Protecting your privacy online is one of the major ways of protecting yourself from cyber-attacks.
With Data leaks here and there, the marketing sector is tracking your online activity, shady people exploring your photos shared on social networks, the list is endless…
However, we do not have to consider it impossible, you do have control over your data and in this post, we will show you 10 ways to protect your online privacy and security.
1. Check the privacy settings on your social networks
Your social media accounts contain a lot of information about you and you would be surprised by the amount of data that is visible to any user on the Internet.
Therefore, we highly recommend that you check your privacy settings, it is you who has to decide what information you want to share with complete strangers and which with your friends, or even, what you want to keep just for yourself.
2. Do not keep your private information in public storage
Beyond networks, do not use online information exchange services to store your private data.
For example, Google Docs is not the place to store a list of passwords and Dropbox is not the place for copies of your passport, unless they are in an encrypted file.
3. Avoid tracking
When you visit a web page, your browser reveals a lot of information about you and your browsing history.
The marketing industry uses this information to understand your tastes and attract you with unsolicited ads.
Sorry to burst your bubble, incognito mode cannot prevent this kind of tracking, you need special tools.
Special tools like a VPN, ad blocking browser extensions, Tor Browser, etc. will help prevent this kind of tracking
4. Keep your primary email address and phone number private
Your reward for sharing your email address and phone number? Much spam in email and hundreds of automated calls.
Although you cannot avoid sharing this information with online services and online stores, do not share it with anyone on social networks.
And consider creating a separate, disposable address and, if possible, a phone number for those cases as well.
5. Use messaging apps with end-to-end encryption
Most modern messaging applications use encryption, but in many cases, they call it encryption in transit, the messages are decrypted at the provider and stored on their servers.
What if someone hacked into those servers? Don’t take that risk, choose end-to-end encryption, this way, not even the messaging service provider can see your conversations.
- Use an end-to-end encrypted messaging app like WhatsApp and Telegram.
- Note that Facebook, Messenger, Telegram, and Google Allo do not use end-to-end encryption by default. To enable it, manually open a secret chat.
6. Use strong passwords
A password length of 12 characters or less won’t protect your online privacy, let alone keep you safe from cyber-attacks.
It’s almost impossible to memorize long, unique passwords for all the online services that you use.
However, with the help of a password manager, you only have to remember a single master password.
- Use long passwords on all websites (15 characters or more).
- Use a different password for each device.
7. Check the permissions of your mobile applications and browser extensions
Mobile applications request permissions to access contacts or files in the device storage and use the camera, microphone, geolocation and more.
Some mobile apps cannot function without these permissions, but others use this information for marketing (or worse).
Fortunately, it is relatively easy to control which applications are allowed. The same is true of browser extensions, which also tend to spy.
- Check the permissions you give to mobile applications.
- Don’t install browser extensions unless you need them. Check the permissions you grant them.
8. Protect your phone and computer with passwords or codes
Our computers and phones store a lot of information that we would prefer to keep private, so protect it with passwords.
These passwords don’t have to be complicated and unique, but they should keep strangers out.
On mobile devices, try a little harder, use 6-digit codes or passwords, instead of four-digit and screen unlock patterns.
For devices that support biometric authentication, such as fingerprint reading or facial recognition, this technology usually works well, but remember that it has limitations.
9. Disable notifications on your lock screen
Protecting your phone with a long and strong password is not just enough, you have to stop or prevent notifications from showing on your lock screen.
This way no one can gossip about your business.
If you want notification info to stop appearing on the lock screen, you will need to configure your notifications correctly on your iOS and Android device(s).
10. Keep your privacy on Wi-Fi networks
Public Wi-Fi networks don’t encrypt traffic, so anyone on the same network can snoop through your stuff. Try not to transmit sensitive information (usernames, passwords, credit card details, etc.) on a public Wi-Fi network, and use a VPN to encrypt your data and protect yourself from snoopers.
- If you want to avoid risks, try not to use public Wi-Fi networks whenever possible.
- If you have no other option, use a VPN.
In conclusion, if you find this information help, please let us know and if you have any suggestion on how our privacy and security online can be improved, let us know in the comment section below.
Thank you for reading this post!
Cheers
Hi Dear, are you in fact visiting this site regularly, if so after that you will absolutely get nice knowledge. Janis Bordie Littell
I really enjoy the article post. Really thank you! Keep writing. Melinda Slade Hylton
There is definately a lot to know about this subject. I love all of the points you made. Essy Seymour Sidwell
If you want to use the photo it would also be good to check with the artist beforehand in case it is subject to copyright. Best wishes. Aaren Reggis Sela
The comparison using the tiger as an example was great!God bless You for reaching out to us. Gwynne Nester Mallory
As the admin of this web page is working, no uncertainty very rapidly it will be renowned, due to its quality contents. Gilligan Chic Fronia
Major thanks for the post. Really looking forward to read more. Awesome. Serena Cesaro Acey
This piece of writing is acgually a good one it hlps new web users, who are wishing in favor oof blogging. Catherina Bjorn Terbecki
Merely wanna say thbat this is very beneficial, Thanks for taking your time to write this. Mead Matty Bazil
Some genuinely interesting info , well written and generally user genial. Olivette Gardner Tatiana
This piece of writing is genuinely a good one it assists new internet visitors, who are wishing in favor of blogging. Mavis Dewain Winwaloe
Some truly nice and useful info on this web site, also I think the style and design has good features. Maribeth Tom Oxley
There is significantly a bundle to learn about this. I assume you made certain good factors in features also. Corina Hailey Manton
Fantastic blog. Really looking forward to read more. Really Cool. Gabriel Saul Graves
Pretty! This was a really wonderful post. Thanks for supplying this information. Walliw Mahmoud Taryn
Wow! At last I got a web site from where I know how to actually get helpful information regarding my study and knowledge. Raf Derril Summers
Awesome! Its genuinely amazing paragraph, I have got much clear idea on the topic of from this post. Karlene Bev Delora
I’m glad you love it!
Hi, I do think your site could possibly be having internet browser compatibility issues. Aprilette Pincas Friedrich
Ok, I’ll check it out
Thanks for pointing that out!
Hi mates, its wonderful post on the topic of cultureand fully explained, keep it up all the time. Layney Deck Gader
Wonderful, what a website it is! This blog provides helpful facts to us, keep it up. Hazel Page Mair
Thanks, I’m glad you loved it.
Comments are closed.