Why: Companies and websites track everything you do online digital privacy . Every ad, social media button, and website collects information about your location, browsing habits, and more Details. Collected data reveals more about you than you might expect.
You may think you’re smart, for example, by never announcing your medical problems or sharing your religious beliefs on Facebook, but chances are the websites you visit regularly provide all the data advertisers need to accurately identify your type of person. This is part of why targeted advertising remains one of the most disturbing innovations on the Internet digital privacy .
As: Browser extensions like uBlock Origin blocks ads and the data they collect. The uBlock Origin extension also prevents malware from running in your browser and gives you an easy way turn off ad blocking when you want to support sites you know are safe.
Combine uBlock with Privacy Badger, which blocks trackers and ads don’t follow you as often. To further slow down stalker ads, turn off interest-based ads Apple, Facebook, Googleand Twitter. Many websites offer means to opt out of data collection, but this must be done manually.
Simple rejection includes direct links to opt-out instructions from major sites like Netflix, Reddit, and more. This will not eliminate the problem completely, but it will significantly reduce the amount of data collected.
You should also install HTTPS everywhere expansion. HTTPS Everywhere automatically redirects you to a secure version of the site if the site supports it, making it difficult for an attacker, especially if you’re using public Wi-Fi at a coffee shop, airport or hotel, to digitally eavesdrop on what you’re doing.
Some people may want to use a virtual private network (VPN), but not everyone has to. If you frequently connect to a public Wi-Fi network, a VPN will come in handy as it adds a layer of security to your browsing when HTTPS is not available.
It can also provide some privacy from your ISP and help minimize tracking based on your IP address. But all of your online activity still flows through the VPN provider’s servers, so when you use a VPN, you’re choosing to trust that company, not your provider, to store or sell your data. Make sure you understand the pros and cons first, but if you want a VPN, Wirecutter recommends IVPN.
