3 Major Internet Privacy Issues and How to Avoid Them

3 Major Internet Privacy Issues and How to Avoid Them

Information mishandling, snooping and location tracking are often the ways in which users find their privacy violated online.

  • By Susan Alexandra
  • Sep 03, 2019

Internet is the fastest way of connecting with the world but, unfortunately, it is not the safest one. The internet is full of scams and gambles, and you are on the verge of security risks when you choose to be online.

Most internet users are least bothered about their online privacy and are unaware of the plausible risks associated with it. Not only your privacy but your safety is also endangered, especially when you are using the internet to carry out important and secretive tasks like online banking and sharing crucial business files.

Three Major Issues Concerning Online Privacy

Online users are incredibly vulnerable to security threats, and there is a long list of issues associated with their safety. Here we are discussing only the major issues concerning online privacy.

Spying and Snooping

When you are online, you are spied by a number of trackers for various purposes. Trackers keep a record of your search history and track all your online activities through various means. This provides them a clear picture of who you are and your interests, which is a breach of online privacy policy and makes you a public property. Most of the time, this tracking is for advertisement purposes only and it allows advertisers to show ads according to your taste and interests. But sometimes this information is used by cybercriminals to carry out unauthorized and illegal activities risking your online existence.

Information Mishandling

There are various sites on the internet that need your personal information to get access to their services. These sites often store cookies and save your personal information and later use it for various purposes. Most of the time this information is not encrypted and can be accessed by anyone. This mishandling of personal information may lead to serious consequences. The modern trend of e-banking and e-business portals have multiplied the risks associated with online privacy. By sharing your bank details and crucial files on the internet, you are paving ways for burglars and making yourself vulnerable to cybercriminals.

Location Tracking

Most of the internet users proudly upload their social media posts highlighting their current location along with tagging friends and family members. It's fun and exciting to share your life events with friends and family, but this data does not remain restricted to your expected audience only. This same data is stored on the social media site you are using and stays there forever, often without you knowing (though you may have given consent through a terms and services agreement). Along with social media apps, Google Maps and other apps also ask for your location and by turning on your location you are providing first-hand information to the world about where exactly you are and what your next move is, which is certainly risky and insecure.

Five Possible Ways to Protect Against Online Privacy Threats

There’s no way to completely avoid threats and attacks, but still, there are some steps you can take to avoid being victim on the internet. Here are some measures that should be followed:

Use a VPN

There are various ways of protecting your online privacy, but the most successful and certain way is through VPN. It is a tool that provides an encrypted tunnel for all your online activities, which means it encodes all the information transferred between you and your host site and leaves no chances of snooping and spying. It also provides you an anonymous IP and disguises your actual identity, hiding your geographical location and making your online existence more safe and secure.

There are various VPN available including free and paid ones. Some VPN work on a small scale and have access to a few countries only while others are international ones with access to most parts of the world.

Conduct Safe Browsing

Hackers can easily track your activities and get into your system through your browser. It’s highly recommended to keep your browser updated to the latest version. Avoid using spammy websites that asks for user details. You can also block ads on your browser and take extra time to actually read privacy policies before giving your consent.

Keep Your System Up-to-Date

Keep your system up to date to ensure that you don’t miss out any feature and security fixes. If you find it a hassle to manually apply updates, you can always use tools to automate your software updates. Regularly scan your system or it’s better to keep auto scan on in your system.

Use Anti-Virus

A strong anti-virus program will keep your device free from all types of malware, such as spyware, viruses, Trojans, etc. You can also use a good anti-virus that will keep you updated if it found something wrong in your system. Using anti-virus is essential as it helps you to get real time updates.

Adjust Your Settings on Social Media

Take advantage of the options that are available to you. Big Internet companies such as Facebook and Google usually give you options to opt out of some, if not all, of their personalization and tracking.

Featured

  • Cloud Security Alliance Brings AI-Assisted Auditing to Cloud Computing

    The Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), the world’s leading organization dedicated to defining standards, certifications, and best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment, today introduced an innovative addition to its suite of Security, Trust, Assurance and Risk (STAR) Registry assessments with the launch of Valid-AI-ted, an AI-powered, automated validation system. The new tool provides an automated quality check of assurance information of STAR Level 1 self-assessments using state-of-the-art LLM technology. Read Now

  • Report: Nearly 1 in 5 Healthcare Leaders Say Cyberattacks Have Impacted Patient Care

    Omega Systems, a provider of managed IT and security services, today released new research that reveals the growing impact of cybersecurity challenges on leading healthcare organizations and patient safety. According to the 2025 Healthcare IT Landscape Report, 19% of healthcare leaders say a cyberattack has already disrupted patient care, and more than half (52%) believe a fatal cyber-related incident is inevitable within the next five years. Read Now

  • AI Is Now the Leading Cybersecurity Concern for Security, IT Leaders

    Arctic Wolf recently published findings from its State of Cybersecurity: 2025 Trends Report, offering insights from a global survey of more than 1,200 senior IT and cybersecurity decision-makers across 15 countries. Conducted by Sapio Research, the report captures the realities, risks, and readiness strategies shaping the modern security landscape. Read Now

  • Analysis of AI Tools Shows 85 Percent Have Been Breached

    AI tools are becoming essential to modern work, but their fast, unmonitored adoption is creating a new kind of security risk. Recent surveys reveal a clear trend – employees are rapidly adopting consumer-facing AI tools without employer approval, IT oversight, or any clear security policies. According to Cybernews Business Digital Index, nearly 90% of analyzed AI tools have been exposed to data breaches, putting businesses at severe risk. Read Now

  • Software Vulnerabilities Surged 61 Percent in 2024, According to New Report

    Action1, a provider of autonomous endpoint management (AEM) solutions, today released its 2025 Software Vulnerability Ratings Report, revealing a 61% year-over-year surge in discovered software vulnerabilities and a 96% spike in exploited vulnerabilities throughout 2024, amid an increasingly aggressive threat landscape. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame.

  • 4K Video Decoder

    3xLOGIC’s VH-DECODER-4K is perfect for use in organizations of all sizes in diverse vertical sectors such as retail, leisure and hospitality, education and commercial premises.