Whether filling out online forms, using social media or just browsing the web, you are constantly giving up personal information to the Internet. This data is collected and stored, analyzed and then sold or used for marketing purposes. It is important to always be aware of how you are sharing your information and understand why it is being collected. It is also important to consider how the information will be used and if it can be linked back to you.
The most common internet privacy threats are tracking, data exploitation and cyberattacks. Hackers and criminals can use data breaches to steal your identity, credit card info and more, while government agencies (from police departments to the CIA), tech giants like Google and Facebook, and ad networks all collect and share information about your behavior on the Internet.
Internet users are often unaware of what information they are handing over to websites and apps, which can be exploited for various reasons. The most common are tracking, ad targeting and long-term data collection.
To protect your privacy, use a VPN to encrypt your Internet traffic, which will prevent ISPs and snoopers from spying on you. Avoid apps that ask for access to your camera, contacts or microphone, and make a habit of reviewing and limiting these permissions on a regular basis. Also, clear your browser cookies and history on a regular basis. You can do this in Chrome by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Del or in most other browsers by selecting the “clear browsing data” option. Also, try switching to search engines that do not collect your data, such as DuckDuckGo.