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Lesson 17Privacy & Footprint pathway

Shrink Your Public Footprint

Project Upskill Module 6

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Targeted attacks start with research. CISA's sixth module is about limiting what a stranger can learn about you — and how separate harmless posts combine into a targeting package.

Audit what's searchable

Search yourself the way an adversary would, then remove or lock down what you find.

  • Search your name, email, phone, and usernames.
  • Request removal from people-search and data-broker sites.
  • Tighten social-media privacy and account settings.
  • Prune old accounts and public posts you no longer need.

Think about aggregation

One post about your gym, one about your kid's school, one about a trip — together they map your routine, your family, and when your home is empty.

  • Delay travel posts until you're home.
  • Avoid publishing family, location, employer, and schedule details together.
  • Be skeptical of new contacts, impersonators, and cloned profiles.
  • Verify anyone claiming to be a colleague before sharing organizational details.

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