It all started on a typical Tuesday morning. I opened LinkedIn to check my notifications, only to notice a connection request from someone I didn’t recognize. Curious, I clicked… and immediately felt uneasy. Their profile was sparse, but the mutual connections made it look legitimate.

That’s when it hit me: my professional data, my network, my posts, even my contact info was more exposed than I thought. I realized I’d been scrolling, posting, and connecting for years without thinking about who could see my information. And in today’s digital world, that’s a risk I couldn’t ignore.

Step 1: Locking Down the Front Door

The first thing I did was secure my login. I turned on two-factor authentication (2FA) under Settings & Privacy: Sign-In & Security. Now, even if someone guessed my password, they couldn’t get in without my phone.

Next, I updated my password to something long, complex, and unique i.e a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. I even started using a password manager. Suddenly, logging in felt safer, and I knew I was no longer leaving the door unlocked for intruders.

Step 2: Controlling Who Sees What

Then came the scary part: my profile visibility. My email, phone number, and connections were all visible to the public. I went through my settings carefully, hiding personal contact info and limiting connection visibility to Only Me. I also adjusted my activity and post settings to Connections Only, so only trusted contacts could see my updates.

It felt like tidying up a messy house, everything suddenly had a place, and I knew who could see what.

Step 3: Being Mindful About Sharing

I also realized that every post or upload added to my digital footprint. I went through old resumes and removed unnecessary personal data, making sure nothing could be misused for advertising or AI training. I even checked my login history regularly, so I could spot suspicious activity early.

It wasn’t about paranoia, it was about awareness. And it gave me peace of mind.

Step 4: Privacy as a Business Principle

For businesses, LinkedIn is more than a platform; it’s a trust-building tool. Collecting data responsibly, obtaining consent, and limiting information to what’s necessary protects not just your users but your brand.

Taking Control Was Worth It

That small Tuesday scare became a turning point. In just a few minutes, I transformed my LinkedIn profile from exposed to secure. I realized that digital privacy is a mindset, not a one-time task.

At Evvo we believe everyone deserves that confidence. By helping individuals and businesses take charge of their digital identities, we’re building a safer, smarter, and more trustworthy digital world, one connection at a time.