Protecting Your Privacy In The Digital World

We live in a digital world, and there’s no way of avoiding it. Technology has entered every part of our lives, and while we couldn’t imagine life any other way, one of the biggest problems it has brought with it is protecting our privacy. Keeping your personal data secure is more of a challenge than ever, and when some of the largest and most secure companies get hacked, it shows just how clever these cybercriminals are. No one can promise that it will never happen to you, here are some things you can do to lowers the risk of becoming a victim of hackers.

Update Your Software

When an update is reeleased for your software, make sure to implement it as soon as possible. Often, these updates contain things to plug security issues, and by not updating them you are leaving your device more vulnerable.

After you have run the update, make sure that your privacy settings have not been affected, and put them back to how they should be if they have been changed.

With most digital devices, there is the option for updates to be run automatically and this is not a bad idea if you can be forgetful about these things.

Password Managers

Password managers work by creating and storing hard-to-hack passwords for all your online accounts and tech. You do need to log into each account for the password manager to do its work and that can take some time. But over a short period, you can have all your accounts with passwords that are very secure indeed.

Cleanse The Web Of Your Personal Info

There will be more personal information about you online than you realize. Every Tweet, Instagram post, work-related upload or online record you have ever published will now become your legacy on the internet; this is a scary thought, isn’t it? If you are worried about how much personal info you have put out in the past, you can actually use companies who provide a personal data removal service to anyone who wants to cleanse the web of personal stuff. This will put you in good stead for future employment, and help you rest assured that there isn’t unwanted information about you online.

Block Unwanted Websites

At some point, most people get website pop ups that they’d rather not see on their computer. The way to stop this is to block them from opening on your device. If you are unsure what to do, read up on how to block websites on Mac, Windows or whatever operating system you use, as there is plenty of information out there to help to keep your computer more secure.

Prioritize Privacy

Every time you download a new app or buy something online, you’re typically asked to verify your email address, to give your phone number and other personal data. You should be wary of who you give information to, as this data is often being collected and sold to other companies. What some people have done is set up an email account that is just for their apps. It does not get used for anything else, and very few personal details are connected to it.

There are also things like your smartphone tracking where you’re going. Why should the likes of Google and social media companies need to know your location? Turn off the location pin in Settings, and only turn it on when needed. In fact, you should have all your privacy settings on the strongest available and if that upsets the way an app runs, consider if that app is really one you want to keep. If it is, you can just lower your privacy settings when you want to use it, and strengthen them again afterward.

Privacy is a real concern these days, and there are too many ways for companies to get hold of your data and pass it on to others. You are not being paranoid trying to keep your information secret; you are being sensible and reducing the risk of being a cybercriminal victim.