Does Privacy Exist Online?

PUBLISHED IN UNION COUNTY SENIOR NEWS

Going online today feels like instant exposure, whether you are trying to make a purchase or just looking for some general information. Pop-ups appear out of nowhere and they never seem to go away. And, if you don’t click on some pop-ups, you are often prevented from accessing the information you want. Why is this happening and is there anything you can do to make it stop?

Cookies. Much of the online tracking comes from cookies. Cookies are small pieces of information that a website saves on your computer so it can remember you. For the most part they are safe and helpful, but some are used for advertising. Think about when you go online to shop and a “pop-up” discount coupon appears. That is why you may see ads related to things you have looked at before. There are other sources that also generate pop-ups including career sites (LinkedIn, Indeed), marketing and advertising databases, third party platforms (e.g. Google, Apple) and, of course, AI (Chat GPT, Gemini, CoPilot, Perplexity).

Almost every website, like a news site, will prompt you to accept or reject or even manage their cookie policy. You have the option to agree, disagree, or ignore the message each time. Most of these disclaimers are required by law. However, some data can be taken automatically, like the type of device you’re using (computer, smartphone, tablet), the web browser you are using (Chrome, Edge, Safari), your general location (not specific location) and which pages of a website you click on and how much time you spend on each of them.

Cookies do not access your computer’s personal files, such as Documents, Pictures, Emails, etc. But they do track things like your login, preferences and activity on that website in order to make the site work better. Some websites will hold onto your information only while you are using the site. Once you close down your browser, this data will erase. Other cookies can remain on your device for a long time to remember you for the next time you visit. And, once your data has been accessed, the tracked data can be shared with other companies and advertising partners. This is explained in the Privacy Policy of a website or app that uses cookies. Most of us do not take the time to read these disclosures, but they are always there.  

Other Tracking Technologies. In addition to cookies there are other tracking technologies used by websites. Web beacons are small, invisible tools embedded into a website or email that track your activity like whether you opened an email or clicked a link. Tracking pixels are a popular type of web beacon which uses a tiny, clear graphic placed within an email or website that automatically sends a notification to the company that you’ve accessed it. Other technologies like Device Identifiers use a code to distinguish your device on the internet which is used for mobile advertising. These identifiers are also used to securely verify a device and protect against fraud.

Protecting your privacy. This requires active management because most sites prioritize data collection. News sites, in particular, fund their content with advertising. But with a little preparation, you can protect your money and identity.

Managing a website’s “cookie policy” by choosing “reject” or “manage” can help. These settings let you decide what information a website or app is allowed to collect about you. By blocking the site’s cookies, you can regulate how much of your information you share online and how much tracking happens.

There are also privacy controls found on your computer that can be used to combat data collection and tracking.  You can find privacy and security settings by clicking on “Settings” on your computer, usually through the “three-dot” menu.”  

These settings also allow you to clear stored cookies. To remove unwanted cookies, navigate to Privacy/Security and select “Clear Browsing Data” or “Manage Website Data.” You can choose a time range, but make sure you check off “cookies and other site data” before deleting.   

Activity controls do limit data collection. Be aware, though, that this may remove many “conveniences” that websites use to make your browsing experience more seamless.   

There other ways to limit your exposure:

• Turn off web and app activity; stop saving searches and browsing history

• Disable location history. When a website asks to use your location, don’t accept.

• Stop saving YouTube searches and watch history; Delete data

• Delete past history within your computer and phone’s browser settings.

• Strong passwords are worth the effort and using a Password Manager can really make keeping track of these complex passwords a breeze!

There are also tools available to improve online privacy.  Privacy-focused browsers like Brave or DuckDuckGo, block trackers and ads by default. Or, you can use an ad blocker within your current browser like Malwarebytes Browser Guard. There are also Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), like NordVPN or ExpressVPN, that encrypt your internet connection which will hide your activity and location. Private search engines like DuckDuckGo or Startpage will allow you to avoid search history tracking.  

How you pay online matters. Credit Cards do have fraud protection, but using services like PayPal, Apple Pay or Venmo provide an added layer of security between your banking information and the website. Instead of having to enter your card information on each website every time you make a purchase, you only need to enter the name of the one service.

A Word About Scams.  It is not just privacy that you need to be concerned about. In 2024 the Federal Trade Commission announced there were 2.6 million consumers who were victims of fraud, with losses of over $12.5 billion, a 25% increase from the previous year. Investment scams were the largest category with losses at $5.7 billion. The second worst category was imposter schemes at $2.95 billion. There is no doubt that easy access to personal information and AI has made cybercrime easier and more profitable than ever.   

It pays to be proactive with safety measures and stay on top of security updates. With a bit of care, you can improve your online safety.