As per one survey, around 32,7% of US internet users said they’d experienced a social media or an email hack. The Internet is a world of its own—the virtual world. You can meet many great people on the Internet, but it involves many dangers too. Many cybercriminals are looking to steal your personal information for malicious activities.
Cyber threats have dramatically increased due to the current COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT). With that said, you can significantly improve your privacy by taking a few preventive measures.
How To Maintain Your Privacy On The Internet
Cybercriminals target younger generations because they’re more vulnerable to attacks. It’s essential for you as a young person to listen carefully and implement authentic privacy advice. Here’re some internet privacy tips that you need to follow as a responsible young adult:
1. Use A VPN
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) uses powerful technology to keep your internet protocol (IP) address and identity safe. It blocks hackers from tracking your browsing habits and websites you consistently use. Some VPN services are free, while others come at a price. Learning how to use a VPN can take your online privacy and security to the next level.
2. Update Your Social Media Privacy Settings
Many young users don’t know about the importance of using social media privacy settings. Facebook and other social media platforms allow users to hide their private information from strangers and potentially dangerous people.
Go to the settings of each social media platform and change your privacy settings to keep your information safer. Finally, it would be best if you never shared your social media passwords with anyone.
3. Clear Your Browser History And Cookies
If you don’t want internet marketers and other companies to use your browsing habits to target you for their marketing campaigns, you can clear your browser history and cookies. Do a search on Google, ‘how to clear your browsing history,’ and follow the instructions.
4. Install Internet Security
There are many top internet security solutions to help protect your computer from viruses and other malicious attacks. Experts highly recommend you to have reliable internet security installed on your computer. Additionally, you should also get security apps for your smartphone.
5. Be Careful When Interacting With Strangers
Don’t wholly trust strangers, regardless of how convincing they are in your opinion. You must not share your personal information, photos, and other critical information with them. Also, never engage in intimate talk with strangers, as there are many love scams on the Internet.
6. Create Strong Passwords
Having a strong password can prevent it from being cracked. Make use of symbols, numbers, and a mixture of uppercase and lowercase letters.
7. Know The Time to Log Off
It isn’t enjoyable to log in every single time, but it’s unsafe to always be logged in on many websites. If others use your computer or smartphone, always make sure you log off once you’re done using websites.
8. Posting On Social Media Is Permanent
Be careful of what you post on social media platforms. Deleting your social media posts won’t remove it completely, and it stays there forever.
Many people might see and reuse your posts. If you apply for work, your new employer will visit your social media accounts.
Some people post family vacation photos on social media platforms. It will indicate to people your house is empty for the time being. That is just one example; always be mindful of what you post.
9. Watch Out For Phishing Scams
Don’t click on every link you get in your email. You may think it’s from your bank or your friend, but it could be a phishing attack. Corporations will only contact you via email if they’ve vital information to share with you.
Some links might get past your security settings, so it’s not a good thing to click on email links. If you click on email links, check out the website’s name carefully and examine their extension (.com, .org, etc.). If it doesn’t look or feel right, leave the website immediately and do a full scan of your computer using your internet security software.
10. Don’t Reveal Personal Information
There’s a trend among youngsters to share every milestone on social media platforms. It’s not a problem to share your joy, but it doesn’t mean you should share your personal information. For instance, sharing a new driving license can be of use for thieves or burglars.
11. Don’t Forget Connected Devices
The rise of the Internet of things (IoT) makes us forget about connectivity. Your home network connects not only your smartphone and laptop, but also your thermostat, smart doorbell, and other devices. Ensure you’ve got a security solution to offer protection for all your connected devices.
Final Thoughts
The Internet has a massive volume of data flowing in and out of it every day. Even authorities can’t control the flow of the Internet entirely. As a general user, you should be focusing on maintaining robust control of your data.
If you follow the tips in this article, you’re more likely to browse the Internet without leaking your private information. Use a VPN and follow the simple tips mentioned in this article to keep your online activities private and your personal information safe.