If you’re a privacy geek person who prefers to stay safe from snoopers and hackers; you need to preserve all your data online. Do you know that your activities can threaten your family’s privacy as well? Careless browsing practices don’t just pose a peril to you but also to your family. To this end, we thought up of this guide that will tell you how to protect your family’s privacy online. (Also check, 10 Cyber Security Tips You Need to Know – You may get surprised!).
How To Protect Your Family Privacy Online?
In order to keep you and your family safe, you will have to make sure you don’t attempt for the following mistakes:
Linking Facebook To Other Services
Numerous sites let you enroll quickly just by clicking the “Login with Facebook” option. This improves comfort but when you log in using Facebook; you enable that specific website to access your Facebook account information. This includes necessary information and pictures (including the ones where you have been tagged by any of your friends). It is always wise to use your email address when you sign up for a new account for the different websites you visit online.
Tagging Your Family And Friends
Similarly, when you tag your friends and family in your photos, other websites can access this data, which is not a safe thing. Besides, if all your accounts are connected together; there is a fair chance that if one account gets hacked; the others can easily be hacked too. To ensure this doesn’t occur; sign in separately for each service instead of just logging on Facebook to protect your family privacy online.
Sharing Information On Social Media
When you post pictures of a family vacation on Facebook; you allow others to comprehend that you are outside and there is no one home. While it’s always an excellent idea to share pictures on social media; these pictures shouldn’t be posted in real-time. So when you return from the vacation, you’re free to post as many photos as you want. Because when you upload images in real-time, you don’t just endanger your security but also the privacy of the people with you. When you will tag them in your photos, people other then their friends can see who is on the go with you.
It’s a safe idea to wait until you return home and then post photos online. Also, avoid checking into a location on Facebook because it will disclose the fact that you aren’t home. Disable the location of your smartphone before sharing anything online to protect your family’s privacy online.
Not Clearing EXIF Data
There are some metadata correlated with each image. When you capture the photograph and post it online, it shows a lot of personal data. While you might be unaware of the information that is being leaked, anyone with evil intent can get a grip on it.
Some metadata shown by your photographs incorporates GPS coordinates, camera models, and the date of the image, which implies a hacker can quickly know where you were and when. When you post something online, ensure you remove its EXIF data. Doing so is effortless. On a Windows computer, go to Properties by right-clicking on the image file. Now click on Remove Properties and it clear the EXIF. (Also see, A Comprehensive Guide to IP Leaks)
Allowing Apps To Access the Contact List
When you install any app, it needs some permissions. Most of us simply click on Accept. We think we’ve got nothing to hide so we’re fine if any app uses our data. Any calling app needs access to your contact; it makes sense. But, if any camera filter app or any other such app asks for your contact access, there’s no point in giving them the access. Such apps are likely to just collect and sell your data for whatever purposes. You should not give them access to your personal information unnecessarily to protect your family’s privacy online.
Not Using A VPN On Your Computer Or Phone
When you or any of your family members use the internet, the data going from your device to the internet can be easily compromised. You might fall victim to any hacking attempt; as any hacker can be sitting between your device and the web server, you are reaching. Make sure you make this path safe and protected. This can only be done by using a VPN connection; that routes your internet data through an encrypted tunnel. So, always use a VPN to protect your family privacy online.
Conclusion
Using these methods, you can protect your family’s privacy online and keep them safe. It will just take a few extra steps and be a little bit cautious to save your family from any potential online threats.
