96% of internet users fear online hackers. And it’s for good reason. Online privacy is something all internet users should take seriously so their information doesn’t end up in the wrong hands.
But it can be hard to know the best steps to take to protect your privacy. That’s why we’ve created this guide all about how to protect your privacy online.
Keep reading to learn more.
Secure Your Passwords
First of all, take a look at your passwords. If you have weak, easy to guess passwords, you might as well be shouting your information from the rooftops.
Consider this scenario. You shop at an online retail store and a few months later, they’re database is hacked and your username and password are compromised.
If this is the only place you use that password, it’s not a huge deal. You can go in and change it to avoid future problems.
But if you use this same password on lots of other sites, this is when it’s a big issue. So to avoid this, make each of your passwords unique.
And don’t worry–there are lots of tools out there that can help you manage many different passwords so you don’t have to try and memorize them all.
Be Careful with Free Wi-Fi
Next on our list of how to protect your privacy online? Be careful with free Wi-Fi. Yes, free Wi-Fi is convenient and cost-effective, but in most cases, it doesn’t offer much in terms of personal information security.
It’s possible that anyone else on that network could be stealing your information at any given time. For this reason, never enter a password, credit card number, or your social security number while using public Wi-Fi.
If you do need to use public Wi-Fi, you should use a VPN (virtual private network). This way, your information will be encrypted so no one can see your personal data.
Want to learn more? Check out this article.
Limit What You Share on Social Media
Last but not least, think about what you share on social media. If you’re oversharing on Facebook or Instagram, people will know where you are at any time.
But it’s also important to look at your privacy settings. Often, your information is widely accessible unless you purposely change your settings in the backend of the various social media platforms.
This way, you can control who sees your posts so that they’re not visible to everyone. This is especially important if you have kids.
Check their accounts to make sure their information isn’t available to internet strangers.
Final Thoughts about How to Protect Your Privacy Online
There you have it: the tips you need on how to protect your privacy online. Now that you’ve gone through them, it’s time to implement them in your life. In doing so, you’re taking steps to make sure your personal information is secure.
Want to learn more? Keep browsing our blog.