{"id":11419,"date":"2019-04-22T06:00:55","date_gmt":"2019-04-22T10:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/me-en.kaspersky.com\/blog\/privacy-ten-tips-2018\/11419\/"},"modified":"2019-11-15T15:22:20","modified_gmt":"2019-11-15T11:22:20","slug":"privacy-ten-tips-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/me-en.kaspersky.com\/blog\/privacy-ten-tips-2018\/11419\/","title":{"rendered":"10 tips to improve your Internet privacy"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Massive data breaches, marketers tracking your every step online, shady people exploring the photos you shared in social networks \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com\/blog\/privacy-report-2019\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">the list of digital annoyances goes on and on<\/a>. However, it\u2019s not completely hopeless: You <em>do<\/em> have control over your data. Here\u2019s how to improve your privacy online.<\/p>\n<h3>1. Check social privacy settings<\/h3>\n<p>If you have social accounts, those networks have a lot of information about you, and you might be surprised how much of it is visible to anybody on the Internet by default. That\u2019s why we strongly recommend you check your privacy settings: It\u2019s up to you to decide what info you want to share with complete strangers versus your friends \u2014 or even nobody but you.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Change your social network account privacy settings. Here\u2019s how to do it in <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com\/blog\/facebook-privacy-settings\/13578\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Facebook<\/a>, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com\/blog\/twitter-security\/11860\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Twitter<\/a>, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com\/blog\/linkedin-security-tips\/11757\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">LinkedIn<\/a>, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com\/blog\/keep-instagram-secure\/11045\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Instagram<\/a>, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com\/blog\/snapchat-privacy-security\/11151\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Snapchat<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com\/blog\/vk-privacy\/10743\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">VK.com<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>2. Don\u2019t use public storages for private information<\/h3>\n<p>Oversharing is not limited to social networks. Don\u2019t use online services that are meant for sharing information to store your private data. For example, Google Docs isn\u2019t an ideal place to store a list of passwords, and Dropbox is not the best venue for your passport scans unless they are kept in an encrypted archive.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Don\u2019t use services meant for sharing to store your private data.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>3. Evade tracking<\/h3>\n<p>When you visit a website, your browser discloses a bunch of stuff about you and your surfing history. Marketers use that information to profile you and target you with ads. Incognito mode <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com\/blog\/incognito-mode-faq\/14784\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">can\u2019t really prevent such tracking<\/a>; you need to use special tools.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Use Private Browsing in <a href=\"https:\/\/me-en.kaspersky.com\/plus?icid=me-en_bb2022-kdplacehd_acq_ona_smm__onl_b2c_kdaily_lnk_sm-team___kplus___\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kaspersky Plus<\/a> to avoid Internet tracking.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com\/blog\/anti-tracking-tools\/26556\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Learn more<\/a> about tools that can protect you from web tracking<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<input type=\"hidden\" class=\"category_for_banner\" value=\"kis-trial-privacy\">\n<h3>4. Keep your main e-mail address and phone number private<\/h3>\n<p>Your reward for sharing your e-mail address and phone number? Tons of <a href=\"https:\/\/encyclopedia.kaspersky.com\/glossary\/spam\/?utm_source=kdaily&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=termin-explanation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">spam<\/a> in your e-mail inbox and hundreds of robocalls on your phone. Even if you can\u2019t avoid sharing this info with Internet services and online stores, don\u2019t share it with random people on social networks. And consider creating a separate, disposable e-mail address and, if possible, a separate phone number for these cases.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Create an additional e-mail account and purchase an additional SIM card to use for online shopping and other situations that require sharing your data with strangers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>5. Use messaging apps with end-to-end encryption<\/h3>\n<p>Most modern messaging apps use encryption, but in many cases it\u2019s what they call <em>encryption in transit<\/em> \u2014 messages are decrypted on the provider\u2019s side and stored on its servers. What if someone hacks those servers? Don\u2019t take that risk \u2014 chose <em>end-to-end encryption<\/em> \u2014 that way, even the messaging service provider can\u2019t see your conversations.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Use a messaging app with end-to-end encryption \u2014 for example, WhatsApp;<\/li>\n<li>Note that by default, Facebook Messenger, Telegram and Google Allo do not use end-to-end encryption. To enable it, manually start a secret chat.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>6. Use secure passwords<\/h3>\n<p>Using weak passwords to protect your private information is as good as shouting that information to passersby. It\u2019s nearly impossible to memorize long and unique passwords for all the services you use, but with a password manager you can memorize just one master password.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Use long (12 characters and more) passwords everywhere;<\/li>\n<li>Use a different password for each service;<\/li>\n<li>Use a <a href=\"https:\/\/me-en.kaspersky.com\/password-manager?icid=me-en_kdailyplacehold_acq_ona_smm__onl_b2c_kasperskydaily_wpplaceholder____kpm___\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kaspersky Password Manager<\/a> to make using secure passwords easier.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<input type=\"hidden\" class=\"category_for_banner\" value=\"kpm-download\">\n<h3>7. Review permissions for mobile apps and browser extensions<\/h3>\n<p>Mobile apps prompt you to give them permissions to access contacts or files in device storage, and to use the camera, microphone, geolocation, and so on. Some really cannot work without these permissions, but some use this information to profile you for marketing (and worse). Fortunately, it\u2019s relatively easy to control which apps are given which permissions. The same stands for browser extensions, which also have unfortunate spying tendencies.