With just a little bit of digging, anybody can find sensitive information about you online, including your email address, your phone number and even your physical address. Hackers are one step ahead of online privacy laws, and there aren’t many tools meant to help protect consumers against these threats. Here are our top tips on how to keep your personal information safe and secure from the public eye.
1. Set up two-factor authentication (2FA) on important accounts.
The concept behind two-factor identification is simple and effective: It confirms your identity using two factors instead of one. Accounts such as online banking and Google have adopted this method to keep your accounts safe. This way, even if someone figures out your password through a break or hack, they still won't be able to gain access to your account and take over.
2. Change your phone settings to block unnecessary location tracking.
Did you know your phone tracks your location? You can change that simply by going into your phone’s settings. However, many mobile apps are also tracking your location, even if they don’t need to. You can go into your settings and turn off any tracking unless absolutely necessary.
3. Audit your social media.
Nowadays, so many of us put our lives up on social media. As much as we love sharing our highlights with our friends and family, it not only poses a privacy/security risk, but a reputational one as well. First, update your social media privacy settings to limit what information the sites are collecting and who can see your posts. Next, audit your post history to make sure you don’t have any posts that could be unprofessional or don’t present you in an accurate or positive light.
4. Use encrypted messaging platforms whenever possible.
Platforms such as WhatsApp offer encryption and are more secure than standard text messaging/emailing. However, if you're looking for something with added security and protection, Telegram and Signal are also great options to consider.
5. Use a password manager.
It’s important to use a unique, secure password across all your accounts. Use a password manager to make this process way easier so you don’t need to remember hundreds of unique codes.
These were our top tips on how to protect your privacy on the internet. Happy surfing, and stay safe!
