Online space presents multiple opportunities every day. Because of the internet, you no longer need to have physical meetings. Plus, it offers a rich ground for entertainment, networking, and online jobs.
But wait! Do you know that online space poses significant threats to your privacy? It does, and the best way to handle this is to protect yourself. “But I have no idea how to go about that?” You’re probably asking.
In this article, we’re going to show you what to do. So, let’s dive right in!
1. Be Vigilant on Social Media
Being on social media is fun. And this is one of those places you hang out in to interact with your friends and family. To others, it’s also a good way for networking and creating connections.
As much as these social platforms are beneficial, they also harbor potential internet risks. As you sign up for an account like Facebook, be sure to read all the privacy terms of that platform. Also, while online, be wary of online games that pop up. Some of them are designed to collect your private information. Surprisingly, they don’t stop at that. They’ll also get to the data from your network.
2. Be Picky With Your Browser
There are tons of web browsers on the market that you can use to go online. Nonetheless, not all of them are safe. While some have top-notch security features to protect you, others are more susceptible.
And the simple reason for this: some have online privacy regulations. The purpose of these is to safeguard the privacy of your online data from potential risks. Internet Explorer is more vulnerable; thus, it should be avoided.
Also, while browsing, you can set the privacy controls in your favor. Block any pop-ups that harbor malware, get a warning when visiting a risky website, block cookies from third parties, and turn on the DO NOT TRACK feature.
3. Be Choosy With Your Mobile Operating System
The privacy of online data and information varies with different mobile operating systems. You are more at risk when using Android than iPhone.
It’s also true that iPhones are quite costly. But if you can afford them, they’re much better at protecting your privacy online. For instance, iOS is strict with apps that can be installed.
This is unlike Android, which accepts applications from everywhere and everyone. As you can see, this puts Android devices to more potential threats, such as malware, viruses, spyware, hackers, etc.
4. Avoid Free Software and Mobile Applications
Just because it’s free doesn’t mean it won’t cost you later. Apparently, hackers understand human psychology, and they know how much most people value “FREE” offers. To accomplish their purposes, all they need to do is install spyware and other malware in free software and mobile apps. And once you download it, they can have access to your private data.
You don’t have to fall prey to this strategy. So, always be wary of applications that ask you to grant them access to features like a camera on your phone or computer. It may not be easy to identify free apps with potential privacy risks.
Therefore, the best you can do is delete those you don’t frequently use. Plus, this will help in reducing threat situations.
5. Beef up Privacy Online With a Strong Password
The ideal password is comprised of special characters, upper-case and lower-case letters, and numbers. A combination of all these is a sure way to safeguard your privacy online from potential hackers.
Since one of the online privacy rules is using a password to access some sites online, you have to create a strong one. Also, make sure it’s hard to crack.
Therefore, the best shot at this is using a long-phrase that combines all the above letters and symbols. If your name is Jane and your birth year is 2007, you can use “Jane was born in 2007.”
6. Use Virtual Private Network Services (VPN)
A VPN is one of the safest ways to access the internet. Using a VPN allows you to hide your location, making it impossible to be traced by hackers. The best part is that VPN services are available both for free and at a fee.
Premium versions have better features for maintaining your privacy online, while the free ones have limited functionality. Therefore, you always have options, depending on how much you are willing to spend.
7. Install an Antivirus Software
Hackers are always on the hunt for your personal information. Thus, one of the best ways to protect your privacy online is an antivirus. But that’s not all: make sure it’s updated regularly as the viruses are ever-evolving.
You can get free antiviruses that are effective. However, you’ll need to be quite careful with them. The other alternative is installing paid programs on your phones and computers.
Final Thoughts
Working online is a thriving venture with the potential for growth and lots of opportunities. But that doesn’t mean it’s completely safe from online privacy risks. Thus, to protect your privacy online, you’ll need to be vigilant.
Use any of the 7 tips we have mentioned in this article to maintain the privacy of online data. Also, we’d like to hear from you. What other online privacy tips do you know? Share in the comment section below.
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