Selectively redacting digital footprint information in order to improve computer data security

摘要

A computer-implemented method improves a computer system's security through use of a simulated digital footprint. One or more processors retrieve a historical digital footprint of a user. The historical digital footprint is a record of past digital data about the user, and describes a pattern of activities of the user. The processor(s) generate a simulated digital footprint for the user. The simulated digital footprint conforms to the pattern of activities of the user, and describes simulated current activities of the user. The processor(s) transmit the simulated digital footprint to the public while a current real digital footprint is being created for the user, such that use of the pattern of activities of the user provides an imperceptible transition from the historical digital footprint to the simulated digital footprint, and where the simulated digital footprint prevents the public from accessing the current real digital footprint of the user.