Many of us are well aware that there is no such thing as true privacy on the internet. Over the last decade, we have seen the Snowden leaks and Yahoo data hack of 2013, to the Cambridge Analytica Scandal in 2018. Most recently, worries surrounding data privacy grew when contact tracing was introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. These events highlight that personal privacy on the internet is more of an illusion unless we take steps to protect our privacy in the digital age.
The importance of security in the digital world cannot be understated. A lot of the time, we may think we are being safe online, such as using so-called “incognito mode” while surfing the web. However, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) can see what websites you visit and those websites collect your personal data to store or sell on. Thankfully, there are tools we can use to boost our online privacy, such as utilizing a Free VPN.
Why digital privacy is important
Data privacy refers to how information should be managed in accordance with its perceived importance. It’s not only a corporate issue – individuals have a lot riding on the privacy of their data. The more you know about it, the more you’ll be able to protect yourself from a variety of threats.
In the current digital age, data privacy refers mostly to crucial personal information, also known as personally identifiable information (PII) and personal health information (PHI). Financial information, medical and health records, social security numbers, and even basic but sensitive information such as birthdates, full names, and residences are commonly included.
A big concern for many is the threat of government surveillance, especially in instances such as the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Not only do certain country’s governments block access to apps and websites as a way to control the free internet, your personal device could be used as a way for the government to collect personal information on its citizens and survey your online activity.
Additionally, the economy has become data driven, with user data a valuable asset. It not only helps businesses understand their clients, but it also allows them to track and target them with relevant advertisements. Marketing is just one of the ways organizations use user data to boost their market position and increase income. Many companies are dependent on data harvesting, even at the cost of overstepping one’s privacy.
Not so private – Incognito and private browsing
Every browser has a private mode, but this privacy is limited. While incognito or private mode does keep some aspects of your browsing private, it’s vital to understand what it hides and what it doesn’t.
When you use incognito mode , your web browser will not remember anything from the session. Nothing is saved in your browser history and any cookies, the small bits of data that log part of your online activities, are deleted. This can come in handy if you are trying to access an article behind a paywall, as the website may not recognise that you have visited before.
However, incognito mode does not give you total anonymity. Even if you are not signed in to any of your online accounts, such as Facebook for example, websites you visit can use numerous clues, such your IP address, device type, and browser, to figure out who you are and tie this to other information that may already be associated with you. This tactic is known as fingerprinting.
Incognito mode does nothing to hide information such as your location and what device you are using: it simply means your browsing history isn’t stored. A VPN can be used to hide your IP address instead, providing you with greater privacy while browsing.
Privacy on social media
Most people have social media accounts nowadays, whether they are active users or not. A recent survey found that 50% of people put their social media accounts on private mode, while the other half leave their accounts open to the public. While the very nature of being on social media means a lack of privacy, a look into our privacy settings can give us more control over who can get access to the information we put out into the world. Just because you are not oversharing on social media, it doesn’t mean your personal information is private.
Privacy infringements through the collection of personal data on social networking sites have been a recent talking point in digital privacy. Taking time to read privacy policies and opting-out of data collection can help prevent your information from appearing in a data leak. Utilizing a VPN is a great way to prevent your data from being harvested for targeted advertisements on your social media feeds.
Moreover, while most people may be more concerned with information that involves passwords or financial details, the exposure of personal information should not be taken lightly. The leaking of home addresses or phone numbers, known as doxing, can have a serious impact on victims. Information gathered from social media accounts can also be used to create fake look-alike accounts, which can then be used to spread malware or commit scams.
The bottom line
It’s important to remember that not everything you do online is completely private. We may believe we are being safe online by adopting privacy modes when browsing the web or keeping personal information off our social media accounts. However, our data and personal information is exposed unless we take measures to protect it, whether it’s gaining a better understanding of what digital privacy means or employing tools such as VPNs.
