What Internet knows about you

You cannot imagine how our digital lives can be scanned: all what is published on the Internet and in particular on social networks (photos, videos, comments, etc..) is recorded, absorbed by search engines, stored then spring when a user makes query. When you know HR managers often check online profile of potential candidates, it’s probably best to anticipate what a potential employer might discover about your life on the Internet.

Start by checking on Google what can be found about you: first enter your first and last name for example by stating “David Smith” or “Smith David” in quotes (exact phrase) to restrict the number of results. After consulting the answers, click More in the News section up to display only the recently updated pages. You may be surprised to find photos of you, links to social networks (Facebook, Twitter, Buddies before, Viadeo …) although many links may involve homonyms. But the relevance and the number of correct links give you an overview of your presence on the net.

If your job brings you to publish online information (articles, chats, etc …) both in the professional field or as head of an association for example, you can create an alert on www.google.com / alerts to be notified when some information about you is published, whether it can be an article, a comment or a photo.

Keep the survey by logging into www.123people.com. Run a search on your name and check the results grouped into different categories. One section gives where your name appears with your potential publications, but also the white pages can display your address and telephone. If you have posted multimedia content, they will appear in the Image and Video section. Everything is notified , such as the social networks you use, blogs, email addresses, etc …

It can thus be interesting using an alias on social networks. But also be careful about what you post on the Internet and to whom you publish it. On Facebook, for example, limit what you post to be published to your friends and not to everyone and make sure that people no longer consider you as friends in the real world are no longer on Facebook either!

The best way to limit the traces you leave on the Internet is to use a VPN service. A VPN reduces your online movements by replacing your routing information: your IP address will be replaced by an anonymous IP address. Our secure DNS servers keep secret queries you make, so that no one can take a look at your browsing history.

Your Internet connection is encrypted with a top secret level system which protects you against hackers and ears trying to listen or obtain sensitive information about you.

Your computer is hidden behind the numerous VPN servers: when you are connected to the VPN, no one can access your computer without passing through the protected VPN servers.