How To Protect Your Internet Privacy | 15 Tips

Have you ever considered that what you are using every day: “The internet” How much dangerous it is? How much unsafe it is? How can it severely affect our systems and devices? Yes, it is true! Internet nowadays has become a considerable threat to our security.

No, just it affects severely when used in a wrong way but can cause losses that cannot be mended. Hence it is very much important that we should find out different ways to prevent our internet privacy. If we do not find any ideas on internet privacy, then the threat will increase rapidly.

Many hackers are ready to attack our systems with malware, and if we do not take any steps to prevent this, we will experience significant defaults in our systems and devices.

Hence, this article will discuss some tips briefly in which you can increase your privacy.

Tips to Improve Internet Privacy

Nowadays, as our whole world revolves around our smartphones and our laptops and the internet. It is also essential that we know how we can have a secure internet with privacy. Some steps that can be taken to improve internet privacy are as follows:

1-    Social media privacy

The most efficient use of the Internet is the usage of social media only. Our whole lives revolve around social media apps. We use almost every app on social media (like Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp). But these social media apps also have their own flaws which require privacy.

This privacy can be set by the privacy option that is in every social media app. This privacy option is in the settings on the apps from where you can add the privacy according to your need.

2-    Strong passwords

It is also essential that we set strong passwords for our social media accounts and mobile phones and laptops. It will keep the attackers from hacking into our systems. The stronger your password is, the safer is your accounts.

 Secure passwords consist of letter and number and uppercase and lowercase alphabets. This may form a secure password which would not easily let anyone get into the system and devices.

3-    Do not store private information

It is imperative that we do not store or sensitive and private data on public storages. This is because many times your information may be leaked conveniently to anyone.

For instance, Google Docs isn’t an ideal station to store a list of passwords. Dropbox is not the most excellent place for your passport scans until they are kept in an encrypted archive. Don’t use the services that should be used for sharing to store your private information.

4-    The option of allowing apps

In our phones, whenever we install any new app, we always get an opportunity that asks us to allow media in that app. It means that it asks for our permission that if we want to enable the app to reach our photos or our videos etc.

It is essential that we only give the allowance if necessary, or otherwise we select the option “Do Not Allow.” It is because when we choose not permitting them, they would never have access to the data that we want to keep safe.

5-    Use a VPN on public Wi-Fi

It is also vital that we always use a VPN (a virtual private network) when using public WI-Fi. Public Wi-Fi systems usually do not encrypt transactions. It means anyone on the same network can try to snoop on your traffic.

Avoid transmitting any sensitive data (logins, passwords, credit card data, and so forth) over public Wi-Fi. Use a VPN to encrypt your information and shield it from spying cores. You should avoid using public Wi-Fi’s in the first place only and if you cannot then learn more about public Wi-Fi.

6-  Internet tracking

When you open any site, what the website does is that it takes all your information and feeds it in the system. This way the site will provide you the content you like. This is how the new feed on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube works.

In doing so, the apps take all your details. This might be very threatening as this information and data can be shared anywhere when a site is not secured correctly. This may not often happen infamous sites like Facebook but can occur on other websites, so it is essential that we are prepared for evading tracking.

7- Do not allow sensitive notifications on the lock screen

As we know that whenever a new notification comes, it is directly shown on the lock screen. This makes it easier for us in the sense that we will know who messaged us or emailed us. Also, if it is important at the moment or not. But this is also a big threat to us.

That is because when a notification bings on our lock screen, anyone can see it without even entering the password of the phone. Hence it is visible to anyone, and sometimes an attacker might see it and then use it against us.

8- Do not share an email address or a phone number

It is crucial that you do not share your phone number or your email address with everyone you meet or see. That means that you have to be careful with whom you are sharing that kind of information. Because if the person is not reliable, then you will be under a great threat.

In other words, they can use this data to hack your system and use all the data. It is not very difficult to find a password for a professional hacker after he knows the email or phone number. With your phone number, they can message you, threatening you, or maybe message something inappropriate. Both ways it is not a decent thing, and hence we should avoid extra sharing.

9- Stay anonymous and use HTTPS links

Another essential step that should be followed is that we should try and stay anonymous to strangers on emails and messages.

For example, if you are job hunting and you found a job where you have to email your resume. Then it is important that you email it anonymously so that even if it is a scam, you will not be under great threat.

Similarly, another step that should take when using the internet along with being anonymous is that you should always use and open only the links that have HTTPS. This is essential as the links that have an https are still authentic and may not have any scams.

10-Use an antivirus software

Antivirus software is necessary for any device or system irrespective of its connection to the internet. They are an outstanding way to help prevent online fraud or damage to your device.

Above all, antivirus software essentially helps prevent interruption into a device by an unwelcomed user. It does so by recognizing a device’s weak points and then add strength to those entree points. Moreover, it is significant to use antivirus software so that data stored on a system or a device remains harmless and unreadable to anyone other than the intended person.

11- Apply encryption on messaging applications

It is also another important step for internet privacy that we try to encrypt all our messaging applications. By doing so, we can easily save our sensitive data and stop anyone from seeing the messages that we do not want to show to anyone.

Apps such as Whatsapp and Messenger are the apps that require proper encryption. So, that any data and information shared through the messages remain untouched by an attacker. In addition, they should always have encryption before a hacker decides to attack you.

12. Identity theft protection

Hackers have now found a way to steal your identity through internet services. They try to get all the information about us. By doing so, they can take our identity and use it for their profit like using our bank accounts, etc.

It is essential that we fight these hackers and attacker from such sort of identity thefts. You should make sure that you do not give your information to anyone or enter your passwords and codes in front of others.

13- Use different passwords and always log out

Another way to tackle the attacker and increase internet privacy is that we should not always keep the same password for every account on different sites. This is threatening. If the hacker once sights you entering the password and he knows that all your passwords are the same. Then he will have access to all your account.

Another precautionary step that you should take is that whenever you are using your account on some other device that does not belong to you, then you must always remember to log out of your account. Therefore, it cannot be used again afterward by someone else.

14- Cookie Updates

Cookies are what stores all the information about you and your browsing history (anything that you searched or opened). It actually analyzes your mind and choices and shows you information according to that only. However, the negative part about it is that it can sell this information to a third party. This means that the information may not be safe.

Though not all cookies are harmful. It wages to slightly tug your settings so that if a cookie is installed on your system or device inevitably, you are at least warned. However, it’s an excellent way to know who exactly is recording your online activity.

15- Deactivate GPS and autofill

Last but not least, you should try and keep your GPS and autofill off. It is because, with the help of a GPS, an attacker may easily locate you. Also, it can be very dangerous and threatening as the hacker knows your location and can do anything to your or your family now.

With an autofill, the problem is not the same. But still, you should try and keep it deactivated as it recognizes all your familiar words. Thus, when someone other then you are typing on your keyboard then it will automatically show words that might be your passwords or any other confidential word.

Conclusion

So, now you know all the tips that can save you from the threats of internet privacy penetration. You must try and follow them all so that you can be safe from the attackers that are after your data. Hence, apply all these tips in your real life.