Purpose: Helping You Manage Your Digital Footprint & Protect Your Privacy

As you use your computer, it naturally keeps a record of your activity to make your experience faster and more convenient. This includes things like your web browsing history, lists of recently opened files, and search queries. This trail of activity is your “digital footprint.”

This health check is a privacy wellness tool designed to help you see and manage this digital footprint. It is an automated scan that looks at the traces and histories that your computer saves.

IMPORTANT: This check does NOT read the content of your files, emails, or messages. It only looks at metadata, like file names in history lists, the size of temporary file caches, and the status of your Windows privacy settings. The goal is to empower you to clean up this data to enhance your privacy and improve system performance.

How it Works: Looking for Digital Breadcrumbs

Think of this scan as an automated tool that checks for “digital breadcrumbs” left behind in common areas. It assesses:

• File & Application History: Scans lists of recently opened documents and programs (e.g., in Office, Quick Access).
• Web Browser Traces: Checks the size of your browser history and temporary internet files, which can grow very large and contain a detailed record of your browsing.
• Search & Command History: Looks at saved history from the Windows search bar and the “Run” command box.
• Temporary & Leftover Files: Identifies large collections of temporary files that applications create but often fail to clean up.
• Saved Passwords & Credentials: Checks the Windows Credential Manager for any stored passwords, which can be a security risk if a device is compromised.
• Windows Privacy Settings: Reviews your main Windows privacy settings (e.g., for location, advertising ID, and data sharing with Microsoft) to see if they are configured in a privacy-conscious way.

What Your Results Mean

This check provides a summary of your device’s privacy hygiene.

Status	What It Means	What To Do
Good Privacy Hygiene(Pass)	Your digital footprint is minimal. Your history lists are small, temporary file caches are clean, and your privacy settings are well-configured.	No action is required. You are doing a great job managing your digital traces.
Action Recommended(Warning)	Your digital footprint is visible. The scan found one or more areas with significant history, large data caches, or privacy settings that you may want to review.	Our report will provide you with specific, actionable recommendations. You are in full control of this data and can choose what to clear. See the tips below.

Actionable Recommendations: You are in Control

If the scan finds areas for improvement, it will give you specific, easy-to-follow suggestions. Common actions include:

• Clearing Browser History & Cache: Deleting the history, cookies, and cached files from your web browsers.
• Managing Windows Privacy Settings: Going to Settings > Privacy & security to adjust what data is shared.
• Running Disk Cleanup: Using the built-in Windows “Disk Cleanup” tool to safely remove temporary files and other system clutter.
• Clearing Application “Recent Files” Lists: A good practice for managing file history.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is IT reading my personal files or browser history?

• No. This is an automated scan that checks for the presence and size of history files and settings. It does not collect or report the content of those files to IT. The goal is to inform you about your data so you can manage it.

Why does the company care about my temporary files or browser history?

• There are two reasons: security (outdated temporary files can sometimes be a vector for malware) and performance (large history caches and thousands of temp files can slow down your computer).

Will I be in trouble if my report shows a lot of issues?

• Absolutely not. This is a wellness tool, not a disciplinary one. Its purpose is to help you maintain good digital hygiene, just like we recommend keeping your desk organized.