When on the internet you leave behind virtual footprints. These footprints if they fall into the wrong hands can be used to track your online habits or even glean your personal information. The information you leave behind on the internet is PERMANENT. Users can sometimes have up to 10 online identities, while you may not enter all your personal details in one place it is the footprint you've left through your entire online experience which can be gathered and collated. You may enter your Name on one site such as Facebook while on another you've left your Birth date. A profile with your personal details could then be generated with some nasty results. These could include identity theft, credit card fraud and online harassment.

To help prevent this problem please do the following,

1. Install Security Software - These would include Anti Virus and Anti Spamware software, also a firewall.

2. Use a strong password - One that has a mixture of letter and numbers, also be a minimum of eight digits long.

3. Mark your profiles as private - The more people that have access to your information the more likely you will run into problems.

4. Only share your primary email with people you know. Create alternate email accounts for newsboards, shopping and for community networking sites.

5. When filling in online forms ask yourself how much information you should be providing.

If you do fall foul make sure you do the following,

-Notify relevant financial institutions and websites

-Change your passwords