10 tips to protect your online privacy and security

Online privacy is the level of privacy and protection of an individual connected to the internet and refers to the level of internet security for personal and financial information, conversations, and interests. Anti-virus software, powerful passwords, shutting off surveillance, checking site security, and selecting stronger security settings are common ways for internet users to increase their online privacy. Phishing schemes and viruses are among the threats to online privacy, while website security issues can lead to identity theft.

What is online privacy and security?

Online privacy is a broad topic that encompasses how others utilize, acquire, exchange, and archive your personally identifiable information. Whether it is on your computers or devices, or while surfing the web, online privacy applies. Your smartphone, Geolocation, and other devices can capture personal details about your activities, purchases, and whereabouts, which companies often share with third parties. Users of the internet and mobile devices get the right to inquire about how apps use their data and to see privacy policies. But companies can always be dishonest about their activities and not to mention the privacy policy is a tedious legal document to read.

Online Privacy

You are mostly alone when you are scrolling through your favorite social networking app by yourself. Others are, however, "watching” or ‘tracking" you. You are a data point that someone is following, even if they are not in the same room. These same things also track you and target you with advertisements that constantly interrupt your videos, reading, or surfing habits. Although it may seem like you are alone and private, the truth is far from it.

As a result, the term "online privacy" encompasses your natural (and justifiable) desire to get your private details secured and your online conduct untracked when you are online. At least when it is not without your explicit permission. But, exactly, what does "personal data" imply?

Personal Data

Any identifying information about an individual is personal data. Personal data consists of many pieces of information that, when combined, can identify a specific individual.

Online safety satisfies out the natural desire for safety. Protecting your house and your assets comes naturally to you, so do the same with your digital life. Privacy provides you control over your identity and everything that you are, regardless of what technology you are using. However, because things are not as tangible or apparent to everyone, most people do not consider online privacy a top priority. Furthermore, internet privacy is difficult to achieve because of the various technical, legal, economic, and sociocultural factors.

Why online privacy and security is important?

Doxing, extortion, fraud, and online bullying are just a handful of the real, "offline" threats which can happen to a person who has exceptionally low online privacy. 

You do not want burglars to know that you live by yourself and when you are out of your home, it allows them to break into your flat because of your internet privacy. You do not want to offer scammers the opportunity to obtain a loan on your behalf using your birthdate and other personal information. There is no reason you should fall victim to harmful emails and extortion. But you need online security to ensure that you do not install malicious software that can steal your data or harm you.

Internet privacy is essential because it allows you to maintain authority over your personal data. Anyone with the will and means can use your identity to fulfill their goals. What you publish on social networks, what you write in website comments, or how well you safeguard your data all have an impact on those nearest to you, whether they be relatives, acquaintances, or colleagues.

10 tips to stay safe online

As a result, whatever you do to protect your privacy does matter. Huge data leaks, advertisers following your every online move, fishy people looking through your social media images, the catalog of online irritations is endless. It is not all doom and gloom, though: you do indeed have full control over your data if you have enough knowledge about it. Here is how you can improve your online privacy.

Social Media’s Privacy Settings

If you already have social media profiles, you should know that these sites reveal a great deal of information about you. And it should shock you to find out how much of that is public by default. That is why we strongly advise you to review your privacy controls, and to do so regularly. It is entirely up to you to determine what information you feel the need to disclose with random people versus your colleagues. And if you choose to stay completely private, you are well within your right to make that decision.

Prevent Using Insecure Cloud Services

Oversharing is not just a problem on social media. Do not save your personal information on online services designed for sharing information. For example, unless you encrypt your passport scans, Google Drive is not the greatest place to keep them, and neither is Dropbox the best place to save your passport images. Do not store your personal information on these services. Google Docs is not your personal password storage spot.

Avoid Tracking Whenever Possible

Whenever you access a site, your browser reveals a lot of information about yourself and your browsing history. Marketers use this data to create a profile about you and approach you with advertisements. You will need to utilize specific tools if you want to avoid tracking in Incognito mode. Use Turbo VPN for high security, full anonymity, and security. We will talk more about it later on.

Keep Your Credentials Private

What is in it for you if you provide your e-mail, phone number, and address? Thousands of automated calls on your phone and tons of junk in your e-mail inbox? Even if you cannot resist providing personal information to online services and retailers, do not share it with strangers on social media. Also, for similar situations, try having a different, disposable account and, if available, a separate phone number.

Create a second e-mail account and get a second number used for internet purchases and other scenarios that demand you to share your personal information with strangers and untrustworthy services.

Using apps with end-to-end encryption

Many new messaging apps include encryption; however, it is often encryption in transit. In these systems, decrypted messages are store on the service provider's servers. What if someone hacks those servers? Do not take that chance; instead, choose end-to-end encryption, which ensures that no one, including the messaging service provider, can view your communications.

Use a messaging app that offers end-to-end encryption, such as WhatsApp or Signal.

Use Strong Passwords

Using weak and common passwords to secure your personal information is the equivalent of shouting it to passers-by. It is impossible to remember lengthy and different passwords for every single service that you use. Which is why you should use a trustworthy password manager if possible. You will just have to remember a single master password.

Whenever possible, use long passwords that include capital letters, special characters, and numerals. And always use a separate password for every service.

Review apps and browser extension permissions

You must grant permission to mobile apps to access contact information or files in phone memory, as well as to use the camera, mic, location, and other features. You require specific rights for various jobs, but advertisers and other companies use these to create a digital profile of you. Fortunately, controlling which apps get which rights is pretty simple. The same is the case for browser extensions, which have their own nefarious surveillance tendencies.

Keep your devices secure with Passcodes

Password-protect your phones and computers since they store a lot of sensitive information. Anything that you would rather keep private from strangers should be behind a password. These passwords do not need to be complex or one-of-a-kind, but they do need to keep intruders out. Instead of four-digit codes and screen-lock patterns on mobile devices, use six-digit PINs or genuine passwords.

Do not use public Wi-Fi

Because most public Wi-Fi networks do not encrypt communication, anybody on the very same network can attempt to eavesdrop on your communications. Avoid sending important data over public Wi-Fi, such as login details, credentials, and credit card details. Instead, use Turbo VPN to protect your data and safeguard it from watchful eyes.

Use Turbo VPN

We can take a lot of different steps to ensure that our online activity is safe, but a VPN provides a layer that is impossible to replace. Organizations, companies, governments, and law enforcement agencies across the world user VPN services to ensure online security and privacy.

Because you cannot trust your internet service provider or any other number of malicious individuals to not violate your privacy when your data is moving from one place to another. Turbo VPN ensures that your real IP address stays masked and hidden. Even the websites you are accessing will not be able to use it for geo-location because they will only see Turbo VPN’s own servers.Turbo VPN ensures maximum security and privacy at an affordable cost. With applications for every major operating system, you can ensure your online activity stays completely private no matter what