How to Protect your Personal Information Online?

How to Protect your Personal Information Online?

Mark Zuckerberg’s recent testimony regarding privacy policy of Facebook has sparked a fire among the users. And the most important question that has come up from the situation is ‘is our personal data safe’?  Well, even when the world could be blaming Facebook for misusing personal and confidential data, Facebook is not entirely to be blamed here. The devices we have are in our control, right? And even with the latest versions of iOS and Android, users can now control their data better with permissions, which are more advanced in case of Android smartphones. So what is it that we are doing wrong? Are there some ways we can protect our personal data?

Yes, there certainly are! And here are some of them:

Check App Permissions

When it comes to keeping a check on permissions, both iOS and Android app development companies make sure their app permissions can be controlled by users. This is the reason why most of the developers make sure their apps are configured to use different pieces of hardware and features of the phone, and can work even with limited permissions. Now your job is to make optimum use of these permissions. For example – if you don’t use the live video broadcast feature of Facebook, but upload pictures with the in-built camera in the Facebook app, you may consider turning off the microphone permission. Turning it off would sure your microphone is not being used to record audio while you are unaware of it, as few days back, the hoax that Facebook uses your microphone to record your audio all the time was in the air and it caused a lot of people to uninstall the app, whereas the solution could have simply been restricting the microphone with permissions.

Prefer signing up with Email or Mobile number

The list of achievements by mobile app development companies has made it easier for us to sign up with the social login feature. To sign up with an app through social login feature, all it takes is two taps. Usually the platforms that are used to sign up with personal information are Facebook, Google Plus, and Twitter. However, the other side of this convenient feature is that it draws your personal information. If you really don’t want to risk your personal information, mobile or email login may take a minute more than the social login, but at least you can be sure about your data being safe.

Turn on Auto-update

Mobile app developers keep an eye out for functional or security cracks in their app and tend to fix it as soon as possible. Most of us see updates as something that would change the look and feel of the app, and when we don’t find that in the ‘What’s new’ section of the Play Store, we choose not to update the app. What we miss is that, sometimes the update is a security patch, which, some or the other way, has been designed to protect your phone data, including personal data. The best way to keep up with the security updates is to turn on the auto update feature in the app. This way, your smartphone will have the latest, up-to-date apps with security features and even fixes for latest data leak bugs.

Download apps only from authorized stores

There is a huge number of websites around the world that offer mobile applications just like Google Play Store and App Store. However, the major issue with these app stores is that they are not authorized by Google or Apple, and hence, there is simply no credibility involved in trading with these app stores. As a result, even the most popular apps like WhatsApp, Facebook, and others, can also be attached with codes that extract your personal data with utmost secrecy, and may even export your bank, user identification details and other sensitive information without your permission. We explained this with detail because we want you to understand how most of the users are concerned only about the ‘.apk’ file and the version of it, and not about the source of the application. But when it comes to security, source of the application matters big time. In a nutshell, download only from the official application stores.

In our increasingly digital world, personal information is constantly moving across networks, devices, and platforms. Every email you send, every website you visit, and every social media post you make involves data that can, in some form, identify you. While technology offers incredible convenience, it also exposes us to the risk of privacy breaches, identity theft, financial fraud, and cyberstalking.

This blog will walk you through the practical steps and strategies to protect your personal information online — whether you’re shopping, socializing, banking, or working remotely.

🔎 Why Protecting Personal Information Online Matters?

Cybercriminals are becoming more sophisticated. According to industry reports, millions of people fall victim to identity theft and data breaches every year. Compromised personal data can lead to:

• Unauthorized access to bank accounts
• Credit card fraud
• Identity theft
• Reputation damage
• Cyberstalking and harassment
• Unauthorized purchases and financial loss

If your name, email address, phone number, password, or financial details fall into the wrong hands, the effects can be immediate and long-lasting.

🧠 Understanding What “Personal Information” Means

Before we discuss protection strategies, it’s important to understand what qualifies as personal information:

• Basic identifiers: Full name, date of birth, address
• Contact details: Email address, phone number
• Financial data: Bank accounts, credit/debit cards
• Login credentials: Usernames and passwords
• Government IDs: Passport, driver’s license, social security numbers
• Behavioral data: Browsing history, location, IP address
• Biometric data: Face ID, fingerprints

Cybercriminals don’t need all your information at once — even a small piece of the puzzle can be exploited.

🔒 1. Use Strong, Unique Passwords Everywhere

One of the simplest yet most important protections is strong passwords:

🔹 Password Best Practices

• Use at least 12 characters
• Include uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols
• Avoid personal information (birthdays, names)
• Use different passwords for every account
• Change passwords periodically

🔹 Use a Password Manager

It’s nearly impossible to remember dozens of strong, unique passwords. A password manager (like LastPass, 1Password, Bitwarden) helps you:

• Generate secure passwords
• Store login details securely
• Autofill credentials safely

A password manager becomes your first line of defense against brute-force and credential-stuffing attacks.

🛡 2. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Passwords alone are not enough. Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer by requiring a second confirmation step.

🔹 Types of 2FA

• SMS codes
• Authentication apps (Google Authenticator, Authy)
• Email codes
• Biometric verification (fingerprint, Face ID)

🔹 Why 2FA Matters

Even if someone guesses your password, they can’t access your account without the second factor. Always enable 2FA wherever available — especially for:

• Email accounts
• Online banking
• Social media
• Cloud storage accounts

🕵️‍♂️ 3. Be Careful With Public Wi-Fi

Public Wi-Fi is convenient but largely insecure. Hackers often target these networks to intercept data.

