How to start protecting your personal privacy

With every passing day, security experts and tech bloggers warn us of brand-new threats to our personal privacy. Whether these threats come from the corporate world, governments, law enforcement or the unknown, more and more people are drawing a line in the sand and shouting “okay, that’s it, I’m not going to take it anymore.”

Often, the problem is that after drawing that line in the sand, the everyday consumer isn’t quite sure what to do next. 

So here’s what’s next…

Browse smarter

Let’s start with an easy one and focus on something most of us use every day in some way, shape or form. Whether you use Apple Safari, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or Microsoft Edge, you can limit the amount of data leaked through everyday browsing. The easiest way to do this is to either clear all cookie caches and browsing histories on a daily basis or set your preferences so that no cookies are collected at all. 

This means that you won’t be relying on the browser’s memory to speed up the browsing process, but if entering a few passwords and typing a few web addresses means additional security, it’s an easy compromise to make. 

Browse anonymously

If you think that using a browser’s anonymous mode means that you’re no longer being tracked or your data is no longer being collected, you’d be wrong. The only way to just open a browser and be secure without the use of any additional software is to abandon mainstream offerings and download Tor, a free, open-source, privacy-first application. 

Instead of establishing direct connections to websites, leaving you open to traffic analyses and IP-address tracking, Tor creates tunnels between you and your destination, hiding your true identity and restricting any data harvesting acivities - legal or otherwise.

Install a reliable VPN

If you are set on using a mainstream browser and big tech apps, then your best option is to invest in a Virtual Private Network and hide your IP address from prying eyes. Actually, using the word ‘invest’ is a bit of an exaggeration as subscriptions usually cost no more than a coffee per month. 

It is important to know that not all VPNs are created equal and just because you see advertisements for certain brands before every second YouTube video, doesn’t mean that they can be trusted. We offer the most reliable consumer VPN on earth, Mullvad VPN. Stripped of unnecessary bells and whistles, Mullvad also gives you the most security bang for your buck. 

Upgrade to privacy-first tech

Let’s be frank. The more insistent you are on using mainstream software and hardware, the more likely your online world will be compromised by existing, evolving or yet-to-be-named threats. Which is why more and more organisations and individuals are seeking out alternatives, whether it be privacy-first smartphones, operating systems and/or laptops. 

As the market for such technology continues to grow at an exponential rate, these technologies will become less foreign and more widely trusted (which is ironic). Now is your chance to get on board the privacy-first train and truly become a master of your digital world. 

Keep your eyes open

If we were to truly face the reality of what’s going on with our data, we’d all be clamouring over the nearest privacy-first device or application. Mass surveillance is currently being conducted in a multitude of ways by supposedly free and democratic governments and allegedly consumer-first big tech organisations. 

Our rights mean nothing to either and it doesn’t take much to see the degree to which we are commodities in a much larger commercial machine. The more you remain aware of what’s going on with your tech, the easier it is to safeguard your data. 

Behind the curtain

At NCryptCellular, we continue to provide the tools that will help you to make smarter, safer and more secure decisions that protect your right to privacy. No matter how innocent your online world, you never know how your data might be manipulated and used against you down the line. 

Visit our webshop to enter the exciting world of alternative, privacy-first technology.