Internet privacy is a broad term, but it revolves around how much personal data you reveal when going online. It also involves controlling the collection of this data, as well as limiting who has access to it. This is a vital topic, as cyber threats are ever-growing and more dangerous. A lack of internet privacy protection makes you more vulnerable to doxing, bullying, spamming and other types of abuse.
While people usually willingly provide personal information to complete an online transaction, the information that they give away can be used in ways that go beyond what they intended. This is why internet privacy is so important for everyone, including businesses.
Some businesses collect personal information about users to display personalised ads, and this data can include browsing and search history, shopping habits and social media activity. However, this information can also be gathered by hackers or by ISPs (Internet service providers).
Another way that internet privacy is violated is through device fingerprinting, which is the identification of the software and hardware of a remote computing device, even when the browser is not open or the IP address is hidden. This can be used by governments or businesses for surveillance or security purposes.
Divulging your name, age, employer, home address and other personal details on the internet is a big risk for your privacy, as it opens you up to cyber criminals and bullies. To help protect your privacy, use secure passwords and avoid sharing too much information on public social media accounts.