Maintaining privacy in our current electronic time is a time-consuming process. Many people, without thinking about security, involuntarily or independently leave personal data on dozens of websites.
Keep Your Personal Information Safe with These Tips
Entering your personal data, such as phone numbers, your name, and email address, leaves your mark on the Internet. Many advertising companies, websites or intruders use this information to achieve their own goals.
There are quite a few important points about which users either do not know or do not pay attention. In this article, we will tell you about nine methods that directly affect the real privacy of your data on the Internet.
Don’t Let Websites Know a Lot About You
Without urgent need, do not leave your personal data on forums or websites such as physical address, place of work, phone number and other identification information. The website owner may sell your personal information to another company or if their website is hacked by attackers, they may be able to obtain your confidential data.
For added security, distort real-world information about yourself. Use a fictitious name instead of a real one, do not write a real phone number and email address. Following this advice, you formally fulfill the requirements of the website, but do not disclose your personal data.
Remove Your Online Footprints
While on the Internet, you navigate through websites whose listings fall into your browser history. It stores your personal viewing information, which everyone can see, and clogs the memory of a PC, tablet or smartphone.
For these reasons, we recommend periodically clearing your browsing history. The easiest way to do this is by going to the settings and choosing an option that best suits you, but clearing upon closing your browser is highly recommended.
Do Not Use an Account
Large search engines such as Google require you to create and use their account. This gives you access to many features, such as email or search results. In this case, simply cleaning your browsing history will not save your information from prying eyes.
We recommend logging out of your account after you have finished browsing the Internet. Thus, no one else will be able to gain unauthorized access to your account and see the search history.
However, the best and most effective way is to logout of your account before you start your search on the Internet. This way you won’t leave a record of your browsing history on the web and keep your searches confidential.
Pay Attention to What You Download
Each of us more than once has faced the need to download a program from the Internet, but not everyone thought that along with the downloaded program, various malicious programs could also get into your computer. Currently, you can easily download a free movie for children, but at the same time add unwanted malware to your computer that will steal all your passwords and card numbers.
Use official sources to download information on the Internet. For example, the most reliable way to get a program is to download it directly from the developer’s website. It is only necessary to make sure that this is not a copy of the official website. Such cases are often found on the Internet.
Be Careful on Social Networking Sites
Try not to post personal data and confidential information on social networks. Attackers can easily take over your personal information and harm you with the help of your own data. For example, they will be able to take possession of your email, get an answer to a secret question to get a password or get a credit card in your name.
Set your privacy on social networks so that your information is not accessible to strangers. Also, do not post personal or financial information.
Beware of Scammers
Internet fraud is one of the most common types of criminal activity in our time. You may encounter fake website pages, job vacancies, and people who impersonate your friends. Do not click on the links, open or download files sent by suspicious organizations or friends.
If you receive very advantageous offers by email about some kind of winnings or opportunities, which you should use, then you should first think about it. In most cases, fraudsters disguised as a legitimate source want to steal your data or infect your computer. Be careful.
Remove Your Personal Information From the Internet
Have you searched for your identity in search engines? You will be surprised, but the Internet knows a lot about you, which means anyone can get this information. Fortunately, you can protect yourself in the ways described above.
However, if you find information that divulges your sensitive data, you can delete it. It is not difficult and does not take much time.
Protect Your Devices by Installing Antivirus
A firewall protects your computer from many threats from the Internet, but antivirus software will be a great addition. Scan your computer periodically to detect hidden malware. Also, do not forget to update the operating system of your computer and mobile phone in a timely fashion as these updates often provide protective measures.
However, remember that an antivirus is only one of the security levels. No antivirus program is perfect, as evidenced by independent testing. If you are not careful, you can become infected with malware, even if you use antivirus software.
Be Careful When You are Online
Additional tips that will protect your personal data:
– Do not access online banks and other important services through open Wi-Fi networks in a cafe or on the street. Use your mobile internet.
– Be careful when communicating online with strangers as they may not be who they say they are.
– Carefully check link addresses, logos, text, and the sender of messages.
– One of the best things to do is to use a VPN or proxy server for added security.
