Most of us appreciate how important privacy has become, especially when we do a lot of things online that involve our personal data. Browser best practices are important to follow to keep our data private. Here are some ways that you, your staff and colleagues can secure your business data.
Browser Settings and Promoting Privacy
These are some simple things you can do to make sure you are using your browser in a way that keeps your personal information private. It doesn’t matter which browser you’re using – the basic principles still apply when it comes to boosting your online privacy.Set Your Default Permissions
Websites need to ask permission before being able to access any of your data and allied information, including your location, your camera and use of pop-up windows. The default setting is usually ‘on’, which could leave you vulnerable to cyberattacks and data theft.
Think about it. With access to your camera and microphone, cybercriminals can listen and watch, spy on your personal life and gather data that can be used in scams. Pop-up windows can host threats and dangerous malware can be installed via automated downloads.
For these reasons, you need to check the settings for these permissions. They should be set to ‘Ask’, so nobody can watch, listen or gather data without your permission. If you have no need to use these features then just make sure they’re set to ‘Off’.
Disallow Trackers and Third-Party Cookies
Many websites now use their own cookies so that they can evaluate how well their website is working and make adjustments to optimize its functionality. But there are a lot of other cookies, from third parties, that are tracking you too. To minimize threats to your business you can block cookies that don’t come from the specific website that you’re visiting.
Trackers should be easier to deal with. They are increasingly being used instead of cookies as a way of tracking how a user behaves online. The good news is that you should be able to switch them off completely. It’s less likely to disrupt the functioning of a website, which can sometimes happen if cookies are blocked. If your browser won’t allow you to block trackers, it might be time to consider using a different browser.
Make the Most of Tools and Utilities
All browsers offer slightly different security features and it’s worthwhile familiarizing yourself with what each one has to offer and how to minimize risk in different scenarios. For example, you should only use one browser to sign into a given online account. So if you use Firefox for Facebook, don’t then sign into it with Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome. Also note that though you may have separate accounts attached to these services (a work one and a personal one, for example), Google will try to merge your activities together in their data system. Similarly, if you’re given the choice to sign in with another account, such as Facebook or Google, don’t do it. Stick with the login for the site or service itself. Using another sign-in method will give these other companies access to your online behavior.
You can take back some of your online privacy by using some add-on browser extensions and alternative websites. These can help hide your activities from trackers or are more secure because they foster anonymization. It’s worth looking out for these tools and extras in the interests of protecting your online privacy.
Life would be unthinkable for most of us without the Internet, but it does pose a lot of risks. The answer is to be prepared and use it thoughtfully. The team at Quikteks can help you to avoid problems. Call us at (973) 882-4644 to discover our range of services, including those that can help you safeguard your privacy and security online.