiritual guidance go to your Bible, for everything else, there’s Google. This is true in more ways than one; “Googling” has become routine for most employers and recruiters to scan potential employees’ online profile. Sadly, this can also be used by nasty people, like stalkers or identity thieves. When you use the Internet to update your Facebook or enter your personal information to any website, traces of you stay there. Sometimes, not knowing just how much of you is out there can compromise your online safety.

Knowing what the search engines know about you is important and managing your online profile not only makes you look good on screen but it also keeps you safe. Here are some steps you can take to clean out your digital dirt.

Know how much web presence you have – if you haven’t done “ego surfing” before, this is the time to do it. Google yourself, so that you can get a general idea of places containing your information. You will be able to see how much search results returned containing your name and the content of the search results. Usually, potential employers look only at the first page, now freaky, obsessive stalkers could go to unusual lengths.

Know what you want to keep online - and know what you want to trash. Information that you put there your self can easily be cleaned up. You can take advantage of the privacy settings in your Facebook, Bebo or other social media you are using. There are anti-stalk options that you can enable, allowing you to control who can access your profile. If you find that somehow, last Spring break’s drunken pictures are out there, you can call on Lady Liberty and use the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. The act includes a takedown notice, where you can contact the webmasters and request that they remove your information from their site. Now as for the friend who put out your pictures, we’ll let you use your imagination.

Ask your friends to cooperate – this could be easier said than done, but if they are your real friends and your safety becomes an issue, they will understand. Dealing with cyberbullying is another issue, it is important to recognize it right away and know how to prevent it.

Stick to professional social networking sites – avoid sites with shady reputation or are targeted to a market you are not comfortable with. Signing up for professional sites that boost your positive image and protect your online identity can also help boost high-ranking content about you and push other not so flattering content beyond the first few pages.

Build your own .com – if you wish to build an online profile to show off your expertise, you can still do so. You can sign up for free blogs or buy your own domain from Google or some other reputable provider. You can practice online safety and filter the information you want to publish while having a professional public profile to advance your career.

The most important thing in keeping a clean, stalker-safe online profile is taking responsibility for your online content and making sure that you only sign in to secure sites. Web content changes all the time, you can do periodic checks on yourself or sign up to Google Alerts so that every time your name comes up online, you would know.

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