In a world where online data privacy is paramount, knowing the right tools to protect oneself is crucial. Leading experts, such as a CEO and a Cyber Security Analyst, share their insights in this comprehensive guide. The article begins with advice on separating personal and e-commerce browsing data and concludes with the importance of avoiding SMS authentication in favor of Google Authenticator. With seventeen actionable insights, this blog post is an indispensable resource for enhancing online privacy.
- Separate Personal and E-Commerce Browsing Data
- Track Data Sharing with Email Aliases
- Delete Unused Accounts with JustDelete.me
- Use Bitwarden for Strong, Unique Passwords
- Use VPNs to Prevent Man-in-the-Middle Attacks
- Protect Client Communications with Signal
- Encrypt and Secure Connections with NordVPN
- Block Trackers with DuckDuckGo Browser Extension
- Block Trackers with Firefox and uBlock Origin
- Cloak Images with Fawkes for Privacy
- Detect Trackers Automatically with Privacy Badger
- Secure Passwords with Zoho Vault
- Generate Strong Passwords with a Password Manager
- Encrypt Emails with ProtonMail
- Encrypt Connections with a VPN
- Monitor Identity Theft with Bitdefender
- Avoid SMS Authentication, Use Google Authenticator
Separate Personal and E-Commerce Browsing Data
I’ve discovered that using Firefox Multi-Account Containers has been incredibly effective for separating personal and e-commerce browsing data, preventing cross-site tracking that can compromise privacy. This tool lets me keep my clients’ Shopify work separate from personal browsing, which has stopped those creepy situations where my personal shopping shows up in my work-related analytics.
Joshua Uebergang
Founder, Digital Darts
Track Data Sharing with Email Aliases
I use domain-based email aliases like sales@mydomain.com, support@mydomain.com, and personal@mydomain.com to track who’s sharing my data. By using a different alias for each type of signup, I can instantly see who sold my info when spam starts showing up. When an alias gets compromised, I just redirect it to a blackhole and create a new one.
After doing this for years, it’s shocking how many “reputable” companies sell your data. Most people don’t realize that a “one-time purchase” often means your email getting sold dozens of times. Having separate aliases lets you actually do something about it instead of just drowning in spam.
Vincent Schmalbach
Web Developer, AI Engineer & SEO Expert, Vincent Schmalbach
Delete Unused Accounts with JustDelete.me
A tool that I recommend for enhancing online data privacy is the free resource of JustDelete.me. This tool assists in deleting online accounts that individuals are no longer using, by simplifying the process to one centralized instruction directory.
JustDelete.me categorizes accounts based on the difficulty of account deletion, from easy to nearly impossible, and provides direct links to relevant account deletion pages. When platforms have complex or unclear processes, the tool offers guidance to help you understand the steps required.
I recommend JustDelete.me as it empowers users to take control of their online data privacy by closing unused accounts. This tool easily addresses the significant but often overlooked privacy issue of the widespread availability of personal information online. These accounts are often a security risk as they may use outdated/insecure passwords or hold sensitive data that can be exploited in the event of a breach. By utilizing this tool and closing these accounts, you can reduce your exposure to cyber threats and enhance your privacy.
Another strength of JustDelete.me is its accessibility. The tool is free and straightforward, meaning it is great for individuals that are overwhelmed by the sheer number of services they have signed up for over the years. Those using it without technical expertise can do so with ease, as JustDelete.me color codes each of your accounts according to which you should tackle first. This way, the tool breaks down the overwhelming process into bite-sized chunks, allowing you to reclaim your online data privacy in a manageable way.
While JustDelete.me is a powerful tool, it’s most effective when combined with proactive security practices. These practices include using unique, strong passwords, enabling multi-factor authentication for active accounts, and regularly reviewing your online footprint. Together, these measures provide a comprehensive approach to safeguarding and enhancing your online digital privacy.
Elsie Day
Cyber Security Analyst, CyPro
Use Bitwarden for Strong, Unique Passwords
After witnessing numerous data breaches in the gaming industry, I’ve found that password managers like Bitwarden are absolutely essential for maintaining strong, unique passwords across different platforms. I switched to Bitwarden last year because it’s open-source, offers end-to-end encryption, and has helped me manage over 100 different passwords while keeping my gaming accounts and business data secure.
John Cheng
CEO, PlayAbly.AI
Use VPNs to Prevent Man-in-the-Middle Attacks
I spent years begging my family to use MFA and varying their passwords, which heeded no attention until my wife had her social media accounts hacked by an imposter. My new mission is to now have my family, my employees, and anyone I speak to at conferences, start using a VPN on their cell phones in particular.
It’s those conferences and the travel to them that is most concerning. Traveling through airports or coffee shops can expose you to several significant threats such as man-in-the-middle attacks (hackers intercepting communication between your device and the Wi-Fi network), session hacking, fake Wi-Fi (evil twin attacks), and the list goes on.
A VPN tool (available at low monthly fees and even free, from a simple online search), prevents these attacks, by encrypting your internet connection by routing your data through secure servers, masking your IP address, and making your online activities anonymous. It’s an essential next step for anyone concerned about online privacy.
Antonio Piraino
CTO, MethodData
Protect Client Communications with Signal
Working in healthcare marketing, I’ve found encrypted messaging apps like Signal essential for protecting sensitive client communications. We switched our team to Signal last year after a competitor had a data breach, and it’s given us peace of mind knowing our messages have end-to-end encryption. While WhatsApp is popular, I prefer Signal because it collects minimal user data and has a proven track record in the privacy community.
