For every active internet user, the task of keeping data private is a necessity. If people had an idea that any entity can snoop on their communications and activity, they’d limit their use of the web. However, most internet users possess a false sense of security that everything they do online is private. In contrast, the reality is very different.
Three major actors try to snoop on everyone’s data. The first are hackers who want to sell the information to other malicious groups through the internet. The second are companies that aim to target customers better.
These firms realize that data is a more precious asset than fiat money. Fiat money experiences inflation while data lives beyond generations and can be duly analyzed to predict future events. So, they try everything to land their hands on consumer data.
The third group is the government. They want your data because, well, they’re the government. Data holds power and they’ll stop at nothing to get it, even when they’re infringing on your rights. Below, you’ll find the best ways to protect your data from the aforementioned privacy intruding entities.
Simple Ways to Protect your Information from Third Parties
1. Start Clicking the ‘Install Updates’ Button
When some individuals see the ‘available updates’ pop-up, they tend to treat it as a disturbance. On the contrary, the ‘disturbance’ is meant to keep them safe from hackers. Updating your software immediately will protect data on your device from cybercriminals.
With every new update, there are solutions to newly discovered security loopholes in software. If you ignore these updates, your device’s cybersecurity level gets reduced. This fact holds for every operating system existing.
Update all software on your device which includes your operating system, programs, and software plug-ins. You can set automatic updates on your computer. Some programs contain the automatic updates activation option.
2. Buy VPN Software
This tip is designed to protect your data majorly from the government and companies. VPN or Virtual Private Networks encrypt online traffic flowing through a network. Simply put, a third party will find it difficult to snoop on your internet activity.
Before you browse the internet, connecting to a VPN server will activate that encryption, obscuring what you do from the government. As a bonus, using this tool will also protect you from hackers that hijack public Wi-Fi or home networks. When you secure your data with a VPN, the issue of a hacker spying on sensitive information like login credentials and credit card details become forgotten.
3. Get a Firewall and Anti-Malware Software
Firewalls and anti-malware programs are designed to stop malware from infecting your system. Hackers are learning to evolve malware and that makes it one of the biggest threats to data.
A firewall is the first defense against malware. Most operating systems have inbuilt firewalls so you can simply activate them. If you want extra protection, you can use a firewall that’s built into a network router.
Anti-malware is needed to block malware that gets through the firewall. It is the second line of defense and can also get rid of existing malware on a device. Use anti-malware to run periodic scans on your computer to weed out malicious software.