How to Protect Your Privacy Online
How to Protect Your Privacy Online
If the Internet were a physical location, it isn’t likely that you’d spend much time there. Too much secrecy, the prevalence of crime, and fears about viruses and other invasive forces would make the physical location of the Internet an undesirable piece of real estate. However, you can take steps to protect your online privacy without much effort. Here are nine solid methods of maintaining privacy and security while you’re on the Internet.
1. Use Encryption Tools
There are so many easy to use email and data encryption software and services that not using an encryption service is foolhardy. Most encryption software is designed to run on all types of computers and operating systems, and the most valuable encryption software will work perfectly with your email product of choice. Good web based encryption services create secret codes that hide your information from people trying to get a peek at your identity details. While encryption is not impossible to crack, in most cases it would take a hacker years to crack your code. They’ll simply move on to an easier target.
2. Don’t Leave Your Computer Online All Day
If you don’t set up your web connection properly, you’re asking for privacy trouble. The most popular form of Internet connection today is DSL or a broadband cable modem — since these connections are meant to be up and running constantly as opposed to old school phone line connections, it is best to turn your Internet connection or your computer off when you are not using it. The truth is that your average home PC has little in the way of defense against invasion over the Internet. Hackers or system crackers are always on the lookout for unattended cable connected home computers, and make quick work of invading them and raiding their personal details.
3. Change Your Web Browser Settings
Too often, privacy issues come up simply because your web browser’s security settings aren’t properly setup. if you use the basic browser and settings that came installed with your PC, you could be at risk for identity theft and other privacy concerns. Since many computers come with anti virus and anti spyware software, people assume they don’t need a secure browser. Anti virus software is only good after your computer is infected, so to keep infections from happening, make your web browser less vulnerable by activating stricter security settings in your browser’s options tab.
4. Use Cookie Management Software
“Cookies” are small pieces of information that websites place on your computer, usually temporary but sometimes permanently. They are usually useful tools that help your experience on the web move faster and make your PC more user friendly. Unfortunately, other cookies will be installed on your PC by people looking to mine your computer for personal details. These cookies will store your bank information, passwords, or even to track your motions on the Internet and record details about your web behavior. Since web browsers now allow users to control how cookies behave, setup your browser to alert you to the presence of cookies and deny access to any cookie you don’t recognize.
5. Create an Email Pseudonym
Some Internet activity draws the attention of people who want to steal your details. When you make posts to bulletin boards, mailing lists, or any public space, your email address becomes vulnerable to spammers and scammers. To combat this, only post to public sites from a fake email account, one that doesn’t include any personal details. Public spaces on the Internet are constantly monitored by online junk mailers who add these addresses to their email lists. If you want less spam in your email inbox, keep your email address as private as possible.
6. Be Wary of Internet “Friends”
The Internet is a great social tool, but some people use that social aspect for not so nice purposes. Since the Internet moves fast, and relationships often blossom in very little time, it is much easier for a criminal to befriend a person and steal their personal details on the web than on any other medium. While it is good to be friendly online, remember that you don’t know the real identity of an online personality. Unlike in the real world, the Internet doesn’t provide you with any details about a person other than their online persona.
7. Don’t Send Private Information from Work
Internet connections are work are almost always monitored. If you are discussing a privacy sensitive issue via email with a friend, you may not want to do so at work. Don’t say anything from your work computer that you wouldn’t say in front of your boss. Besides potentially getting you fired, you could be revealing sensitive details without realizing it.
8. Don’t Fall For Identity Theft Traps
Often, people trolling for personal identity emails will build websites that promise some sort of cash reward or special prize . . . if only you’d put your address and social security number into the textbox and hit “send”. This is akin to handing your housekeys to a stranger. Don’t fall for it.
9. Never Respond to Email Spammers
If you’ve spent any time on the Internet, you can tell the difference between spam and actual communication. Some people think hitting the “unsubscribe” button at the end of a piece of unsolicited mail will solve the problem, but it is more likely that proving to a spammer that you are an active email user could make your problem worse. Most importantly, don’t take a spammer’s offer, and don’t respond to emails from people you don’t know.
You wouldn’t walk around a shopping mall wearing a t-shirt with your personal details emblazoned on the front of it — why should your Internet activity be any different? Protecting your privacy online is as important as shredding mail that contains private information or keeping your front door locked. Identity theft is a real threat, especially on the Internet where anonymity and secrecy make a perfect environment for criminals. Follow these nine simple steps to protect your privacy online.