Digital Hygiene for Public-Facing Professionals: What to Lock Down Now
Your visibility is an asset - but without good digital hygiene, it can quickly become a vulnerability.
Why Digital Hygiene Matters More When You’re in the Public Eye
If your name, face, or role is visible online, your personal information is already a target—whether you're a journalist, lawyer, activist, academic, influencer, or executive.
People are Googling you. Scraping your socials. Watching your routines.
And while being visible may be part of your job, being exposed doesn’t have to be.
At FFA Security Group, we support high-risk and high-visibility individuals with tailored digital hygiene strategies. Here’s where to start.
What Is Digital Hygiene?
Digital hygiene is the ongoing process of managing your online presence to reduce risk, protect your privacy, and stay in control of how you're seen, found, and contacted.
Think of it like brushing your teeth - but for your personal data.
7 Things You Should Lock Down Immediately
1. Google Yourself Thoroughly
Use private/incognito mode and search:
Your full name + job title
Your name + past cities
Any old usernames or email handles
Check what’s visible - especially on page 2+ of search results.
2. Audit Your Social Media
Make personal accounts private. Remove geotags, old posts, and identifiable details like your child’s school, local gym, or daily routines. Review tagged content.
Turn off “let others find you via phone/email.”
3. Stop Posting in Real Time
This one’s simple: post after you’ve left. Don’t broadcast where you are. Real-time sharing creates predictable patterns that others can track.
4. Limit Searchability
On LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram:
Disable public profile indexing
Limit who can find you by phone/email
Turn off “who viewed my profile” where possible
Remove contact info from bio sections
5. Scrub Data Broker Sites
Services like 192.com, PeopleFinder, or Whitepages may have your address, phone number, or relatives listed. Use their opt-out forms to request removal.
6. Check What’s Stored in Old Accounts
Old blogs, gaming handles, forums, and shopping sites may still show your info publicly. Use JustDeleteMe or manual searches to close unused accounts.
7. Review Your Domain Registrations
If you own a personal website, podcast, or business domain, ensure your WHOIS data is protected. You don’t want your home address publicly listed via your domain registry.
Real Talk: Why This Is Urgent
Digital exposure can lead to:
Harassment and stalking
Impersonation or identity theft
Doxxing or targeted disinformation
Unwanted contact at home or workplace
Reputational damage from outdated content
You don’t have to be “famous” for this to happen. You just have to be findable.
What a Professional Digital Hygiene Audit Covers
At FFA Security Group, our audits go beyond privacy settings. We assess:
Public exposure via search engines
Risks in metadata, profiles, and photos
Account security habits and vulnerabilities
Behavioural patterns that create visibility
Options for data suppression, monitoring, and control
We then create a tailored action plan you can implement - quietly and effectively.
Final Thoughts
Being visible should never mean being vulnerable.
You don’t need to go off-grid. You just need to get smart about what’s visible, and to whom.
Protect your work. Protect your identity. Protect yourself.
Want Help Locking Things Down?
Contact us for a confidential consultation. We’ll help you assess your exposure, take back control, and move through the world with confidence.
