Online Privacy – 10 Simple Tips For Improving Online Privacy

Online privacy is important because it allows people to remain anonymous and keep their personal information from being shared with others. It also allows people to control how their information is used and who has access to it. Staying anonymous and secure while using the internet is hard and that’s why we listed 10 simple tips for improving online privacy.

1. Use 1.1.1.1 DNS

1.1.1.1 is a public DNS resolver operated by Cloudflare. It is one of the most popular and fastest resolvers available.

To use 1.1.1.1, you can configure your network settings to use the 1.1.1.1 DNS resolver. Alternatively, you can use the 1.1.1.1 app, which is available for iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS. The app will configure your device to use the 1.1.1.1 DNS resolver and will also block ads and trackers.

2. Use Tor Browser

Improve online privacy with Tor

Tor Browser is a free, open-source browser that routes your traffic through multiple layers of security, making it even harder to track your online activity. Tor network is also designed to make it very difficult for anyone to spy on your traffic.

3. Have Strong & Separate Passwords

Using the same password for all of your online accounts is convenient but not a good idea. If one account is compromised, all the other accounts could easily be taken over immediately by anyone. Using a password manager helps you create and manage strong, unique passwords for all your online accounts, making it much harder for anyone to hack into your accounts. I recommend you use Bitwarden because it is open source and it can be deployed on your server if needed.

4. Use two-factor authentication

Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security to your online accounts by requiring you to enter a code from your phone or another device in addition to your password. Authy is a popular 2F software available for all popular operating systems.

5. Be careful what you click on

Phishing attacks are a common way for hackers to try to gain access to your accounts. Be careful what you click on, even if it looks like it’s from a trusted source. It is the most common tactic to steal data and get access to secure systems.

6. Keep your software up to date

One of the best ways to protect your computer from viruses and other malware is to keep your software up to date. On Linux, all software downloaded from the Snap store can be automatically updated. Similarly, apps installed from Appstore / Playstore get updated when connected to WiFi.

7. Avoid unnecessary browser extensions

Secure browser extensions can help block ads and trackers, and some can even warn you if you’re about to visit a malicious website but some browser extensions may collect data about your browsing habits in order to sell this information to third-party advertisers. It is important to carefully read the privacy policy of any browser extension you install to determine what information it collects and how it is used.

8. Don’t overshare on social media

Be careful what you post on social media. Hackers can use information like your birthdate, hometown, and interests to initiate targeted attacks using social engineering. Once something is posted, it can be difficult to remove it. Think twice before posting anything online.

9. Use a secure messaging app

If you want to keep your messages private, use a secure messaging app like Signal or WhatsApp. These apps encrypt your messages so that only the intended recipient can read them. Encrypting your devices will help you a lot if you ever lose your device because the messages are only encrypted during sending and receiving. Messages in devices are stored unencrypted that’s why I strongly recommend users encrypt their devices.

10. Be aware of public Wi-Fi

When you’re using public Wi-Fi, be aware that anyone on the same network can see what you’re doing. Avoid doing anything sensitive, like online banking or shopping, on public Wi-Fi. It is often unsecured, which means that your personal data (including passwords, financial information, and browsing history) could be intercepted by third parties.

Conclusion

Protecting and improving your online privacy needs active effort and should not be relied completely on software. Take advantage of all the tools that are built to keep your online activities private. If you are using Firefox consider checking this post where I listed 10 must-have firefox add-ons to protect your privacy online.

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