As More Device Are Integrated Into The Connected World, How Safe Is Your Privacy And Data?

Today's digital world keeps us connected – to family and friends, business connections, social issues, education and entertainment. With data sharing readily accessible, it has become easier to lose sight of personal details we share on online platforms. The insensitive data collection and advanced technology's inherent advantages have spawned the idea that data safety and privacy is dead, and we might need to get used to this fact. 

In the last decade, both giant corporations and governments have become data minors, gathering data about every aspect of consumers' activities, lifestyle and behaviour. Moreover, the Internet connectivity revolution and inexpensive forms of data storage – not only in content but about everything from nanobots inside human bodies to smart appliances – enable the constant big data transmission from sensors to central devices and allows its analysis. 

IoT And Online Privacy

IoT devices and the information they collect provide efficiency, convenience and insights into every aspect of the world. Businesses, governments and consumers everywhere have been using IoT devices, and it's expected that this usage will continue to expand promptly. However, rushing towards IoT without adequate consideration of privacy can bring unexpected and harmful consequences. 

According to Insider Intelligence, by 2025, we'll have 64 Billion IoT devices. This enormous growth carries multiple benefits since it'll change how we perform everyday tasks and potentially transform the world. For instance, smart lighting can potentially minimize energy consumption and lower electricity bills. In addition, advanced developments would enable connected cars to connect with smart city infrastructure to establish a unique ecosystem for the drivers, who are used to the traditional way of getting from one point to another. Additionally, connected healthcare devices offer people a fuller and more profound look at their health than ever before. However, with all these advantages comes risk, since the increase in connected devices gives cyber-attackers more entry points. 

What Is Online Privacy?

Online privacy refers to how much of your financial, personal and browsing data remain secure and private when using online platforms and digital devices. Since our devices are integrated into the connected world, personal data and browsing history are at significant risk. For instance, data breaches reported publically in the United States through September 2021 exceeded the entire last year by 17%. 

Importance Of Online Privacy

To explain further the gist of this article, let's rephrase the question. Why is online privacy important, and to whom?

Internet privacy laws are not restricted to a few individuals, but they cut across multiple entities and things, from marketing companies to governments, banking and healthcare sectors. We live in a social media and internet age where content sharing, live videos, tweets, hashtags take a massive chunk of consumers' time. In addition, loads of personal information is sometimes shared with anonymous sources during the process. 

Since cybercrimes are significantly increasing, thanks to the massive amount of data users share, their online privacy becomes non-existent if they don't take the necessary precautions. Of course, you can make social media accounts private and share specific content with trusted people. But what about your online traces, such as online purchases, browsing history and your online correspondence? Now, with all this information in your mind, your online privacy is essential for the following reasons.

It Defends You Against Social Media Data Breaches

Every day, tons of information being shared on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, etc., is unsafe. Sharing videos and pictures of precious moments with friends and family, online privacy build a sense of responsibility. Unfortunately, social media have become a prime target of attackers looking to take advantage of consumers who don't know much about online privacy. Therefore, you should constantly update your account's privacy settings to secure the data you share on those platforms. Moreover, if you're a parent, educate your children about social media dangers. Never share private information such as addresses or phone numbers online. 

Safeguard You From Identity Theft

Online privacy's other significance is that it safeguards the user identity from cyber theft. Numerous users lose their identity online, and it always boils down to their lack of understanding about online privacy. Everyone needs to analyze whether they're visiting a safe website/application or not. Websites or apps that request personal information associated with finances or identity must have data encryption in place, making it complicated for cybercriminals to take benefit of your digital footprints. 

Protects The Privacy Of Businesses

Cybercrimes are costing large enterprises millions of dollars annually. Because almost every business has embraced digitalization, it's high time to take online privacy seriously. From online retail stores, drop-shipping businesses, social media pages and vlogs that promote brands, cyber-attacks on businesses have become destructive and costly. Therefore, online businesses must take crucial precautionary measures such as installing antivirus software, educating staff about cybersecurity, etc., to protect their businesses against cybercriminals.

Helps Safeguard Social Boundaries

Whether physical or informational, online privacy helps consumers observe appropriate boundaries. As numerous people watch your online activity, lack of awareness of online privacy concerns often causes awkward situations of misunderstanding and damaged relationships. Moreover, since people are following social distancing measures because of the Covid-19 pandemic, it's essential to understand that virtual distance is essential too. Thus, online privacy helps protect against social frictions generated from social media interactions. 

Protects Your Reputation

Online privacy makes it easier to protect personal reputation. In this regard, consider someone who shares loads of information online about themselves. In the end, they suffer the consequences of a damaged reputation. From losing opportunities to friends, safeguarding one's reputation is possible when you understand the importance of online privacy. While it's true that the data you share publically may not necessarily reflect your true personality, cushioning yourself from hypocritical, hasty and inaccurate judgments is the essence of internet privacy.

Limits Others' Power Over You

Online privacy is important because it limits the power government, someone anonymous, or advertisers may have over you. When someone gets hold of data about you, they can control you. Since data is a crucial internet asset nowadays, chances are significantly high that cybercriminals can use sensitive information to blackmail you. What's worse, you can end up losing the reputation that took you several years to build. Besides that, consider a prominent politician who loses sensitive information to cybercriminals and is exposed online. Briefly, when sensitive information lands in the wrong hands, attackers can use this to inflict great harm to you.

How To Keep Your Privacy And Data Safe In Today's Digitally Connected World?

Protect Your Accounts

In the last decade, password leaks and data breaches have struck companies like Facebook, Yahoo, Target, and more! If you've online accounts, cybercriminals have likely leaked information from at least one of them. Therefore, always use a password manager to create complex and unique passwords for your accounts. 1Password and LastPass are password managers who create complex passwords, monitor accounts for data breaches, sync your passwords between computer and home and suggest changing weak passwords. Furthermore, always use two-factor authentication for your online accounts so you can get a temporary code via text or email whenever you (or attacker) try to log in to your account. 

Protect Web Browsing

Websites and companies monitor everything you do online. Every social network button, ad, and the website you visit collects data about your browsing habits, location, and more. You might consider yourself clever for never sharing your religious beliefs or medical problems on Facebook, for instance. However, the chances are that the site you visit regularly gives all the information advertisers require to pinpoint your preferences and lifestyle. That's why targeted ads remain the internet's most unsettling initiation. 

To protect web browsing, always use a browser extension that block ads, prevent malware from running in the browser and provides you with an easy way to turn on the ads when you want to support websites you know are secure. It's also recommended to disable interest-based advertisements from Facebook, Twitter, Google and Apple. Moreover, install extensions that direct you towards a secure version of the website. Finally, if you connect to public Wi-Fi frequently, use VPN to add an extra layer of security but determine the pros and cons of using a VPN first.

Use Anti-Virus Software

Malicious software on a computer or an app on your smartphone can wreak havoc, from scanning for sensitive information to covert bitcoin mining to annoying pop-ups. If you share your devices with multiple people or you are at risk for clicking suspicious links, it's worthwhile to install antivirus software on your laptop and computers. Furthermore, avoid installing antivirus apps to your smartphones altogether and stick to installing trusted applications from official stores. 

KEEPING IT ALL TOGETHER

Technological progress has caused a situation of incompatibility and severe tension between the right to data privacy and broad data pooling upon which the digital economy depends. The most important thing about online privacy is that it's YOURS. It's your information, your patterns, habits and your actions. Therefore, if you follow the recommendations mentioned above, you will know where the threat may hide. These tips will help you keep online privacy intact!