Enjoying content on the web doesn’t mean you forget about your privacy. You need to follow precautionary measures if you don’t want hackers to steal your data and track your identity.
Many people think they need to be “nerds” to stay safe online. However, contrary to popular belief, you don’t require coding skills to conceal your identity online. Keep reading this blog to find seven easy tips that can help you hide your privacy online, even if you’re not a computer geek.
1. Hide Your IP Address
Your IP address allows websites and internet providers to identify you online. If you don’t want unwanted people to find your information, you can search for “how to hide my IP address” to stay on the safe side.
Hiding your IP address will allow you to mask your location from where you access the internet. Doing so will also help you access the geo-restricted content easily. It will also ensure that hackers cannot break into your computer and steal your valuable data.
2. Sign Out From Websites
Many people have the habit of staying logged onto websites. You might not want to sign out of websites you frequently visit to avoid the hassle of logging in again and again. However, keep in mind that hackers can easily steal your data and perform undesired actions with your account if you stay logged in. A lot of websites use an ID verification service designed to gather customer information, by logging out you protect yourself from being snooped on.
This is why you need to sign out of websites and web applications. Doing so will minimize the chances of hackers tinkering with your account. You should also update your password regularly on websites you visit daily.
3. Stay Safe on Socials
Oversharing your information on social media is never safe. If you have set your posts to “Public” on social platforms, hackers can easily read your posts and find the information you don’t want them to read.
This is why you need to be very careful about using social accounts. Make sure you never share anything on social media that can enable hackers to access your data. Follow the social media safety practices to keep your account safe and avoid hacking attempts.
4. Avoid Sharing Your Personal Information
Even if you don’t spend hours and hours on social media, you still need to be cautious about sharing your information online via forums, etc. Keep in mind that every single online portal or forum is vulnerable to security threats.
You should avoid sharing your personal information online at all costs if you don’t want hackers to steal your data. Never fill in any forms or respond to emails you receive from unknown people. Instead, only share your data with trusted people when asked.
5. Adopt Safe Browsing Habits
It’s important for you to remove your search history and cookies regularly. Doing so ensures that anyone who gets their hands on your web browser cannot find out your personal details and credentials you don’t want to share.
You have to avoid surfing any websites that you find sketchy. For example, if a website is claiming to offer a free gift in exchange of your personal information, it’s best to avoid such a website and report it to the authorities.
6. Rely On a Secondary Email Address
You don’t necessarily have to use your primary email address for all online activities. For example, if you are going to create an account on a new website or order something from a store, you should rely on your secondary email address.
Using a secondary email account gives you the freedom to perform online activities without risking your primary email account. Make sure you never use the same passwords for your primary and secondary accounts. It’s better to use a separate mailbox to access your primary email account to stay on the safe side.
7. Keep Your Payment Details Safe
When shopping online or browsing the web, the most important thing you need to do is to keep your payment details safe. Online scammers can easily steal money from a user who makes their account details public or doesn’t store it safely online.
Make sure you never share your credit card details on a website you don’t trust. It’s better to use a virtual debit card when shopping online to avoid risking your real credit/debit card.
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