Online scam, cyber fraud, digital arrest, phishing and sextortion are some of the common terms that people get to hear on a regular basis in today’s hyper-connected world. Your every click, search, and share leaves behind a digital footprint that could be exploited by hackers through various means if not managed properly. It has come down to a scenario where safeguarding your privacy online is no longer optional and has rather become an essential and pro-active exercise.
How to protect your privacy online?
An individual’s privacy on the internet depends on the person’s ability to control the amount of information that they provide and others who have access to it.
While performing various tasks online, people receive sensitive information like IP address, your email address, current location or even home or work address.
According to a blog by Microsoft, governments and businesses gather data whenever a person sets up an online account, takes part in a survey, makes an online purchase, surf the web, download software, post on social media or use apps on computer/smartphone.
Account and password security
According to the National Cyber Security Centre, people should keep their emails protected by using a strong and separate password. The email becomes a prime source for scammers to gain access to your personal accounts, thus making people vulnerable to identity theft.
Use a strong password: People should try to use a mix of alphabets, numbers and special characters to generate a password for their emails and social media accounts. Also, there are several tools available online that can help in generating and keeping a backup of all your passwords.
Enable two-step verification: This adds an extra layer of security that makes it difficult for somebody to gather your personal details even when they somehow manage to gather the password of your accounts. Whenever you try to open your account on a new device, this process requires you to confirm your identity by sending a code on your registered mobile number.
Update passwords on a regular basis: Just like the bank mobile applications, where people are required to change their login password after every few months, they should consider the same process for emails, social media and other accounts as well.
Safe browsing practices
The University of Oxford recommends multiple ways through which people can protect their privacy online.
Securing web browser: Web browsers quietly store specific information in the form of cookies and browsing history that might be used by advertisers and spammers to commit fraud. People can secure themselves online by adjusting the “private browsing” options in the browser. It is available across Chrome, Firefox and Safari among others.
Disable cookies: In simple terms, these are small text files that a website stores in the browser. This is helpful in recalling a person’s preferences and remembering actions taken. Although they don’t affect the device, cookies might threaten your privacy. Users are recommended to disable access by third-party cookies and delete them permanently from time to time.
Blocking pop-ups: Several browsers now help people in blocking unwanted pop-ups that might link to a malicious website. This can be done by making changes in the settings.
Moreover, WhatIsMyIP.com suggests people to try and restrict their browsing to HTTPS sites only. This ensures encrypted communication between your device and websites.
Also, it said that people should enable a Virtual Private Network (VPN), especially when using public Wi-Fi. VPN uses a secure end-to-end encryption – the data from devices gets encrypted to the connecting server point through a tunnelling protocol.
Device protection
There are various practices through which people can keep their devices (mobile, laptop, PC and more) safe and secure, especially if they are being used by children.
Install antivirus software: Antiviruses and firewalls play a big role in preventing malware and unauthorised access to devices. These products detect, quarantine/delete malicious code from the devices to prevent malware from causing damage, as per the National Cyber Security Centre. Most of them are enabled to update themselves automatically to provide protection from the latest viruses.
Update software: Regularly updating your device to the latest versions helps in gaining access to latest features and improvements. Also, regular updates patch vulnerabilities in operating systems and apps. Do make sure that your devices have ‘automatic updates’ turned on as this makes it easier and faster to apply updates on time.
Enable encryption: According to Google, encryption stores the data in your devices in a form which can only be read when it is unlocked. Encryption adds protection in case the device gets stolen.
Set passcodes: Always make sure that your devices, including laptops and smartphones, have passwords enabled to gain access. This helps you in preventing others from getting physical access to devices.
Review app permissions: Avoid granting unnecessary access to your location, contacts, or microphone to various applications.
Following this essential digital security checklist allows people to reclaim control over their online presence.