Can Technology Affect Our Perception of Online Privacy?

Technology is a big part of our everyday lives. It makes our lives easier, more convenient and more entertaining. But, are we relying on technology so much that we can’t see into the possible dangers it brings to our privacy? When it comes to online privacy awareness, 2019 could be the most important year in recent memory. In this week’s Zlog, we’re going to take a look at how technology affects our perception of privacy and online privacy, and what can we do about it.

How Modern Technology Affects Our Privacy

Given the current mainstream media and social network environment, it’s clear to understand that there is a growing movement of privacy advocates. Big names like Facebook and Google are quickly going down the ladder of companies we trust, mainly due to their reputation of mishandling personal information of their users. As researches show, the majority of internet users are aware that their personal information is being used in one way or another, but they also feel that they can’t do much about this.

However, on a more positive note, there has been certain progress when it comes to online privacy protection. The advent of the GDPR promises better protection, at least for EU citizens for the time being. Users can opt out of sharing personal information with the websites they visit. Although this isn’t an ideal solution and can limit your online experience, it’s currently one of the best ways to maintain your online privacy and anonymity.

How You Can Use Technology to Protect Your Online Privacy

As we’ve dedicated the first part of this article to the negative aspects of ever-evolving technology, we would be remised if we don’t mention all of the benefits technology brings to our everyday lives. There are many things an online user can do to maximize his privacy and anonymity when using the internet. Whether you’re worried about identity theft or financial fraud, here are some steps you can take to keep your private information a bit more secure:

• Use a Password Protection Manager– As shockingly useful as they are, only a very small percentage of internet users use a password manager. They are safe, simple to use and can help you in creating unique and impossible to break security locks for every device in your household.
• Install an Antivirus – Online privacy comes hand in hand with online security. This applies not only to your computer but to your mobile and tablet devices as well. This is why you should always have an antivirus program installed, and keep your software updated, as it can go a long way in making sure no viruses get through to your device.
• Choose a Secure Browser – Your browser serves as your gateway to the internet. That’s why you should be careful when choosing a browser and pick according to your online activities. To help you out, we’ve made a list of the best browsers currently available.
• Use a VPN Service – In addition, users who want to ensure they are as private and secure as they can be when browsing the internet should consider using a VPN alongside an antivirus.
• Only Use Sources you can Trust – No matter what you’re installing or purchasing from the internet, always make sure it comes from a trustworthy source. So, if you can’t tell where the product is coming from, you also won’t be able to know where your information could be going. Such examples of untrustworthy sources can include phone calls, emails and even websites that try to imitate legitimate businesses in order to scam you out of your personal information.

Don’t Be the Weakest Link in the Privacy Chain

The truth is, we all have things we would like to keep to ourselves. Whether it’s personal or financial information, there are things you wouldn’t want to share with the internet. Although at times it may seem that the online world is a huge and unregulated environment, it’s important to always keep in mind that you are the one in control of your privacy. That’s why you should always strive to protect it in any way you can. One of the best solutions for maintaining online privacy is a VPN service. Go for a well-known and secure VPN service that can protect you from online privacy threats. Sign up with ZoogVPN for free or choose one of our premium subscription plans and make sure your personal information stays private.

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  Yaroslav S.

  CEO at ZoogVPN. Yaroslav is a versatile manager with extensive customer support experience. His historical background and a deep passion for philosophy perfectly complete a real desire to create meaningful content and tech products.