How to Protect Your Online Privacy
Updated content August 1, 2023
We’ve all been inundated with countless phishing emails, spam calls, and messages from scammers impersonating your friends and family. While websites do their best to prevent data theft and scams, it’s up to each of us to be wary about our interactions online.
Years ago, I remember receiving a suspicious Skype message from one of my coworkers. The message simply contained a link, something along the lines of: http://goo.gle/kristenmollica. Other than the fact that this coworker never messages me, I knew the link was obviously spam. A different coworker wasn't so cautious; the link went to a fishy weight loss site, and who knows what awful malware probably infected her computer. The incident immediately led to a discussion about how all my coworkers use the same password for every website.
Fast forward to 2023, and I’m still having similar conversations with people who either reuse passwords or keep them all written down in a notebook.
Cyber crime is only increasing. Take a look at some recent stats:
There were 493.33 million ransomware attacks reported worldwide in 2022
Phishing scams account for about 90% of data breaches
47% of adults have had their personal information exposed online
Data breaches cost companies an average of 4.35 million dollars in 2022
In the past decade, there have been major security breaches of big-name companies, including Target, Home Depot, Anthem, and PSN—with millions of customers' information compromised.
While the average person can't do much to stop hackers from targeting large companies, there is plenty you can do to secure your information. Check out a few manageable tips.
Use a Password Manager
My coworkers and friends are probably tired of me going on and on about investing in password manager software. But seriously, using the same password for every website is internet insanity. All it takes is a hacker with a password dictionary and some software to crack your password. And chances are you use your email address as your login for dozens of sites.
LastPass was previously praised by many tech blogs. However, recent security breaches have made many users question its reliability. Personally, I prefer 1Password, which is easy to use and keep organized. Currently, it costs $2.99 per month for individual users. Your passwords are stored locally on your computer. If you need it to sync across devices, it will store an encrypted file via Dropbox or iCloud—meaning no one can read the file even if it is compromised. With a beautiful interface and bevvy of features, 1Password has simplified my Internet addiction.
Image from 1password.com
Set Up Two-Factor Authentication
I won't lie; I often find two-factor authentication to be a pain, but it works. Just about every major website offers it: Google, Facebook, Dropbox, Twitter, WordPress... It adds an extra step to the login process, usually inputting a code sent to your cellphone. There's also the option of downloading the Google Authenticator or Authy app to your phone (to name a few), which generates unique codes for each website.
The downside? I hope you never lose your cellphone. And depending on how many websites you log into each day, it can quickly become a nuisance. I would recommend setting up two-factor for websites that have a lot of stored personal data, like email and banking.
Add Privacy Extensions
Adding privacy extensions to your web browser is the easiest of all my recommendations to do. Simply add the extension to your browser and finito! Many probably know about AdBlock Plus. While most are using it simply because they find website ads annoying, the real bonus is that it blocks third-party scripts that send your data bouncing around the Internet.
Previously, I recommended using the extension HTTPS Everywhere, which sent you to a more secure, encrypted version of a website (instead of http://www.example.com). However, browsers now automatically use this format and will warn you if a website doesn’t have HTTPS. If you need to enter sensitive data into a website, only do so if it uses HTTPS.
Disconnect also comes highly recommended, from Tech Crunch to The New York Times. As you surf the web, the add-on blocks invisible trackers and malware, and it's completely free. For added security, get the paid version, which includes a VPN.
Why Should I Care?
So, why should you care about password managers and secure browser extensions? Because identity theft is never going away. Because companies are tracking your every move on the internet and selling your information to third-parties. Because who wants to find out that all their money was stolen or someone has opened up several credit cards in your name? Taking security precautions is not about paranoia. There are countless articles touting the same warnings.
More than 6 million data records were exposed just in the first quarter of 2023. As much as I love the internet, it's not a safe place. While there is no such thing as 100% security, there are numerous steps you can take. Be smart. Browse safely.