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3 best practices for online privacy

Using the internet every day for work and play is great, but the sad truth is that doing so could put your private and personal information at risk.

If you don't take the right steps to protect your privacy while surfing the World Wide Web, you might end up regretting it. After all, in addition to viruses that can infect your computer, there is also the risk of hackers gaining access to your information and then using it to commit crimes like identity theft.

What are some smart steps you can take to protect your online privacy as much as possible? Keep reading for a list of helpful tips.

1. Control where your personal information is displayed

Did you know that there are people finder websites that make it very easy for strangers to find information about you, such as where you live and basic information, such as any lawsuits you have been involved in? or property you have owned? A good example is Number, which you can use to access information about a person when you want to verify their identity.

Of course, these sites can be useful when you want to be sure that you are not dealing with a scammer or a scammer, but if the idea that your information is so easy to find does not reassure you, you can simply opt to have your data displayed on these sites. It's that simple and it can help you protect your privacy online.

2. Keep your social media accounts private

Think about everything you share on social media. You probably share your views and opinions on various topics, you may have filled out your profile information to show things like your work history and relationship status, and you may also regularly share photos and videos. That's a lot of personal information that even strangers can access if your profile is set to be visible to the public.

So another smart way to protect your privacy online is to simply change your settings to make all your social media accounts private. And, on top of that, be careful when adding connections, followers, and friends, because you want to be sure that you won't add anyone with bad intentions.

3. Set strong passwords and use two-step verification

Another great way to protect your online privacy is by always using strong passwords that are long, have a combination of numbers, symbols, and upper and lower case letters, and are hard to guess. And it's also wise to use a different password for each of your accounts, as repeatedly using the same password could make it easier for hackers to access more of your information.

In addition to using strong passwords, implementing multi-factor authentication whenever possible is a strategic way to ensure that your online privacy can be more secure. In the event that a hacker manages to find an account's password, they still won't be able to get in if you have two-step verification set up, giving you an extra level of security.

These are just a few of the many ways you can be smarter about protecting your privacy while online. Which ones will you implement right away?