Many people share far more personal information online than they realize. Every social media post, online form, and account registration can create a trail that cybercriminals or data brokers can take advantage of. Reducing how much personal data you share online can go a long way toward protecting your privacy and security. Here are three effective ways to get started.
Be Selective with What You Post
Think carefully before sharing personal details on social media or public websites. Avoid posting sensitive information like your home address, phone number, date of birth, or travel plans where others can see them. Review your old posts and remove anything that reveals too much about your habits, location, or family. When possible, limit your audience to trusted contacts instead of making everything public.
Tweak Privacy and Security Settings
Most online accounts and apps offer privacy settings that control what information is collected and who can see it. Take a few minutes to review these settings on social media, email, cloud storage, and other commonly used services. Disable location sharing where it’s not needed, turn off unnecessary data collection, and restrict who can see your posts and profile details. Enabling multi-factor authentication also helps protect the data those accounts hold.
Limit What You Share with Websites and Apps
When creating accounts or filling out online forms, only provide the information that is truly required. If a field is optional, consider leaving it blank. Be cautious about signing in with social accounts like Google or Facebook, as this can share more data between services than you intend. Before installing apps or browser extensions, review the permissions they request and avoid ones that ask for access they don’t need, such as your contacts, microphone, or location.
By being intentional about what you post, adjusting your privacy settings, and limiting what you share with websites and apps, you can significantly reduce the amount of personal data that’s exposed online. If you have questions about how to better protect your information and secure your technology, give our team a call. We are happy to help.
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