How much do you know about the modern internet? The amount of hours we spend online in a day is unaccounted for. With that said, there might be a situation where you’re simply Googling “the best countries to visit” or “the top 5 best security apps to use” and click on any search result page that you think has the best results. It might seem just as simple as that, but there is a lot for you to stay clear of.
Metaphorically speaking, with the number of websites you visit in a day, you might not be aware that almost 80% of them log user data. Some sources might be liable to store data for staying in touch or for advertising their products, even after the user has left the website. However, there are some websites that steal or track user activities and store their data, misusing it in any way they deem as fit.
That is why internet privacy is such a necessary means while using the internet in 2021, or for years to come. But, what is internet privacy? We know it’s the protection of users and their data online, but that is just a small piece of the puzzle.
Let’s talk about it more in detail.
What is internet privacy?
Internet privacy, or better yet, known as online privacy, is a degree of protection that a user needs while they’re actively connected to the internet. It can cover a vast variety of objectives, like protection of financial data as monitored and stored on banking apps, or the personal information you send out to the internet when signing up for social platforms like Facebook or even Instagram. Even while using communication apps like WhatsApp, Messenger, or Google mail etc. your data can still be at a high risk.
What can go wrong if cybersecurity protection to online privacy isn’t taken?
There is a lot that can go wrong online. The rate of cybercrimes have spiked to newer and faster heights. Protection of privacy and data online is needed now, more than ever. You will find attacks ranging from phishing scams to malware attacks through vicious codes or viruses, identity theft, financial takeover, computer fraud, and the list is unending.
The need for online privacy stems from a number of reasons, but the adequate measures that need to be taken are far smaller in comparison. However, that doesn’t mean that nothing can be done. There is a lot that one person does to prevent your online privacy from being at risk.
So… why is online privacy necessary in 2021?
If you thought that the rate of cybercrimes was high back in 2016-2019, then imagine the spike in 2021. The pandemic caused major ruckus in all walks of life, including our digital world. Hackers or cyber attackers are coming up with newer and more advanced ways to compromise user data, and security, putting bigger dents in online privacy. Even though with age comes more and more advancements in security, there are still apps that are quite vulnerable.
What do we do to protect our online privacy?
Internet privacy is extremely crucial, but will have to be taken better care of by personal means. For starters, most internet users adhere to privacy and security software like an anti-virus, password managers, Ad-blockers to increase online privacy. Most users nowadays go for privacyonline VPN services. They’re probably now some of the better ways to protect your online privacy, whether it be from website data logging, or ISP surveillance.
For example, there might be a lot of streaming services you can have access to while in the US or online freedom without censorship, but the USA is one of the largest countries where online monitoring and data logging is at an all time high! To protect yourself against these atrocities, you just need to connect to a US VPN server, and thebestvpn go about your usual routine. The same applies for users in other countries.
On the other hand, there are other ways to secure your online privacy. You can make better and stronger passcodes, switch them up on various apps, disable tracking options, and go through an entire website’s security policies before signing up, and so on.
However, despite there being quite a number of measures you can adopt for online privacy and protection of data, it still comes with a few risks. You might think that using a VPN or an anti-virus can leave you invincible online. That is not going to be the case if you land with the wrong software.
There are many security software that claim to offer the best services or that they’re extremely reliable, but that doesn’t mean you should trust just any source. Most security software also log user data and invade their online privacy. That’s another thing to look into. You need to be careful of which app you settle with.
Here are a few tiny tips:
Look for authentic names or sources
Make sure that the link is the right one, do your research.
Look up other user reviews and experiences
Make sure to go through all privacy policies and the kinds of data they collect
Look for a country of origin, see where the software house is located. It plays a big part
To conclude
The digital age is constantly changing, and regardless if you’re online only for a few minutes to an hour, you still need to come up with measures that strengthen your overall internet privacy. This guide shows you a few more popular ways for you to take active precaution, but a little more reading can take you a longer way.
