MyRecon OSINTX public post privacy audit
Protecting posts on X changes who can read them, but it does not undo every earlier disclosure. Existing followers retain access, screenshots can persist, and links to shared media may behave differently from the post itself. This self-audit uses X's own visibility guidance and a check of your public handle to identify the settings and material that need attention.
Key takeaways
- Public X posts are broadly viewable by default; protecting posts narrows their audience but retains access for existing followers.
- Review old screenshots and media links separately because changing a post's visibility cannot retract every prior copy.
- Use MyRecon to find public references to your own X handle, and verify each original page before linking accounts.
Identify your current post audience
X says new accounts have public posts by default; public posts can be viewed even by people without an X account. Check your account's Protect your posts choice rather than assuming an old selection is still in place. If you enable protection, future follower requests require approval, but followers accepted before the change still have access unless you remove or block them.
Audit old posts and media links
X explains that protected posts are visible to followers and generally leave public X and third-party search, but people may have captured them before the change. X also warns that links to media shared in protected posts are not themselves protected in the same way. Review your own high-risk old posts and links, then decide whether deleting or editing source material is warranted.
Check the visitor view and external copies
Open your own profile while signed out to see the public presentation of the handle, bio, image, and post access. Search your own handle with MyRecon and open original third-party pages before assuming a result is your account. MyRecon's Android app is free without signup, but the Play listing is in closed testing for now, so public installation may not yet be available.
Avoid a false sense of reversal
X says changing protected posts back to public makes previously protected posts public. Before reversing the setting, review whether old posts include details you no longer want widely visible. Record what you checked and when, since a search provider may not immediately reflect an X-side change.
Check a public username
Use accounts and identifiers you own or are authorized to review. A matching username is a lead, not proof of identity.
Frequently asked questions
Who can see my posts after I protect them?
X says protected posts are visible to your followers, including followers accepted before protection unless you remove or block them. Those followers may still capture or share what they see, so protection is an audience control rather than a guarantee against copying.
Are links to media in protected posts private too?
X warns that links to media shared in a protected post are not protected in the same way as the post; someone with the link may still reach the media. Review sensitive media at its original location, not only through your profile timeline.
What happens if I make protected posts public again?
X states that unprotecting posts causes previously protected posts to become public. Review your older posts before changing this setting so a past disclosure does not unexpectedly become broadly visible again.
Sources
Review your public footprint with MyRecon
Put this guide into practice with a public username self-audit on your own accounts or accounts you are authorized to review. Check every candidate at its source. The Android app runs a username sweep from your phone and labels uncertain checks as unknown.
Core app tools are free and need no signup. The Google Play listing is in closed testing, so only eligible testers can access it until public release. View MyRecon on Google Play.