5 ways to protect your privacy online
With so much talk about AI invading your privacy in the coming days/weeks/years, it’s making some people get even more worried about their privacy online – or a lack thereof.
So here’s my Legal Love™ Tip for you today…
5 ways to protect your online privacy:
1. Update your privacy settings on your phone.
I know, no one wants to take the time to do this (I have to force myself too!). But, it’s easy to forget what apps you’ve location-enabled or allow you to connect with other apps to fill in passwords, etc. Click here to remember how to change your privacy settings on iPhones and Apple devices and change your privacy settings on Android phones.
2. Ignore spammy texts – or block them.
If someone sends you spammy texts, don’t respond at all. Or, better yet, block them.
Here’s how: In iPhones, you can go to Settings, click “Messages” and scroll down and toggle on “Filter Unknown Senders.” In Android phones, you can block spam in Settings by toggle on “Enabling spam protection.”
3. Blur your identity online.
Iron Vest (formerly called Blur) can help you mask your identity when you’re online. You can use it for personal or business use. It comes as a browser extension and mobile app that makes it easy to create and autofill secure passwords, mask your email address, and create unhackable single-use virtual cards. So cool, right?
4. Update your privacy settings in social media.
If you’re concerned about your identity or privacy on social media – first, remember that YOU’RE in control of WHAT you put on social media. You’re always in the driver’s seat. Beyond that, you can change and update your privacy settings in each social media platform you use. Here’s a quick checklist from Experian (the credit bureau people) on all the ways you can protect your privacy on social media.
5. Remove your personal info from data brokers who sell it to the dark web.
This service has helped me feel like my personal information isn’t “out there” so much. I learned that when someone Googles you or your family, data brokers are selling your personal info to vendors and on the dark web. Delete Me can help you remove a lot of it. I signed up with Delete Me to remove my info from search engines and third-party sites a few months ago. Already they’ve removed 70 listings and info from 44 data brokers. I already feel better. They remove info every 3 months and send you reports. Learn more about Delete Me here.
And in business, of course, when it comes to privacy and protecting YOUR website visitors’ privacy, you want to be respectful of THEIR feelings about privacy too (not to mention follow the law, of course).
Be sure to use a Privacy Policy on your website so you tell YOUR website visitors how you’ll respect their privacy.
If you don’t have one yet, find out more and use my DIY Privacy Policy here.
After all, I align these privacy issues – and the DIY Privacy Policy – with the heart chakra because it helps you to build trust with your website visitors. You’re telling them that you’re honoring their privacy and keeping their info safe. Yes, even their name and email address that they give you to download your amazing opt-in gift.
Here’s to protecting your privacy online – and honoring your website visitors’ privacy too!
I’ve shared DeleteMe as one of my “Friday Faves” on social media in the past because I love how they make me feel safer online by deleting my identity from so many sites that I didn’t even realize had my personal information publicly listed. I use them myself, and that’s why I’m an affiliate of DeleteMe too.
