Digital privacy is the ability of an individual to control and protect the access and use of their personal information as and when they access the internet. Digital privacy helps individuals stay anonymous online by safeguarding personally identifiable information such as names, addresses, and credit card details.
Digital privacy can be protected through various measures, such as using strong passwords, encrypting data, and being cautious about sharing personal information online. However, individuals also rely on laws and regulations to protect their privacy rights online.
How to protect your digital privacy?
- Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN): A VPN is a service that encrypts your Internet connection and hides your IP address, making it difficult for third parties to track your online activity.
- Use strong passwords: Use strong, unique passwords for your online accounts. Avoid using easily guessable passwords like “password” or “123456.”
- Keep your WiFi network private: Avoid using public WiFi networks. Remember that if you don’t take this precaution, any IT specialist who accesses your WiFi connection will have access to all of your computer information and web interactions.
- Keep your software and operating system up-to-date with the latest security patches.
- Safeguard your browsers: Check that the extensions you install come from safe sources. Consider using a privacy-focused browser, such as Brave or Firefox, with privacy extensions installed, and boost your digital privacy by browsing in incognito mode.
Digital privacy in social networks
- Review your privacy settings: Check your privacy settings regularly to ensure you only share information with people you trust. Limit the information visible to the public.
- Be mindful of what you share: Be careful about the personal information you post on social media. Avoid sharing sensitive information that cybercriminals could use.
- Be cautious with friend requests: Only accept friend requests from people you know. Don’t add people you don’t know or trust.
- Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on all your accounts to add an extra layer of security.
Digital privacy and security in online shopping
- Use a secure connection: Always shop from a secure website with a valid SSL certificate. Look for the lock icon in the address bar to ensure your information is encrypted and protected from hackers.
- Don’t save your credit card information: While saving your credit card information on a website may be convenient, it’s not the safest option. Instead, enter your information each time you purchase to prevent hackers from accessing your financial details.
- Use a virtual credit card: Some credit card companies offer virtual credit cards that have a temporary card number and expiration date. This is a great option for online shopping because if the card number is stolen, it cannot be used for fraudulent activity.
- Check your bank statements regularly: Keep track of your bank statements to ensure that no unauthorized charges have been made. If you notice any suspicious activity, contact your bank immediately to report the fraud.
- Make sure to read the company’s privacy policy carefully. It should state what kind of personal information they collect and for what purposes. This can help you protect your online privacy and avoid potential risks. Don’t take this step lightly, as it could save you from unpleasant surprises and safeguard your sensitive data.
Benefits of digital privacy
- Ensure respect for the rights and freedoms of users, who see their data only under secure and consented conditions.
- Increase the competitiveness of services and internal processes by prioritizing the security and privacy of sensitive data.
- Prevent information security breaches and improve document management through better data control that minimizes information leakage or malicious access.
- Become a differentiator by ensuring the integrity, confidentiality, availability, and continuous updating of data.
- Build trust with teams, customers, and suppliers by demonstrating a clear commitment to protecting sensitive data.
- Meet legal obligations to protect personal information and comply with digital privacy regulations within the legal framework to avoid penalties or lawsuits.
Disadvantages of digital privacy
- Risk of gaps in privacy settings that allow individuals digital privacy to be compromised.
- Complex and sometimes costly implementation both financially and in terms of resources.
- Difficulty in assessing the benefits of using data versus the costs of protecting it.
- Risk of limiting the effectiveness of data-driven initiatives mitigated by the privacy measures adopted.
- Possible friction in interactions with users due to the application of very restrictive and strict privacy measures.
