Warning over social media ‘footprint’

ONLINE security experts have warned about the serious risks associated with creating a “digital footprint” which allows people who place too much personal information online to become targets for cyber criminals.

Following comments by Google boss Eric Schmidt, who said young people may one day have to change their names in order to escape their previous online activity, technical director at Irish security firm Espion Colm Murphy went a step further.

Mr Murphy said users needed to understand that information they post is permanently stored and traceable, which over time creates a “digital footprint”.