Marketers and hackers can gather a lot of information about you through your web browsing and social media activity. But don’t despair: there are steps you can take to safeguard your privacy online.
Your best bet for online safety is limiting access to personal data, setting secure passwords and keeping antivirus software updated. Here are our favorite tips for staying safe online.
1. Use Strong Passwords
Your passwords are essential for everything online – from accessing email to bank accounts – but scammers are out to buy, steal or hack those passwords.
Strong passwords are one of the best ways to safeguard your privacy online. Weak passwords such as “password1” or “12345” should never be used – an effective one should include letters, numbers and special characters for optimal protection.
2. Set Up a VPN
VPNs can be an invaluable asset in protecting your online privacy. By encrypting data, they make it indecipherable by hackers and even your internet service provider – providing an extra layer of protection and peace of mind when browsing online.
Hackers pose a real threat when they break into ISPs or companies you utilize and steal passwords, personal details or payment data from you. A VPN also prevents ISPs from restricting your speed when you hit your bandwidth/data limit.
3. Use a Firewall
With more personal details about you available to scammers and fraudsters, it will become easier for them to steal your information or breach into your accounts. However, many devices, browsers, apps, and sites feature customizable privacy settings which make thievery less likely.
Firewalls monitor incoming data packets and compare them against a list of rules to determine which are acceptable or should be rejected, blocking access to websites and services which don’t belong.
4. Change Your Passwords Regularly
Password security is key to online privacy. Be sure to regularly change and safeguard your passwords, keeping them as safe as possible.
Change your passwords whenever a device or service you rely on experiences a breach, to reduce the chance that stolen passwords might end up on dark web marketplaces.
Soltani stresses the importance of taking steps every day to protect our privacy online, in addition to following relevant regulations.
5. Change Your Browser Settings
Surfing the web reveals a wealth of personal data about you and can provide hackers with ample opportunity to exploit your device, steal data or launch cyber attacks against you.
To maintain your privacy, adjust the browser settings so as to limit how much of your information is shared with companies and friends. Consider switching to an encrypted web browser like Brave or Tor for added protection.
6. Install Antivirus Software
Internet security aims at safeguarding computers and laptops against hackers; privacy covers similar aspects but refers to legal data collection practices.
Numerous web browsers regularly release updates to add new features and plug security gaps, so it’s crucial that these updates be installed immediately.
Spyware can steal personal information like passwords and credit card numbers, take you to suspicious websites or slow down your computer. Antivirus software can detect spyware and block it.
7. Use a Password Manager
Many browsers provide password managers, making saving usernames and passwords for easier access more convenient, but often without sufficient protections in place. Keeper is an independent password manager designed to secure your data by default.
Even when individuals take precautionary steps to secure their data, companies can still become compromised and their information stolen for questionable or even fraudulent use. Therefore, it’s essential that individuals know their privacy settings and review them frequently.
8. Delete Your History
Clearing your computer history means wiping away any trace of digital breadcrumbs left by online activity on your machine, thus protecting it from hackers or anyone with access who might snoop around to see what has been going on online.
Consider investing in an advanced online protection suite with identity monitoring, theft coverage and restoration for optimal privacy protection when using public or shared computers. To protect your identity further, invest in identity theft coverage.
9. Use Incognito Mode
Switching on Incognito mode prevents websites from tracking you with cookies, small pieces of code that allow companies to see where you travel on the web in order to compile digital dossiers and serve targeted ads.
Protection also serves to stop anyone with access to your computer or device from viewing your browsing and search history; however, this does not prevent websites from saving form data such as usernames.
10. Use a Privacy-Focused Web Browser
An internet browser designed with user privacy in mind is one of the best ways to safeguard online security. These browsers have proven their dedication to prioritizing it with features built specifically to safeguard it.
These features include encryption of DNS queries to protect against eavesdropping, blocking third-party cookies and limiting how much data websites collect; they may also include features like Incognito Mode.
Staying current with your privacy-focused browser ensures you can benefit from all the latest security enhancements and privacy features.