We live in an era when almost anything can be found online. Your email address, phone number, a picture from 10 years ago, the next big scandal, even your home address. But it’s often disguised under the guise that companies are protecting you from “bad actors” trying to trick you, but most of our information is actually being traded amongst these same companies. Just look at how much information they keep on us:
A big step towards halting at least further activity is STOP CLICKING YES WHEN THEY ASK ABOUT COOKIES! On almost every site you enter it’s going to ask you if they can freely access your browser’s cookies, which essentially allows that website to track your activity as you browse the site. Also stop signing up for that newsletter, you’re probably never visiting that site again. It might not be a big deal to you but cookies can store information such as log-in information which can be bad if it leaks, but most importantly it gives information to the company on how to better keep you interested in their product. If there are brands that you really like and regularly shop at, then by all means go ahead. I know I do, but for a website I visited while browning? Yeah, I’ll second think about that choice.
Another great choice I have made is making the financial decision to purchase an anti-virus service. Now, initially I got it exclusively for the anti-virus feature but Norton, the service I use, also offers dark web monitoring, VPN services, and offers advice for further security from businesses and individuals.
Overall, choices like these have pushed me to more critically think about the information I want to be shared with businesses. While I can appreciate a personalized ad as much as the next consumer, I have made more of an effort to decenter technology and social media from my personal life, and limiting their access to my computer and phone data has been a huge step in the right direction.
Politics Is Everything 