Everything from our web browsing to mobile devices and the Internet of Things (IoT) products installed in our homes have the potential to erode our privacy and personal security, and you cannot depend on vendors or ever-changing surveillance rules to keep them intact.Having 'nothing to hide' doesn't cut it anymore. We must all do whatever we can to safeguard our personal privacy. Taking the steps outlined below can not only give you some sanctuary from spreading surveillance tactics but also help keep you safe from cyberattackers. See also.Known as PII, this can include your name, physical home address, email address, telephone numbers, date of birth, marital status, Social Security numbers (US)/National Insurance numbers (UK), and other information relating to your medical status, family members, employment, and education.Why does it matter?
All this data, whether lost in different data breaches or stolen piecemeal through phishing campaigns, can provide attackers with enough information to conduct identity theft, take out loans using your name, and potentially compromise online accounts that rely on security questions being answered correctly. In the wrong hands, this information can also prove to be lacking a moral backbone. Browsing habits and website visitsInternet activity is monitored by an Internet Service Provider (ISP). While there is little consumers can do about attacks at this level, the web pages you visit can also be tracked by cookies, which are small bits of text that are downloaded and stored by your browser. Browser plugins may also track your activity across multiple websites.Why does it matter? Cookies are used to personalize internet experiences and this can include tailored advertising. However, such tracking, as shown when the added to a cookie are then used across different services and on various marketing platforms.
Such practices are often considered intrusive.Also:. Today's security threats have expanded in scope and seriousness. There can now be millions - or even billions - of dollars at risk when information security isn't handled properly.Message and email contentOur email accounts are often the pathway that can provide a link to all our other valuable accounts, as well as a record of our communication with friends, families, and colleagues.Why does it matter? If an email account acts as a singular hub for other services, a single compromise can snowball into the hijack of many accounts and services. Online purchases, financial informationWhen you conduct a transaction online, this information may include credentials for financial services such as PayPal, or credit card information including card numbers, expiry dates, and security codes.Why does it matter? Cybercriminals who steal financial services credentials through phishing and fraudulent websites, who eavesdrop on your transactions through Man-in-The-Middle (MiTM) attacks or who utilize card-skimming malware can steal these details when they are not secured.Once this information has been obtained, unauthorized transactions can be made, or this data on to others in the Dark Web. 1 - 5 of 9 Medical records and DNA profilesA relatively new entrant to the mix, hospitals now often make use of electronic records, and home DNA services store genetic information belonging to their users.Why does it matter?
The loss of medical information, which is deeply personal, can be upsetting and result in disastrous consequences for everyone involved. When it comes to DNA, however, the choice is ours to release this information - outside of law enforcement demands - and it is often the use of ancestry services that release this data in the first place.Also: What is being done to protect this information?
More on GDPR.Businesses that handle data belonging to their customers are being scrutinized more and more with the arrival of regulatory changes such as the EU's, designed to create a level playing field and stipulate adequate security measures to protect consumer privacy and data.Companies will often encrypt your information as part of the process, which is a way to encode information to make it unreadable by unauthorized parties.One way this is achieved is by using SSL and TLS certificates that support encryption on website domains. While usually a paid service, also offers free SSL/TLS certificates to webmasters who wish to improve their websites' security. (Unfortunately, this has also led to the by fraudsters.)is also becoming more popular. This form of encryption prevents anyone except those communicating from accessing or reading the content of messages, including.Following Snowden's disclosure of the NSA's mass surveillance activities, end-to-end encryption has been widely adopted by many online communication services. Privacy advocates may cheer, but governments and law enforcement agencies have not rejoiced at the trend - and a political battlefield has emerged between tech vendors and governments that are attempting to enforce the inclusion of.It is up to us to make use of any privacy-enabling technology we have at hand. Below are some guides with simple steps to get you started.Also: CNET Browser basics and TorSearching the web is a daily activity for many of us, and as such, it is also a hotbed for tracking and potential cyberattacks.The most commonly-used browsers are Google Chrome, Apple Safari, Microsoft Edge, Opera, and Mozilla Firefox.
However, you should consider using Tor if you want to truly keep your browsing private.The is an open-source browser that is privacy-focused. A virtual private network enables users to send and receive data while remaining anonymous and secure online. In this directory, we look at a few of the very best commercial VPN service providers on the Internet.A virtual private network is a way to create a secure tunnel through the inherently insecure internet. Data packets are encrypted before they are sent to a destination server, which also results in IP addresses and your location becoming hidden.
Many VPNs will also include a 'kill switch' that cuts off.