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Glossary of terms

Fingerprint 

Every time you go online, you leave behind data about yourself resulting from your internet activity. This is your digital footprint. People, such as college admissions officers, potential employers, companies who want you to buy their products, and even criminals, can view your digital footprint to learn more about you. Sometimes you may be aware of the data you leave behind - for example, when you fill out a form, make a purchase, post a comment or upload a photo. Other times, it's not obvious that you're contributing to your digital footprint. You may not know that you leave data behind when you browse the Internet, or that your location may be embedded in the photos you post

Digital Footprint and Cookies

When you browse the internet, websites set "cookies" that track what you look at. A cookie is a message sent to a web browser from a web server. It identifies a user and allows a company to prepare a customized web page or store information for you. Cookies save you time loading web pages that you visit frequently. But they also leave traces of the sites you have visited and how often, which can help others build a profile of you. Geolocation can also add to your digital footprint. If an app or website uses geolocation, it records the exact location of your computer or mobile device. It allows you to get directions, find and meet people who are nearby, track how far you have walked, or play games that involve locations. If you post photos online that are tagged with your location, you may also unintentionally reveal where you live or when you’re away from home. You also add metadata to your digital footprint. Metadata is written text that is added to web pages, images, and files so that computer systems and search engines can easily find and share them. For example, when you take a photo and post it online, the image may contain metadata about where, who took it, and when it was taken, even if you don’t directly add that information. Search engines read metadata from web pages and images and provide results that are related to your search. Metadata can help search engines work better and faster. But it also adds to your digital footprint. Other people can also add to your digital footprint, such as when a friend or family member tags you in a post or comment. Your digital footprint can grow in many ways, even if you don't realize you're leaving information behind.

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