In today’s era, it is no exaggeration that the Internet follows us everywhere we go whether we are using a smartphone or laptop or any other electronic device. While this offers us convenience, this also means that we leave behind a huge database of our personal information on the Internet. This personal information which is also known as PII aka personally identifiable information is the information that we create when we use social media, online banking or just websites in general.
It goes without saying that this information is very private and if it gets into the wrong hands, then it could be used for malicious purposes. That’s why it’s important that we protect this information from online intruders or cybercriminals.
The following are some of the best steps to help you safeguard your personal information online.
1. VPN
VPN stands for virtual private network. It’s an online service that encrypts your internet connection so that all your online activities are private and cannot be monitored by anyone. This technology can be used to secure your connection and protect your personal data from intruders or other malicious elements that lurk on the internet.
These days, there are a variety of VPN services available that you can compare. You may even find certain services that are free to some extent. Check the pros and cons of such services in your area and start using the one that fits your budget and needs.
2. Phishing attacks
Phishing attacks are cyber attacks in which cyber criminals try to impersonate legitimate entities, such as banks, government departments et cetera and manipulate you into sharing confidential details such as your online accounts and passwords or banking information.
Generally, the cybercriminals try to connect with the victims through emails or text messages. They insert a malicious link in such messages which when clicked lead to false websites that appear to be genuine websites. Since the victims believe that the websites are genuine, they inadvertently share their personal details with the cyber criminals. This can lead to identity theft, financial loss and even more. That’s why it’s important that you gain awareness about such attacks and think twice before clicking on sensitive links in emails or text messages.
3. Content consumption discretion
An average user accesses tons of websites for use cases such as socializing, education, shopping, travel and more. While there is no harm in accessing common apps or websites, it’s important that the websites you use are of high-quality and respect user privacy. For instance, online platforms or websites that prioritize user privacy abide by widely accepted user privacy regulations and standards. These websites use techniques such as anonymisation or synthetic data generation to saveguard user data while continuing to evolve their websites, user interface, features and services.
So, take a closer look at the list of websites that you visit frequently and check whether they are adopting these practices. Also look at the measures that they have taken to ensure that the user data is confidential and not exploited for financial gains. Ideally, they should be compliant with norms like CPRA or GDPR.
User data is extremely valuable today in the digital realm. That’s why it’s important for both general users that share their personal data online and corporations that collect this data to put a conscious effort to preserve the data at all costs. Remember, failure to prepare is preparing to fail.