1. Incognito browsers

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Browsing in incognito mode can be helpful, especially when you’re sharing a device with other people, like young kids or grandkids. It does not guarantee complete privacy and security online. It will prevent your browser from saving your browsing history and cookies.  While it will reduce the tracking of your activity by some websites, it does not guarantee complete privacy and security online. 

Your internet service provider (ISP), school or workplace can still monitor your browsing activities, and your IP address is not hidden. Incognito mode is a useful feature, but it is not a substitute for a VPN or other privacy tools if you want to ensure complete privacy and security online.

2. Adjust the privacy features on your browsers

You can adjust your privacy settings on each of your devices to best fit your needs. This can put you more in control of your data and who gets to look at it. You can add settings like Face ID, two-factor authentication, and more.

Face ID is a feature that lets you unlock your device or access certain apps with your face. Two-factor authentication is a security measure that requires you to enter a code or a password that is sent to your phone or email, in addition to your regular password, when you sign in to your account. 

This makes it harder for harder for hackers to access your account, even if they know your password.

3. Use a VPN

There are many reasons why you may consider leaving your VPN on all the time. First off, it can be a helpful tool to protect your online privacy and security. A VPN, or a virtual private network, is a service that creates a secure connection between your device and a server on the internet. This way, your internet traffic is encrypted and hidden from anyone who might try to intercept it, such as hackers or internet service providers. A VPN also lets you access websites and content that might be blocked or censored in your region, such as Netflix, YouTube, or social media.

VPNs can also help you when you’re in a public place, like an airport or a coffee shop, and you’re using public WiFi. With a VPN, you can hide your IP address and keep your data encrypted and hidden while on free, public, secure WiFi networks. You can use a VPN on your computer, smartphone, tablet, or even your smart TV.

4. Stay private on gas apps

There are many apps available that can help you save money on gas, and it’s tempting to download the first app you see in order to save a few bucks, especially given today’s high gas prices.

Some of the data that gas apps may collect and share include your location, your driving habits, your vehicle information, your email address, your phone number, and more. This data can be used to target you with ads, sell you products or services, or even track your movements.

To avoid the more invasive apps, you should check the app’s privacy policy and settings and opt out of any data collection or sharing that you are not comfortable with. You should also use a VPN when using gas apps, as this can encrypt your internet traffic and prevent anyone from spying on your online activity. 

5. Stay private on Amazon

Amazon has ways of tracking everything from your browsing history to sending you targeted ads based on items you’ve bought.

6. Adjust your Echo privacy settings

Using Alexa through your Amazon Echo device is a great and convenient tool. You can use it to play music, check the weather, set reminders, control your smart home devices, and more. However, sometimes it can feel a little invasive knowing that there’s a device in our home that’s listening in all the time.

Alexa learns from your voice and behavior and uses this data to personalize your experience and offer you suggestions. Some people might not like this feature, as they might feel that their privacy is being compromised.

7. Remove yourself from the internet

You might be surprised by just how much information about yourself is on the internet, such as your name, address, phone number, email, photos, social media accounts, and more. This information can be used by other people to find you, contact you, or even harm you.

That’s why you may seriously consider removing your information from the internet to protect your privacy and security. However, this is not an easy task, as there are hundreds of websites that collect and display your information, and they might not always let you delete it.

8. Lock your photos

Don’t allow someone to go snooping through your photos without your consent. Some of us have some vulnerable things in our photo albums that are not for anyone else’s eyes. For example, you might have photos of your family, your medical records, your travel documents, or your personal hobbies that you don’t want to share with strangers or even some of your friends. That’s why you can lock your photos on your smartphone so that no one else can access them. 

9. Avoid autofill

Autofill is a feature that automatically fills in the search box or forms with the words or information that you have used before. For example, if you searched for “best chocolate cake recipe” on Google, the next time you type “best” in the search box, autofill will suggest “best chocolate cake recipe” as an option.

This can be helpful if you want to search for the same thing again, but it can also reveal your previous searches to anyone who uses the same device. Although autofill is meant to help you search faster, it doesn’t always serve you best.

10. Be careful what you post

One of the best ways to remain private online is to be cautious about what you post. The world doesn’t have to see every part of your life; you should keep certain things private.

For example, you might not want to share your personal information, such as your full name, address, phone number, or email, with strangers or even some of your friends. You might also want to avoid posting photos or videos that show your location, your family, your belongings, or your activities. These things can be used by hackers, scammers, or identity thieves to harm you or your loved ones.

11. Get an alias email address

Another way to remain private is to use an alias email address to avoid being inundated with spam. An alias email address is an additional email address that can be used to receive emails in the same mailbox as the primary email address. It acts as a forwarding address, directing emails to the primary email address. You can always create an alias email and if you start getting spam sent to that alias email address, you can always delete that alias email and keep your inbox spam-free!

Source: https://www.foxnews.com/tech/11-things-to-add-to-your-privacy-checklist-online-asap
Media : https://www.foxnews.com/
Writter: Kurt Knutsson