Internet Privacy

Remaining anonymous and maintaining your privacy on the internet is almost impossible but you can at least try to control what information is out there about you. A recent finding by an Australian technology expert showed that Facebook was still tracking the websites users visited even after the user had logged out of Facebook. You’re not always going to be able to rely on companies looking after your interests. Remember they’re out to make money!!

The only way to remain anonymous on the internet is to disconnect but seeing as that’s impractical we’re left with only trying to control what is known or gathered about us.

• Get yourself an email address that you can use to sign up to services/sites initially before you give out your primary email address
• Clear your cache from your browser every time you’ve finished a session. That includes your smartphone too. An app like cCleaner (PC) is handy for this. You could also browse with the so cold “porn” or “anonymous” browser mode turned on.
• Use Google/Gmail? Then check out www.dataliberation.org to help you gather what Google knows about you. You can also disable web history on your Google account so it’s not tracking and recording what you’re searching for.
• Use Google Search Alerts to monitor key words about you (your name). It’ll alert you when new information is indexed by Google containing your search term.
• Be careful what you say on forums/notice boards and don’t post pictures or posts on your Facebook/Google Plus etc… that you may later regret.
• Make sure your privacy settings are set to high on Facebook and Google Plus and enable privacy control on your tweets.
• Use strong passwords made up of phrases, symbols and numbers

• No company will ever email you to ask for your account details

The main things is to understand that you can’t stop things about you getting out but you can at least try to control what is known about you by all of these companies. Have you any other tips for us? Let us know in the comments section below or on Twitter @Irish_technews.