🔹 Risks of Public Wi-Fi

• Unencrypted connections
• Man-in-the-middle attacks
• Fake hotspot spoofing

🔹 How to Stay Safe

• Avoid sensitive transactions (banking, shopping)
• Use a VPN (Virtual Private Network)
• Turn off auto-connect to Wi-Fi
• Use mobile data for sensitive tasks

🔹 Why a VPN Helps?

A VPN encrypts all data between your device and the internet, making it unreadable to eavesdroppers — even on public networks.

🔐 4. Protect Your Devices

Your devices carry a lifetime of personal data. Protect them with strong security measures.

📱 Mobile & Tablet Security

✔ Use lock screens (PIN/Pattern/Biometrics)
✔ Enable remote tracking & wipe (Find My iPhone, Android Find)
✔ Install apps only from official stores
✔ Keep the OS updated

💻 Laptop & Desktop Security

✔ Firewall enabled
✔ Anti-virus software installed
✔ Automatic system updates
✔ Encryption (BitLocker on Windows, FileVault on macOS)

📂 Why Updates Matter

Software updates fix security vulnerabilities that hackers exploit. Ignoring updates exposes you to known threats.

🔍 5. Beware of Phishing & Social Engineering

Hackers don’t always break in — sometimes they trick you into giving out personal information.

🔹 What is Phishing?

Phishing involves trick emails, messages, or websites that look legitimate but steal credentials or install malware.

🔹 Common Tactics

• Fake bank notifications
• Imitation social media alerts
• “You’ve won a prize!” scams
• Urgent account reset messages

🔹 How to Spot Phishing

✔ Check sender email address closely
✔ Look for grammar mistakes
✔ Avoid clicking suspicious links
✔ Navigate manually to sites instead of clicking links

Never provide passwords, OTP codes, or financial details via email or SMS.

📱 6. Review & Limit App Permissions

Apps often request access to your personal data — sometimes more than needed.

🔹 Key Permissions to Review

• Location
• Contacts
• Camera/Microphone
• SMS/Call logs
• Storage

🔹 Best Practice

Regularly audit app permissions in your phone settings and revoke anything unnecessary. Only grant permissions that are essential to the app’s function.

🌐 7. Manage Your Social Media Privacy

Your social media profile is often rich with personal details that hackers can exploit.

🔹 Privacy Tips

• Make profiles private
• Limit what personal information is publicly visible
• Review tagged posts before they appear publicly
• Turn off location sharing in posts
• Use strong security settings

🔹 Watch Out for Oversharing

Birthdays, pet names, hometowns, school names — these can all be used in credential attacks.

🧹 8. Clean Up Old Accounts

Unused accounts with old credentials can be hijacked and used against you.

🔹 Steps to Clean Up

1. List all old/unused online accounts
2. Delete accounts you no longer need
3. Change passwords on accounts you keep
4. Audit account recovery options (email, phone)

This reduces your digital footprint and lowers the risk of old breaches affecting you.

🔐 9. Use Secure Browsers & Extensions

Your browser is your gateway to the web — make it safe.

🔹 Recommended Extensions

• Ad Blockers – block malicious ads
• HTTPS Everywhere – enforces secure connections
• Anti-Tracker Extensions – prevents behavior tracking

🔹 Why This Helps?

Encrypted (HTTPS) connections and tracker blockers protect you from hidden scripts that collect your data or redirect you to malicious sites.

🔎 10. Monitor Your Digital Identity

Being proactive means knowing if your personal information has been exposed.

🔹 Tools You Can Use

• Have I Been Pwned – alerts if your email appears in a breach
• Credit Monitoring Services – tracks financial identity theft
• Google Alerts – notifies you if your name/email appears publicly

🔹 Why This Matters?

Early detection helps you act quickly — changing passwords, freezing credit, notifying relevant parties — before significant damage happens.

🔁 11. Back Up Your Data Regularly

If your device gets compromised, backups ensure you don’t lose important information.

🔹 Best Practices

✔ Use cloud backups (Google Drive, iCloud)
✔ Regular local backups (external hard drive)
✔ Encrypt sensitive backups

🔹 Why It Helps?

In case of ransomware or malware, an encrypted backup means you can restore your data without paying a ransom.

🤖 12. Educate Yourself & Stay Updated

Cybersecurity is not static — threats evolve.

🔹 What You Can Do

• Read trusted security blogs
• Follow updates from tech companies
• Attend webinars on online safety
• Share knowledge with family/friends

🔹 Why This Is Important

Being aware of new scams, phishing tactics, and vulnerabilities helps you stay one step ahead of cybercriminals.

🧠 Common Mistakes to Avoid

✔ Using the same password everywhere
✔ Ignoring software updates
✔ Clicking links without verifying them
✔ Sharing sensitive information over unsecured channels
✔ Using unsecured public Wi-Fi for sensitive tasks

Avoiding these behaviors significantly reduces your digital risk.

🏁 Final Thoughts

Protecting your personal information online isn’t optional — it’s essential. From smart passwords and two-factor authentication to cautious browsing and continuous monitoring, the steps you take today can protect you from long-term digital harm.

In an age where almost everything is connected, treating your data like a valuable asset — with proper security and vigilance — will keep you safer, more private, and more in control of your digital life.

Stay safe. Stay informed. Stay protected.