Raise your hand if you’ve ever felt a pang of panic when your phone buzzes with one of those “Your account was accessed from a new device!” emails. Or cringed at super specific targeted ads that seem to know your whole personality. Welcome to the not-so-private world of online life!
Between hacks, breaches, and sneaky data gathering, it’s enough to make you want to ditch technology altogether. But let’s not get dramatic. With a few common sense precautions, you can browse, shop, and post without constantly worrying if your information is secure.
Encrypt All the Things!
Whenever you enter passwords, credit cards, or other sensitive deets, stick to sites with URLs that start with “HTTPS.” That extra “S” stands for SSL (Secure Sockets Layer), meaning you’ve got an encrypted connection protecting the data you’re transferring from prying eyes. We basically refuse to input anything important on sites missing this, no matter how cute those shoes are in our window shopping.
And we all love the convenience of public Wi-Fi at coffee shops or malls. But the info you transmit on those networks is way more vulnerable to hackers. You should disable auto-connect settings so your phone won’t hop on without asking. Cell service or personal hotspots are safer options if you need to do anything serious like online banking in public. Ain’t nobody got time for a stolen identity!
For travel and times, you must use questionable networks; VPNs create encrypted tunnels for your connection traffic. Adds nice privacy!
Oh, and “private browsing” doesn’t equal anonymity. It just skips storing browser history and cookies locally while you surf. Still worth using, though!
Social Media Oversharing Be Gone
Listen, no judgment if you enjoy letting it all hang out on social media! But even for heavy sharers like us, a few privacy tweaks keep our info away from creepers.
We comb through settings every so often to:
- Review tags from friends before posts go public;
- Limit who can message us;
- Disable location tagging cuz we don’t need stalkers knowing we’re on vacay;
- Opt out of data gathering for ads wherever possible. ‘Cuz ew.
Do a quick checkup on the biggest platforms once a year or so. Companies love changing defaults without asking! Easy insurance against oversharing, something you’d rather keep off the digital record.
Set Random Passwords Stored Safely
Let’s be real – passwords are THE WORST. Between remembering complex codes for every account and updating them constantly so hackers stay out… it’s messy.
But strong, unique passwords for all logins are too important to slack on. Tools make it simpler to create and store strong codes without losing your mind.
And two-factor authentication is clutch for accounts holding anything valuable, even though it’s kinda annoying. Usually, a code gets texted or called to you as a second step after you type your password. Small price to pay, though, for way better security!
Browse Anonymously With Temp Numbers
Sometimes, you need a phone number to access new sites or accounts. No prob, Bob! Except when you don’t actually want creepers to HAVE your personal mobile number. Luckily, there are temporary phone numbers you can use to get verification texts and calls without handing out your digits.
We’ve used Quackr to:
- Sign up for websites where we plan to remain anon;
- Buy/sell through places like Craigslist;
- Safely network at events without endless spam later;
- Keep our real line from getting flooded with junk.
Masking your number wards off scammers, marketers, and weird exes looking you up. Highly recommended for maintaining some layers between your true identity and digital profiles!
Stop Creepy Targeted Ads
Ever searched for something totally random and then suddenly seen related ads FREAKING EVERYWHERE? Annoying, yes, but more importantly, it shows how easily your interests and habits get tracked based on browsing trails.
You should limit how much data gets sucked up on your preferences through sneaky cookies, location access, and other little spies. VPNs and private browsing modes help you feel more in control of how your clicks get used. Along with tweaking permissions that let apps and browsers observe your activity across the web. Stay sneaky out there!
Guard Financial Life
Unfortunately, data breaches run rampant lately. However, closely tracking statements and credit reports allow odd activity to get flagged fast if your info gets compromised somewhere. We enable custom alerts on all financial accounts for:
- Large transactions;
- Password change attempts;
- Sketch countries we’ve never visited.
Does requiring extra login steps or confirming our identity occasionally get irritating? You betcha. But WAY better than trying to claw back stolen cash or fix identity theft. We’ll tolerate a little hassle for peace of mind.
You should take control where you can instead of feeling powerless. Stay smart, use helpful tools for anonymity, and don’t let Big Brother or cyber crooks harsh your online vibe!
