How to Effectively Protect Your Online Data
In the modern era, it can sometimes feel impossible to stay protected. Sure, you might have a home security system, a password on your digital devices, and a charged phone in your glove box in case you ever need to call 911 while out.
But does it really matter? After all, with so many cybercriminals and other top-tier digital villains, how can you possibly protect yourself on the internet as well as you do in person?
You can put those fears to rest. There are actually a number of ways to increase your privacy a bit more online. And many of them require nothing more than a few extra clicks.
Take Advantage of VPN Services
Essentially, a VPN is a service that encrypts your IP address. You browse the internet through the VPN service, making it seem like you’re visiting from another state or even another country. Some people just use these capabilities to access content that’s only available in another country. But there’s an even better reason to use it: you can actually protect your digital activity. In fact, it’s one of the most secure ways to surf the web, whether you’re doing it from your phone or your computer.
With a VPN, all the websites you visit and the information you transfer are protected by an additional level of security. You can even use public Wi-Fi to access sensitive information without worrying about hackers or phishers. VPNs have an extremely high level of security, generally higher than even your home Wi-Fi network. Browse without fear by using a VPN every time you log on.
Check the Settings on Your Browsers and Devices
Oftentimes, you can limit the amount of data that websites and companies are able to collect on you just by changing a couple of settings. For example, in Google Chrome, you can automatically delete all cookies every time you close Chrome, effectively wiping your presence from the websites you visited. There are similar options for all major browsers; whether you’re using Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge, or another browser, you can usually check the settings to see what you can restrict.
This is also an important factor when it comes to your devices, especially your phone. Laptops and desktops don’t tend to have many privacy options. But phones are much more integrated with the content they provide. If you’re particularly worried about privacy on your phone, you may want to turn location services off whenever you’re not using them. And you’ll want to check the browser settings for your preferred mobile browser.
Quickly Check Digital Presences
Whether it’s a cute person on a dating app, or a Facebook Marketplace seller looking to buy your used electronics, plenty of reasons exist why you may want to see someone in the offline world after only knowing him or her in the online world. Online, it’s much easier to fake an identity. So, it’s normal to be a bit wary of meeting online individuals for the very first time. When you use a site like PeopleFinders, you just might be able to avoid that worry.
PeopleFinders makes it easier to help you try and determine if you could be in danger when you meet-up with a person. Social media profiles often have the other person’s full name and location built-in. That’s all the information you need to perform a criminal records search. With this quick look into the other person, you may find arrests or convictions, plus other general background information (like bankruptcies, foreclosures, etc.).
Remember, you’re better safe than sorry. If you have a gut feeling that something is “off” about someone, just turn down the meeting.
Keeping yourself safe online may seem like an impossible task, but it’s actually very possible. All you have to do is take some general precautions, and you’ll be able to protect yourself like a pro. Defending yourself is even easier when you have some backup (like PeopleFinders) in your corner.
Even better, PeopleFinders isn’t just limited to helping you try and find useful information about potential threats online. You can always visit the PeopleFinders blog for more ideas on how to use the site to help you make decisions in your everyday life.
And remember, just because something is potentially dangerous, that doesn’t mean you should be completely averse to it. Just take the proper precautions, and it’s likely to turn out just fine.
Image attribution: sarayut_sy – stock.adobe.comTags: Facebook, Online Identity, Online Safety, Safety Tips, Social Media
Categorized in: Digital Identity