Published on October 21st, 2017 | by Sunit Nandi

The Importance of Online Privacy

Online privacy is unlike privacy in real life. It is not the same as closing the bedroom curtains when you are prepared to go to bed or closing the doors when you pay a visit to your physician. Real life situations do not apply to the online world because the idea of privacy is flawed in the digital space. Most people do not even have an understanding of the importance of online privacy.

Online Privacy Is about Protecting Your Data

Maintaining online privacy simply means protecting your data from inadvertently being stolen or picked up by an unknown individual. It is well known that a comprehensive set of data on an individual can make a pile of money for the unscrupulous who will not be required to face any legal repercussions. It is for this reason that we now have companies, which are operating as data brokers. Their sole intention is to collect and maintain data on millions of people, which is analyzed, packaged and sold without the knowledge or permission of the user. Data brokers are collecting and selling such information to other companies for various reasons, which can include targeted advertising, direct marketing and even credit risk assessment. Fortunately, the data marketed by data brokers is usually an anonymised and therefore does not contain any personally identifiable information. If you are not aware of the importance of online privacy you are advised to continue reading this article because we are giving you an opportunity to discover here the importance of safeguarding your privacy.

What Is The Importance Of Online Privacy?

Everyone around the world has something to hide from someone. The matter could be related to the kind of money they are making, their medical records or financial data. Hiding information, which is important, is not a bad habit and in any event, these matters do not require broadcasting over the social media for the benefit of the entire world. This is the kind of information that an individual should be looking forward to safeguarding at all costs.

Marketing companies have methods to identify events or problems that an individual could be going through simply by looking at purchases that may be made by the individual. They are capable of targeting the individual with efforts of marketing certain products, which may or may not be required. The same is true also for the unscrupulous variety of people that only have the intention of defrauding people that are not safeguarding their online privacy. They are forever looking for digital footprints that are difficult to erase from the Internet despite deleting any information, which may have been posted. Leaving a digital footprint over the Internet is not difficult because even registering for a social media account will leave behind traces of your information which will be available to all over the Internet.

How to Safeguard Your Online Privacy?

Apart from protecting the devices, you use from malware and any other malicious software you are advised to install a reliable protection system that will offer you safety from threats over the landscape of the Internet. You must be aware that the Internet is highly vulnerable and therefore you need protection against spyware, rogue websites, adware and even phishing emails. The importance of online privacy is also a requirement, which cannot be overlooked when you are away from your computer. It is essential for you to understand that your smartphone also has the potential to leave behind a digital footprint. Safeguarding your devices against all threats is the only option that will give you information about the importance of online privacy because they will make it impossible for your information to be accessed by an unknown third party.

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About the Author

Sunit Nandi I'm the leader of Techno FAQ. Also an engineering college student with immense interest in science and technology. Other interests include literature, coin collecting, gardening and photography. Always wish to live life like there's no tomorrow.