Do you ever think about how much of your private information is out there online? Probably not, but it’s something you should be assessing regularly. Online privacy is an important issue and one that has become a recent topic of conversation.
With the amount of information we share online it may seem a tough task to keep hold of your online privacy, but there are steps you can take to help protect your financial and personal information while you spend time online.
Here’s our 5 tips to boost your online privacy:
1. Secure all your mobile devices
These days we spend more time surfing the web, answering emails, and watching videos on our smartphones than we do on our laptops. It’s important, then, to put as much effort into protecting our online privacy accross all these devices.
To start, always use a passcode to lock your device. It might be a little annoying to enter a code every time you want to access your laptop, tablet or smartphone but this passcode could offer an extra layer of protection if it is lost or stolen. Make sure your passcode is complex and never use your birthdate, house number, or any other code that thieves might be able to guess.
2. Use a all-in-one security solution
Cybercrime is a reality of todays connected world, so ensure you install a trusted security solution on your devices. Don’t ignore updates either. These updates often include important protections against the latest viruses, spyware and ransomware. If you continue to ignore them, you could be leaving your operating system and programs vulnerable to attack.
3. Generate strong passwords
Just like on your devices, creating strong passwords for your online accounts is vitaly important. Whether your banking, shopping or on social media, having secure individual passwords for each login can help prevent others from accessing them in your name. Never write down your passwords or use the same ones for different accounts you have.
One great way of securing your passwords is by using a password manager. This will help to safeguard your logins by generating complex secure password strings and allow you easier access by storing them safely in one place for you ready at the click of a button.
4. Use a VPN
Using a virtual private network (VPN) when you access public Wi-Fi helps give you online privacy and anonymity by creating a private network from a public internet connection. They mask your Internet Protocol (IP) address so your online actions are almost invisable. A VPN will make it more difficult for cybercriminals to breach your online privacy and access your personal information.
VPN’s also have some extra benefits like allowing you access content on your favourite websites and apps as if from the security of your own home while also helping prevent companies from tracking your online activities or location by encrypting the information you send and receive.
5. Limit the personal information you share on social media
Be careful not to overshare on social media. Giving too much information in your status updates or posts on social media could make it easier for cybercriminals to obtain identifying information, which could then allow them to steal your information or to access your financial information.
You don’t have to let people know everything in your life — which could make you an easier target, so explore different privacy settings and the amount of information your actually sharing.
How can I better protect myself from online privacy threats?
Protecting your online privacy across all your devices seems like a large undertaking but there is a service that can help –
NEW Norton™ 360 Deluxe is a security solution that gives the user multiple layers of protection against existing and emerging cyberthreats ‒ in one single solution that’s easy to use.
It provides real-time protection for your PC, Mac®, iOS or Android™ device to help protect against viruses, phishing and other cyberthreats. Plus, Norton Secure VPN adds bank-grade encryption to help secure the information you send and receive on Wi-Fi connections.
Also included is Norton Password Manager – providing the tools you need to generate and store all your passwords, credit card information and other information online. Norton Cloud Backup for PC helps store important files ‒ from documents and family photos to financial data ‒ as a preventive measure against the loss of data due to hard drive failures, stolen devices and even ransomware. Norton Safecam for PC will also alert and help you block unauthorised access to your webcam.
With this range of tools in NEW Norton™ 360 Deluxe at your disposal and keeping in mind our privacy tips, you can be better positioned to take control of your online privacy in the connected world.