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Review the permissions you give to mobile apps. Here\u2019s how to do that <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com\/blog\/android-permissions-guide\/14014\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">on Android<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com\/blog\/ios-tracking-setup-part-1\/12625\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">on iOS<\/a>;<\/li>\n<li>Do not install <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com\/blog\/browser-extensions-security\/20886\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">browser extensions<\/a> unless you really need them. Carefully check the permissions you give them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>8. Secure your phone and computer with passwords or passcodes<\/h3>\n<p>Our computers and phones store a lot of data we\u2019d rather keep private, so protect them with passwords. These passwords don\u2019t have to be complicated and unique, but they should keep random people out. On mobile devices, do a bit better: six-digit PINs or actual passwords rather than four digits and screen-lock patterns. For devices that support biometric authentication \u2014 whether fingerprint reading or face unlock \u2014 that\u2019s generally OK, but remember that these technologies <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com\/blog\/face-unlock-insecurity\/21618\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">have limitations<\/a>.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Use passwords or biometric authentication to lock your phones, tablets, and computers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>9. Disable lock screen notifications<\/h3>\n<p>Protect your phone with a long, secure password, but leave notifications on the lock screen? Now any passerby can see your business. To keep that information from appearing on the locked screen, set up notifications correctly.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Disable lock-screen notifications or hide sensitive information from the lock screen. Here\u2019s how to do it <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com\/blog\/android-maximum-security-tips\/6579\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">on Android<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com\/blog\/iphone-maximum-security-tips\/6132\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">on iOS<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>10. Stay private on Wi-Fi networks<\/h3>\n<p>Public Wi-Fi networks usually do not encrypt traffic, and that means anyone on the same network can try to snoop on your traffic. Avoid transmitting any sensitive data \u2014 logins, passwords, credit card data, and so forth \u2014 over public Wi-Fi, and use a VPN to encrypt your data and protect it from prying eyes.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Avoid using public Wi-Fi if possible; find out more about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com\/resource-center\/preemptive-safety\/public-wifi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">public Wi-Fi risks<\/a><\/li>\n<li>If you must connect to a public hotspot, use a <a href=\"https:\/\/me-en.kaspersky.com\/vpn-secure-connection?icid=me-en_kdailyplacehold_acq_ona_smm__onl_b2c_kasperskydaily_wpplaceholder____vpn___\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">secure VPN connection<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<input type=\"hidden\" class=\"category_for_banner\" value=\"ksec\">\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ten tips to make your private digital life really private.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":675,"featured_media":11420,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1225,9],"tags":[1737,2088,1815,1596,187,1825,43,1826,98,174],"class_list":{"0":"post-11419","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-privacy","8":"category-tips","9":"tag-advice","10":"tag-tips","11":"tag-e-mail","12":"tag-notifications","13":"tag-passwords","14":"tag-permissions","15":"tag-privacy","16":"tag-sharing","17":"tag-social-networks","18":"tag-wi-fi"},"hreflang":[{"hreflang":"en-ae","url":"https:\/\/me-en.kaspersky.com\/blog\/privacy-ten-tips-2018\/11419\/"},{"hreflang":"en-in","url":"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.co.in\/blog\/privacy-ten-tips-2018\/13653\/"},{"hreflang":"ar","url":"https:\/\/me.kaspersky.com\/blog\/privacy-ten-tips-2018\/5802\/"},{"hreflang":"en-us","url":"https:\/\/usa.kaspersky.com\/blog\/privacy-ten-tips-2018\/15719\/"},{"hreflang":"en-gb","url":"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.co.uk\/blog\/privacy-ten-tips-2018\/13968\/"},{"hreflang":"es-mx","url":"https:\/\/latam.kaspersky.com\/blog\/privacy-ten-tips-2018\/13149\/"},{"hreflang":"es","url":"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.es\/blog\/privacy-ten-tips-2018\/16450\/"},{"hreflang":"it","url":"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.it\/blog\/privacy-ten-tips-2018\/15915\/"},{"hreflang":"ru","url":"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.ru\/blog\/privacy-ten-tips-2018\/20898\/"},{"hreflang":"tr","url":"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com.tr\/blog\/privacy-ten-tips-2018\/5121\/"},{"hreflang":"x-default","url":"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com\/blog\/privacy-ten-tips-2018\/23022\/"},{"hreflang":"fr","url":"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.fr\/blog\/privacy-ten-tips-2018\/10728\/"},{"hreflang":"pt-br","url":"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com.br\/blog\/privacy-ten-tips-2018\/10616\/"},{"hreflang":"pl","url":"https:\/\/plblog.kaspersky.com\/privacy-ten-tips-2018\/9388\/"},{"hreflang":"de","url":"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.de\/blog\/privacy-ten-tips-2018\/17227\/"},{"hreflang":"ja","url":"https:\/\/blog.kaspersky.co.jp\/privacy-ten-tips-2018\/20771\/"},{"hreflang":"nl","url":"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.nl\/blog\/privacy-ten-tips-2018\/23393\/"},{"hreflang":"ru-kz","url":"https:\/\/blog.kaspersky.kz\/privacy-ten-tips-2018\/16968\/"},{"hreflang":"en-au","url":"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com.au\/blog\/privacy-ten-tips-2018\/20590\/"},{"hreflang":"en-za","url":"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.co.za\/blog\/privacy-ten-tips-2018\/20579\/"}],"acf":[],"banners":"","maintag":{"url":"https:\/\/me-en.kaspersky.com\/blog\/tag\/tips-2\/","name":"tips"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/me-en.kaspersky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11419","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/me-en.kaspersky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/me-en.kaspersky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/me-en.kaspersky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/675"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/me-en.kaspersky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11419"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/me-en.kaspersky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11419\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14452,"href":"https:\/\/me-en.kaspersky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11419\/revisions\/14452"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/me-en.kaspersky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11420"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/me-en.kaspersky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11419"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/me-en.kaspersky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11419"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/me-en.kaspersky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11419"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}