Today when everything revolves around digitalization, it’s high time to take our internet privacy seriously. This is because cybercriminals are taking over the internet, and their attacks are on peak. It is evident that now we have to keep ourselves safe and secure on the web.
Online privacy protection requires some effort, and this protection will keep your info safe and confidential, the way it is supposed to be. Online privacy can also play a role in preventing you from strangers that can trace your location.
Here we have listed 5 top tips to protect your online privacy in this era of cybercrime;
Keep your devices up to date
We easily ignore those irritating alerts that remind us of the latest upgrades, but these alerts have a significant purpose. Thousands of new cyber malware attacks are released almost every day, which is why it is becoming essential to protect your devices by keeping them up to date.
Moreover, it not only your online privacy that will benefit from updated operating systems and apps, but you also look forward to better functionality, improved features, and an enhanced user experience.
Using a VPN
Linking your devices to a Virtual Private Network (VPN) redirects all the device-related traffic through a safe and secure encrypted channel. By doing this, all the malicious providers that are after your online activity will not be able to access your data.
A VPN also enables you to view content blocked in some particular countries and even save you money when shopping. While you are connected with a VPN, the third parties can only see that specific network’s IP address instead of an actual IP address. Make sure you use a VPN when logging on to any unknown public WiFi network, as at these points, hackers are always ready to attack.
Be cautious of online contests, surveys, or guaranteed prizes.
Companies usually ask for your details or email address to ‘unlock’ specific content. Typically giving out your email address may not be a huge deal, but in reality, the marketers use your private information to connect you to their ads. They may even sell your personal information to other companies to earn profit.
Whenever you come across such situations, think if this service worth it to exchange my email address? What are the chances of winning the prize they offer? In standard cases, you usually don’t win such prizes, but the marketers will for sure your information to earn money in the future. If you really want to enter the contest, use any secondary email address instead of the primary one.
Examples of these contests include random Facebook surveys or gaming apps that promise you a reward every time you fill in your personal information.
Don’t share your location online, and make sure your GPS is off.
Sharing is satisfying. Imagine, who wouldn’t like to show off their fancy outing on Instagram or how fulfilling their vacation was?
However, this sharing makes it easy for third parties to track your location, which can be a real cause of any physical harm. For instance, Pokemon Go players were mugged and lured by certain armed robbers who were pretending to offer unusual Pokemon.
Therefore, it is better to ensure that your phone’s GPS is turned off and you don’t permit the apps to access your location unless required. This will help in reducing your digital footsteps.
Don’t interact with any suspicious emails
No matter how properly you protect your email address, you will receive spam mail occasionally; the art lies in how you deal with them.
The first thing that you should be doing is deleting any such emails. If you open or click on any of the links given in the email, you are giving an open invitation to malicious attacks on your device and privacy.
Avoid replying to spam emails, as this makes your email provider think that you consider these emails useful, and hence they won’t be labeled as spam in the future. Make sure you click ‘report spam’ for any such emails not recognized by your email service. As well as install reliable antivirus like Avast or Avira.
These are some top tips to help you in protecting your online privacy. You cannot wholly eliminate cyberattacks, but you significantly reduce them by following such advice.
