5 Steps to Protect your Data (Part 2)

3. Delete Browser Cookies

It is no surprise that your internet browser tracks all the websites that you visit while online. This digital footprint that you leave behind every time you search the web is used to create a personal folder about you and what your interests and preferences are based on your internet history. From this data that is collect, companies can use this information to tailor specific offers and advertisements to you. Some think that this is a benefit but it can get annoying as well. The simple fix to not have companies bothering you with advertisements is to delete your browser cookies multiple times a day to make surveillance more difficult.   

4. Be Careful of Mobile Apps

Our smartphones are stalking us also. There are apps for everything now, you want to know what song is playing, there is an app for that. You want to know what time your train is coming, there is an app for that. Most of these apps collect a lot of data, including your pictures, emails, contacts, and so on. The plus side is that these apps do ask for permission to collect this data, so be aware of what your apps are asking for and what you are saying okay to.

5. Limit Social Media Usage

Every millennial loves using their social media. Do it for the insta! Well, like everyone knows, once it is online that’s it. We all love sharing our lives and pictures on social media sites, be very careful because all this information is collecting data about your life. Personally, I don’t really do any shopping online but I follow companies on social media and like pictures and in turn, I get a lot of advertisements popping up. Everything you like on facebook, every tweet, every tag, it can be seen by everyone. Social media is the easiest and faster way to collect data about you. In order to protect your privacy, you need to limit the amount that you use social media. I know it might be hard to do this, but this is where a lot of data is collected.

There will never be a way to completely protect your personal data. As technology continues to advance, more data will be collected. There is no hiding from data unless you never touch a computer or phone and even then data can still be completed. However, these last two blog posts are 5 ways to limit the amount of data collect and protect your own privacy and information as much as possible.

http://www.alecbjazz.com/5-hacks-for-avoiding-big-data-surveillance/