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When focusing on cybersecurity, we typically prioritize complex passwords and two-factor authentication. However, there is another critical aspect of protection: the timely deletion of data. Every application, website, or device collects information about us—often in much larger volumes than we assume. This article explains what it truly means to “delete data” and how to do it effectively.
Why Is This Important?
Any information about you—geolocation, purchase history, old documents—has value. For companies, it is fuel for algorithms; for criminals, it is a tool for attacks. The larger your “digital footprint,” the easier it is for attackers to:
- Steal your identity (Identity theft).
- Guess answers to security questions.
- Create personalized phishing campaigns that are scarily easy to believe.
Deleting data reduces your digital footprint, making it harder for both companies and criminals to find the information they need. It also limits the amount of data platforms can store about you, which reduces potential damage if they experience a data breach.
Important Note for Employees: Registering personal accounts using your work email is a serious risk. In the event of a data leak at a third-party service, your work address enters hacker databases, making the entire company a target for specialized attacks. Keep your personal and professional spaces separate.
Deletion vs. Deactivation: What’s the Difference?
Many believe that clicking “delete” instantly erases information, but the digital world is more complex:
- Deleting a file: The object is often simply moved to the “Trash” and remains on the disk.
- Deactivating an account: This is just a “pause”. The profile is hidden, but all data remains on the company’s servers.
- Deleting an account (Permanent Delete): Only this option initiates the process of full data erasure.
When removing data from apps or platforms (such as social networks), always look for the option for permanent deletion, account closure, or full erasure of your records. Thanks to stricter privacy regulations, many services now offer built-in tools to request data deletion.
The Hidden Threat of Abandoned Accounts
A coupon site from 2015 or an old forum—these “ghost accounts” store your data but are often protected by outdated security standards.
How to reduce your digital footprint:
- Check your email: Search for words like “confirm,” “registration,” “welcome,” or “verify” to find forgotten services.
- Check your password manager: Review your login list and identify those you haven’t used in over a year.
- Close what you don’t need: Delete unnecessary profiles and request a full erasure of data.
While the deletion process may seem tedious, every deleted account is one less place where your personal data is stored. Additionally, this helps reduce marketing emails and shrinks your overall digital footprint.
Your Digital Cleanup Plan
- Empty your Trash folders everywhere. Do not forget the “Recently Deleted” folder on your smartphone and trash bins in the cloud (Google Drive, iCloud).
- Clear messenger caches. Old work documents and photos can stay in Telegram, Slack, and WhatsApp for years. Go to Settings, then Data and Storage, select Storage Usage, and clear the cache.
- Check for cloud duplicates. If you deleted a photo from your phone, it might still exist in Google Photos or Dropbox.
- Tidy up your browser. Regularly clear cookies to limit the ability of websites to track your activity.
- Reset app data. Many programs cache your search and location history.
What If Data Cannot Be Deleted?
Companies are legally required to keep certain data, such as financial reports or security logs. In these cases, use preventive controls:
- Minimization: Do not share unnecessary information during registration.
- Uniqueness: Use different passwords so that a breach of an old account doesn’t open access to current ones.
- Audit: Check your subscriptions and access rights once a year.
Your digital security is a balance between convenience and privacy. Take an hour this weekend to tidy up. Remember: your information should be more valuable to you than it is to marketers or criminals.
Adapted from: StaySafeOnline – Data Deletion Article