The Internet has become the premier place to share information and interact with other people in recent years. While getting online can be entertaining and fun, it can also lead to major privacy issues. If you aren’t careful, you could be putting your private information into the wrong hands. Because of the risks that come with being online, there are certain steps that you should consider taking to safeguard your information. Here are a few tips for protecting your privacy online.
Watch for Cookies
Cookies are pieces of information that are stored on your computer from websites. Cookies can be pieces of information like logins or passwords, but they could also lead to privacy problems. For example, some cookies are put into place to get information off of your computer or to track what you do. Your Internet browser should have a feature that allows you to be notified every time a cookie wants to be installed on your system. This way, you can look at each individual cookie as it comes up instead of having things inadvertently installed on your computer without your knowledge.
Editors note: In general cookies aren’t a threat. Find out more here, “web cookies: the good, the bad, and the ugly.”
Use Multiple Email Addresses
Another way to help protect your privacy is to use multiple email addresses online. When you spend any amount of time surfing the Internet, you’ll inevitably be required to enter your email address into various forms to get where you want to go. For example, when you want to sign up for a forum or a site, you will have to register with your email. Instead of using the same email address for all of these different purposes, try to keep one address out of all of these registrations. This way, if the places that you sign up for end up sending a bunch of junk and spam to your email, you can simply avoid using that account. You can give your real email address only your personal friends and contacts that you want to interact with.
Utilize Proxy Servers
In some cases, you may want to use a proxy server to access the Internet. With a proxy server, you essentially gain access to the Internet from someone else’s server. This makes it possible for you to get around blocks of certain websites while at work or on another computer. You can also protect your personal information because it’s like your accessing the site from someone else’s computer. Your I.P. address will not be logged as visiting that site and no other identifying information can be secured about you.
Protect Your Computer
When you are concerned with your privacy, you need to focus on protecting your computer at all costs. In many cases, people download viruses, spyware, malware and other programs that can hurt their computers without even knowing it. Once these programs are installed, they can track your movements, steal your passwords, and get other important personal information. These programs can then send it to scam artists who take advantage of your information in some way. If you are worried about your privacy, you should invest in a good anti-virus program to help protect your computer. Otherwise, you could be at the mercy of identity thieves and hackers who have your personal info.
10 comments
Aasma says:
May 14, 2012
I think proxy servers are best solutions to protect your online privacy, as nobody knows about your real location.
Hwang Keum-OK says:
May 21, 2012
Proxys are indeed most excellent for this purpose, but be careful…. as some IP’s have been labeled as being a part of a “bad neighborhood” by some services, and you don’t want to get a bad reputation by using those.
stan says:
May 14, 2012
Nice tips. I also like to keep Google at bay by turning off personalized search, Web history and searching Google from the https instead of the http.
wilson says:
May 16, 2012
very interesting, an eye opener in fact, you said cookies are put into place to get information off of your computer or to track what you do. Can i ask WHO is wanting that info and for what reason?
Daniel Snyder says:
May 18, 2012
cookies aren’t really a threat. Read this article for more info
Arjun Rai says:
May 18, 2012
Impressive post, these days online security is a big issue and you did a great job through your informative post, i think people should apply this.
Pete Goumas says:
May 20, 2012
If we use computer wisely then we could save ourselves from many problems. To check our computer is not so difficult but all we need is to give priority to those things that help us to work on our computer with privacy.
software as a service says:
May 22, 2012
This is an informative article. I think use the multiple account and protect your privacy.
Sindi says:
May 22, 2012
I admit it, using multiple accounts and email addresses is an effective way of staying secure or something like anonymous or undetectable. Thanks for sharing the other tips I haven’t heard about before.
reeha@inkjet says:
May 29, 2012
privacy and security is main issue these days on Internet however by using some sense we can avoid all these problems such as by implementing your tips and suggestions while using our accounts and PC.