Ryan Miller
Founder & CEO, Etna Interactive
Encrypt and Secure Connections with NordVPN
For online data privacy, I highly recommend using NordVPN. As an SEO specialist, I often work with sensitive client data, and NordVPN ensures that my internet connection remains encrypted and secure. It hides your IP address and lets you browse anonymously, which is essential when working with tools that might otherwise expose personal or business data. It also offers features like Double VPN for an extra layer of security.
I recommend NordVPN because it’s easy to set up and works across multiple devices, including phones, laptops, and tablets. Whether you’re working remotely or just browsing online, this tool provides peace of mind knowing your data is protected. In today’s digital age, taking proactive steps to safeguard your online presence is non-negotiable.
Greg Walters
Co-Founder, Chat PDF Pro
Block Trackers with DuckDuckGo Browser Extension
I’ve found that DuckDuckGo’s browser extension is a game-changer for protecting privacy since it automatically blocks trackers and forces websites to use encrypted connections. After implementing it across our marketing team, we noticed significantly fewer targeted ads following us around, while still maintaining the data we actually need for our campaigns.
Yarden Morgan
Director of Growth, Lusha
Block Trackers with Firefox and uBlock Origin
Being in game development, I’ve found Mozilla Firefox with uBlock Origin to be incredibly effective at blocking trackers and maintaining privacy while testing our online features. The combination gives me detailed control over what data websites can access, and I’ve noticed it’s blocked over 1 million tracking attempts in just the past year while developing.
Christian Marin
CEO, Freezenova
Cloak Images with Fawkes for Privacy
As a family photographer I often work with clients who do not wish to have their images online. As a result I was asked to look into facial recognition and discovered a tool called Fawkes which offers Image “Cloaking” for Personal Privacy. The images themselves appear unaffected to the eye but the software makes subtle changes to your photos so that any algorithm scanning those images in the future sees you as a different person altogether.
Nina Mace
Photographer, Trainer & Mentor, Nina Mace Photography
Detect Trackers Automatically with Privacy Badger
In my 20 years working with digital marketing, I’ve seen Privacy Badger become an absolute essential tool because it learns and automatically detects trackers without relying on predefined lists. When I implemented it for my clients, we saw a dramatic decrease in unwanted data collection while maintaining analytics that actually matter for their businesses.
Kevin Pike
President, Rankfuse
Secure Passwords with Zoho Vault
We’ve found Zoho Vault to be an excellent tool for enhancing online data privacy. It securely stores unique, strong passwords for every account, eliminating the risks of password reuse. Zoho Vault encrypts all stored credentials, ensuring they remain safe, and gives us centralized control over access when working as a team. One feature we particularly appreciate is how it alerts us to any potential breaches. This allows us to respond immediately, reducing risks. Zoho Vault has not only improved our security practices but also made managing passwords much easier. It’s an effective way to protect sensitive information without added complexity.
Vikrant Bhalodia
Head of Marketing & People Ops, WeblineIndia
Generate Strong Passwords with a Password Manager
I would say a password manager is one of the best tools for enhancing online privacy. It is quite helpful for safely handling and saving your login information, particularly if you are using email masks or aliases, which you should do for extra privacy. A password manager can generate strong, unique passwords for each of your accounts, making it much harder for hackers to gain access. Additionally, by removing the need to memorize numerous complicated passwords, it lessens the temptation to reuse weak ones. All things considered, it’s a straightforward but efficient method of increasing your internet security and protecting your personal data.
James Wilson
Personal Cybersecurity Expert, My Data Removal
Encrypt Emails with ProtonMail
For enhancing online data privacy, I recommend using ProtonMail.
Why am I recommending it?
- Your emails are encrypted, meaning only you and the recipient can read them—no one else, not even ProtonMail.
- ProtonMail doesn’t track your data or serve ads, keeping your personal information private.
- ProtonMail is subject to strict Swiss privacy laws, which protect user data from government surveillance.
It’s an easy-to-use, secure email service that protects your communications, especially when dealing with sensitive or personal information.
Vishal Shah
Sr. Technical Consultant, WPWeb Infotech
Encrypt Connections with a VPN
To enhance online privacy, you ideally need to stay hidden, and to do that a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a great tool to help achieve this result. What does it do? Two main things:
- Â It jumbles up (encrypts) your connection to the Internet, so if a criminal was listening in, they can’t understand your communications to the Internet.
- It makes it look like your communication to the Internet is being requested from a different computer. But, it does not provide true anonymity. The provider of the VPN does know who you are and what you are doing, so make sure the VPN provider you use does not keep any logs related to any online activity.
Mike Ouwerkerk
Fun, Engaging Cyber Security Awareness Trainer & Cultural Transformation Consultant, Web Safe Staff
Monitor Identity Theft with Bitdefender
Today, online security and data privacy have become increasingly important for individuals as the power of AI has made it easier for nefarious players to target your personal information. One of the most comprehensive tools that you can use to keep safe at all times online is Bitdefender, which is an app that actively monitors for instances of identity theft and the remediation of stolen identities. The platform also provides coverage for password management at scale and a dedicated VPN for risk-free browsing online.
The best thing about Bitdefender is that it offers access to dedicated resolution specialists that can act on your behalf to combat identity theft, meaning that you can rest easy knowing that your identity is safe online at all times and well looked after.
Tom South
Director of Organic & Web, Epos Now
Avoid SMS Authentication, Use Google Authenticator
Try to avoid SMS confirmation for logins. Use Google Authenticator to verify your identity on secure websites. SMS authentication is being proven to be a less secure way of confirming your identity. If you need a secure app, another option is to get a hardware key for authentication.
Zain Jaffer
CEO, Zain Ventures
