How to Protect Your Digital Privacy

Nowadays, everything happens online. We might not be aware of the exposure to hacker attacks, collecting personal data, and malware. Keep in mind that every action online can be used to tell sites about your habits and preferences. And let’s not forget about leaking passwords and data breaches. Protecting your digital privacy is an essential step if you want to prevent some problems in the future. 

In this guide, we reveal the key steps that will help you protect your information. They are simple but will give you peace of mind. Also, we will suggest some useful tools for protecting your digital privacy. Make sure not to miss this post!

Secure your online accounts

Even large companies such as Facebook and Yahoo were subject to hackers. Hackers have tried to steal passwords, so your account might be the target.

To make sure that your account is protected, use a password manager. This way, you will generate strong passwords for each one of their accounts. Tools such as Secrets can help you develop strong passwords and monitor breaches. Also, they save the entered passwords so that you don’t have to enter them the next time you log in. Setting up a password manager might take you time and effort, but it will pay off in the long term. 

The two-step authentication is another safety measure that you should consider. Social media and banks have already added this option for security. The process consists of two steps that requires two separate, distinct forms of identification in order to access something. The first factor is a password and the second commonly includes a text with a code sent to your smartphone, or biometrics using your fingerprint, face.

Web browsing protection

Online sites track all of your online actions. The sites you regularly visit can tell a lot about you and your habits. This information is used to display targeted ads about products that you will likely be interested in.

There are special browser extensions that block ads and prevent them from collecting data. Kaspersky Internet Security is a great option, as it also blocks malware. If you want to be fully protected from malware, make sure to check suitable options. 

Another helpful tip is to disable ads from social media and Google. All of these sites do offer options for disabling the process of collecting data. However, this might be hidden somewhere in the settings page and require you to do it manually. 

HTTPS Everywhere is another useful extension that directs you to the secure version of the site. This helps you use a public Wi-Fi network and prevent hackers from stealing your data. A Virtual Private Network will also give you protection, so choose a reliable one to provide privacy. 

Install good antivirus software 

Viruses were once the most significant problem when using computers. Nowadays, people forget that they still exist. Among the other security threats, we should pay attention to viruses because they can do different kinds of damage. Stealing your personal information is one of them, so it is better to stay protected. If you share your computer with a few members of your household, you need good antivirus software. 

If you want to stay protected from viruses on Mac, check suitable security options to protect your privacy and best use of system resources.

Update devices and software frequently

Apps and software developers do updates to improve their functioning. Keep in mind that these updates contain security improvements that you will need to stay protected. The operating systems do automatic updates, but it is better to check if you have enabled this option. Also, don’t forget that you should update the web browsers you are using. 

If you are using smart home devices, make sure to check them too. Most of them do have automatic updates, but it’s better to check it. If they don’t, do a manual update once a month.

To stay protected:

1. Avoid installing suspicious apps or extensions.
2. Make sure always to get them from official stores and reputable companies.
3. Think twice about the app permissions when installing them.

Some apps request permissions that aren’t vital for their functions. For example, your note app doesn’t need access to your location. Make sure to turn off the necessary permissions for each app you use. 

Another significant step is to have your smartphone protected. Use biometrics and complex passwords to secure your phone. Also, make sure to have the “Find my phone” feature enabled on your device.