While the internet has made our lives easier by making everything accessible with just a few clicks, it has also opened the door for some serious concerns. In most cases, we need to give something in exchange for all this readily-available information, and that is your online privacy.
In the past years, the concern for online privacy grew tremendously, especially since more and more cyberattacks make the first page of the news. This prompted people to start taking action towards protecting their information from third parties that collect and sell data, as well as from cybercriminals.
But even though online security is not news to anyone, there are still a lot of misconceptions that prevail around the subject. Some believe only those who have something to hide need extra protection, while others think antivirus software is enough to keep hackers away.
To help clear the air, we have made a list of the most common myths people still believe about online privacy, and we are debunking them now.
Privacy and security are one and the same
The terms privacy and security are used interchangeably by many, but these two things are not one and the same. While both privacy and security go hand in hand, there are some key differences between them.
Online privacy has to do with your personal information, including online behavior, name, location, or everything that websites can collect to identify you. To protect it, you can use tools such as VPNs, which hide your original location and allows you to browse the internet anonymously. These tools use VPN protocols, which aim to enhance both privacy and security.
Security, on the other hand, refers to the way your data is protected and kept safe against hackers. Basically, it is the layer of protection you can add to your devices, with tools such as antivirus software and encryption tools.
No one actually cares about their online privacy
Online privacy is not exactly a hot topic for conversations when you meet with family and friends, which is why many people think it’s not something worth caring about. Well, things could not be more wrong.
Even if those around you may not seem worried about their online privacy, it does not mean you should not care about it. It is an important subject, and we need to raise awareness about the dangers of keeping your private data unprotected.
Online privacy is slowly becoming general knowledge, and studies show 7 in 10 Americans have started taking action towards keeping their online data as private as possible, so you need to do the same.
Websites can’t track my activity if I use incognito mode
Many people believe they live in an ideal world, where the incognito mode on their browser actually keeps their online activity completely private. Well, this does not happen in real life.
Incognito mode stores cookies in temporary files, which get deleted once the session ends. However, websites can still use certain trackers to monitor your activity. This is something known as browser fingerprinting, and websites use it to determine certain characteristics of the user, such as plugin list, screen resolution, or user time zone.
With this being said, incognito mode is almost as secure as deleting your browsing history and cache every time you close a browser. It doesn’t sound too protective, so make sure you don’t rely solely on this.
Passwords are enough to provide complete safety
Choosing a strong password is a must if you want to keep your accounts safe, but it’s not enough. While they should only be known by you, passwords are not difficult to crack, as some of the most modern password cracking software is able to run more than 500 million combinations in just one second. And trust us, that means a lot.
If you want to improve your safety, make sure to use different passwords for each one of your accounts to make sure if one of your passwords gets cracked, you won’t put all your accounts at risk. It is a common practice for hackers to use automated tools and try your credentials on all important platforms if they hack one of your accounts.
You have complete control over your private data
If you think companies and services that require your personal data will keep it completely private or that you have complete control of what happens to your data, it means you have not read the terms of service.
While we all know there are some companies that will illegally use your private data without consent, most services stipulate clearly in their Terms and Conditions that they are entitled to use your data for advertising purposes. Others also mention they are allowed to sell your data to third-party entities as well, and once you agree to those terms, there is not much you can do besides taking the matter into your own hands and look for methods of protection on your end.