When I was a kid, I dreamed about becoming a fireman, but, as it usually happens, plans changed while I grew up. So instead of fire-rescuing people, I’m helping them protect their online privacy and keep their online personal data safe by writing specific software applications.
While working on data privacy software, I became aware of the importance of my own personal data. I started testing various techniques to limit the amount of private data I allow different apps to collect about me.
Before anything, I want to offer a disclaimer: in the highly technical environment today, it is practically impossible to shut off our online shared data completely. But it is important to take certain decisions in a conscious way, and to find a balance that works for us and our close ones.
Here are a few things that have worked for me:
Alternative Email Address
I started using an alternative email address (an address that doesn’t contain elements that might suggest my identity) mostly for online orders, as a way to limit the amount of personal data collected from my online activity.
This helps to prevent companies from tracking me online and targeting my work or personal email with spammy ads. As an alternative, you can use services like Sign in with Apple or Firefox Relay. They generate random, unique email addresses and forward emails to your real inbox without revealing your actual email address.
I also heard of methods like using a fake name for online orders and also, a slightly different address. But I wouldn’t recommend these tactics largely, and here’s why:
While using a fake name might add a layer of anonymity, it won’t necessarily prevent companies from tracking you, if they can still link your activity through other means, such as your device or IP address.
Finally, introducing minor mistakes in your address might cause issues with delivery and could potentially flag your orders as suspicious. It’s generally better to use accurate information for shipping purposes, while relying on other methods to protect your privacy.
Using VPNs
A better strategy is to use privacy-focused tools or services, such as VPNs, privacy browsers, and disposable email services. These can help you maintain a higher level of anonymity and reduce the amount of personal data collected.
For many of us who work remotely these days, using a VPN to access our work computers significantly enhances security – especially when connecting through public networks such as those in hotels, coffee shops, or co-working spaces. A VPN adds an extra layer of protection by encrypting all data traffic once again.
Using Anti-Trackers for Browsers
When you install an anti-tracker extension, your end goal may not necessarily be to block every cookie or script that collects data about your online activity. An anti-tracker can serve as an effective tool to gain more transparency into which trackers are being blocked and let you decide what gets allowed and what doesn’t.
Using an anti-tracker allows you to enjoy a cleaner web experience, faster browsing, and better security.
There are browsers that come with an anti-tracker included such as Brave or Firefox.
For other browsers you can install extensions. For example, for Edge you can choose between DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials, Privacy Badger, AdGuard, Avast AntiTrack, and Disconnect.
Incognito Browsing – Temporary Privacy
This is a temporary, more private way to search the web, that can have some advantages:
- No local history is saved (this includes cookies, browsing history, search history)
- Helps with multiple logins (if you need to login with different accounts on the same website)
- Can help you avoid dynamic pricing tricks (usually for flights or hotel reservations)
- Prevents usernames, passwords, and card data from being saved.
However, while this type of browsing provides slightly more anonymity, it doesn’t hide your IP address, nor does it protect you from trackers completely.
Using Strong, Unique Passwords
Many people I know rely on a single strong password across multiple platforms for convenience – it’s easier to remember one password than juggling dozens of different logins.
While this may seem like a safer alternative to storing passwords in plain text (like in notes or spreadsheets), or letting browsers and websites save them, it actually creates a critical vulnerability: a single point of failure.
No matter how strong one password is, if it’s compromised, everything is at risk. A far more secure approach is to use a trusted password manager like Bitwarden, 1Password, or Proton Pass.
These tools are designed with security in mind, offering end-to-end encryption, password generation, breach alerts, and two-factor authentication support.
Managing Sensitive Private Data
From analyzing human behavior online in my work, I realized that, most often, we are the main threat to our own privacy, as we don’t always behave in the most rational way. Having some thumb rules from the start can save us from ourselves when we are in delicate/vulnerable situations.
- A general rule is to never share private sensitive data such as the CNP (Private National Code) with any commercial website or application.
Up to a point, it is safe to share data with government websites, trusted financial institutions, healthcare providers, secure online services.
It’s definitely not safe to share sensitive data with unverified websites, emails and instant messaging apps, social media, unsolicited requests.
- Another rule is to learn to make the difference between the two. Check and double-check the address you access to see if it is the official one.
- Learn to recognize patterns used in phishing schemes.
- Don’t reply to messages that are automatically generated. If you need to follow up on a message, look for contact info in the email content or the official website of the institution you are communicating with.
- Limit exposure of family members online. Photos and posts can reveal your family’s location, making it easier for someone to track their movements. Also, information shared today can resurface in the future, potentially causing damage to their image or other issues.
As a conclusion, protecting your online data privacy starts with being thoughtful about what you share and who you share it with. Remember that privacy isn’t all-or-nothing – it’s about small, consistent actions that reduce your exposure over time, without messing up your digital life.
In the next episode, I will try to do some myth busting: how expensive data privacy really is, and how can you level up your security for less than the cost of a couple of coffees a month? 😊