This post is also available in:
עברית (Hebrew)
In today’s digital world, internet surveillance is an inescapable reality. Every click, search, and post you make online is tracked, analyzed, and stored, often without your explicit knowledge. This data is used to create digital profiles that are used for various purposes, from personalized ads to more covert actions. But why is this a problem, and how can you safeguard your privacy?
First, we must look into what exactly internet surveillance is. Internet surveillance refers to the monitoring of online activities, including the websites you visit, social media interactions, and even the content you engage with. While it can be linked to national security and law enforcement, much of this surveillance is conducted by corporations like Google or Meta, who use this data to build detailed profiles for targeted advertising. Tech companies track users through cookies, location data, and other means to serve highly targeted ads. This constant data collection raises significant concerns about privacy.
Another group that can monitor your online activity is your internet service provider. Internet service providers (ISPs) can track users’ browsing habits and search histories. This information can be stored and sold to third parties.
In addition, many governments collect data for national security purposes. This data, sometimes requested from corporations and ISPs, can be used to monitor users’ activities. However, this generally should not concern ordinary individuals who are not involved in crime and live in democratic countries.
The risks of internet surveillance go beyond ads. Corporations can infer sensitive details about your life, including your political views and financial status. This data can be used to manipulate how you vote or adjust prices based on your profile. Worse still, it can be exploited by hackers in scams or identity theft.
So, how should you protect your privacy?
While it’s difficult to escape surveillance completely, adopting good habits can further protect your information. First, avoid accepting cookies as much as possible, and review privacy policies before using any service to make sure any unwanted data is not collected. Second, maintain timely software updates to protect against security vulnerabilities. Third, try to avoid using public Wi-Fi networks, which are often less secure and can be exploited by hackers. If you must, use a VPN to keep your data safe on these networks.
In addition, several tools can help you minimize tracking. These include using apps that are end-to-end encrypted, such as WhatsApp, which ensures your communications are private, and using a VPN, which encrypts your online activity, making it harder for third parties to monitor your actions. Additionally, you can switch to using the Tor browser, which anonymizes your online activities, making it harder to trace your browsing behavior or use search engines that don’t track your searches or build user profiles, such as DuckDuckGo, Vivaldi, or Brave.
In conclusion, while complete privacy online may be impossible, you can take steps to reduce the amount of personal information that is tracked and stored. By using privacy tools and adopting cautious habits, you can safeguard your data and protect your digital autonomy.
