With so much concerns about web security worldwide, it has become mandatory for all online users (in any form) to practice some necessary precautions to protect their privacy. While businesses have a more robust and solid foundation of Web Authentication practices, still, some recent cases of privacy leaks have proved that nothing is foolproof. Computers, smartphones, mobile devices are vulnerable to data theft and privacy breach. However, here are some of the most basic approaches for general online users that can help them boost their online privacy. Follow these tips to secure yourself from cyber attacks.
How to Boost Your Online Privacy
You Need Pretty Good Privacy
Go for a Pretty Good Privacy desktop with whole disk encryption and password protection. This decades’ old (initially released in 1991) data encryption and decryption computer program still holds Pretty Good relevance. Though, one cannot completely deny of its blast off, still it adds one more step in the privacy setting.
Your Smartphone Needs a Smart Cover
How about an RF-proof bag for your smartphone (while not in use)? RF-proofs bags are made of fine copper mesh, which is woven into fabric and have great RF attenuation. They block all signals to your phone completely. When the phone is in the bag, no one can find it; GPS will not work. The cell towers cannot track it; however, you cannot make any calls. If you are sure to keep it idle, keep it inside the RF-proof bag.
Be in Incognito Mode while Online
Remain incognito while you are online. It is more important and necessary when you are sharing over social networking sites, like Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus etc. Also, use security features like ‘ad block’, ‘Ghostery’, and ‘HTTPS’. This ensures your anonymous status and does not reveal much information about you.
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Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (S/MIME) for Emails
S-MIME is a standard specification for secure e-mail communication. This technology adds security to e-mail messages through security services, such as authentication (digital signatures) and privacy (encryption). This is a kind of end-to-end encryption for all emails.
Go for Onion Routing for Anonymous Communication
Software with ‘Onion Routing’ technology are available that ensure anonymous communication over a computer network. This is a technique that sends messages through several network nodes after repeatedly encrypting them. The idea is to add several encryption layers throughout the process so that the intermediary nodes cannot fetch the information, such as origin, destination, and contents of the messages.
Dual Boot Systems are Better
Ideally install two different operating system in your machine with separate login credentials. Use one OS for all activities that you wish to keep separate from other activities. This again adds steps for hackers to crack one more code to enter into your system and steal data.
Virtual Private Network
VPN or virtual private network technology is another measure to connect to proxy servers by ordinary Internet users for safeguarding their identity.
While these are some of the measures to safeguard you identity and check on security threats, there has to be clear distinction between espionage and surveillance. Data collected in the name of surveillance has many repercussions, and must be stopped, whether by private companies or by the government.
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