Internet privacy is the right to control how your personal information is gathered, stored and used. It also includes the right to be secure and anonymous online. It is an issue that is continually evolving, as technology advances and new threats emerge.
There are many ways to protect your Internet privacy, including adjusting your settings, using different browsers and web-enabled devices for different tasks, creating throwaway email addresses for subscriptions, avoiding sharing music playlists or folders on social media sites (that can be hacked), choosing passwords with a mix of letters, numbers and symbols, and using a Virtual Private Network or other encryption tools. It is important to regularly review and update your privacy settings, especially if companies change their policies. It is also important to properly sanitize and dispose of electronic devices you no longer use, so that personal data is not compromised.
When it comes to your privacy, your data is worth money. That’s why companies like Google track your search history and other activities to deliver personalized ads. Disclosing your age, birthday, employer, home address or other personal details online opens you up to cyber criminals, bullies and spammers.
The good news is that there are many products and services available now that promise not to collect, share or sell your information – and most of them are free. It is also a good idea to get involved in laws and policies that impact Internet privacy, advocating for those that support it and boycotting those that don’t.