How to Protect Your Personal Data

All your online activities leave a trail of data. This data tells a story. A story about you.

The websites, apps and services you use every day collect data. They may collect data about your behavior, interests, and purchases, as well as what you do, for how long, and where you do it, largely without your knowledge. They may also collect personal information that you provide, such as health records, social security numbers, banking information, driver’s license numbers, and more. This may include further health data, such as that tracked from a smartwatch or wearable device.

“So what?

I’ve heard a lot of people say that about data collection. There are also a lot of people who have simply resigned themselves to the reality of data collection.” What’s out there already exists.” They feel like there’s nothing they can do about it. If there’s anything that can be done about it. Does it really matter?

It’s definitely important.

That is, it’s important if you hate spam calls and texts. If you’re worried about identity theft. If you’re worried that almost anyone can buy details of your personal information from online data brokers and use it as they please.

It’s true that your data tells your story. A lot of people are interested in your story. First and foremost are businesses and advertisers, who can best target their marketing to your needs and interests. Also, hackers, scammers, spammers and thieves – and in extreme cases, stalkers.

While it’s true that you can’t control how every byte of data about you and your family is shared and processed, you’re not helpless! In many cases, you can control how your data is shared by taking just a few steps. Your data is precious, and you deserve to be able to share it with others selectively.

That’s why McAfee has introduced numerous protections for your privacy and identity, with more to come. Today, there are so many tools for collecting data, and so many that you can control.

The evolution of McAfee+ reflects the nature of today’s cyber threats. Threats are increasingly targeting you – your privacy, your identity, and everything they unlock.

There are three things you can do now to help improve your online privacy protection
1) Use a complete security platform, including a VPN, password manager, and web protection

Another simple but powerful step is to protect your device with comprehensive online protection software. This will help you fend off the latest viruses, malware, spyware and ransomware attacks, further protect your privacy and minimize cyberstalking (think advertisers) via a VPN. On top of that, it creates and stores strong, unique passwords and provides web protection to help you avoid suspicious websites that might try to steal your data.

2) Check the privacy settings of the devices, platforms and apps you use
Start with the devices and apps you use the most. Different devices and apps have their own privacy settings, so take a look at them and see what options are available. You may be surprised to find that you can limit the information advertisers use when serving ads to you. You may find that some apps have GPS tracking turned on, even though they don’t need it to run. All of this adds up to data that companies may collect, share, or resell – depending on their privacy policies. Still, it’s a good idea to start with the devices and apps you use most and then expand. This is also a good opportunity to delete apps and their associated data that you no longer use.

3) Cleaning up personal information posted online
A major privacy breach stems from online data brokers that collect and resell vast amounts of accurate personal information about millions of people. In fact, they are a multi-billion dollar industry that spans the globe. In addition, there are so-called “white pages” and “people finder” sites that post information such as names, addresses, and other public records that can be accessed by anyone. Because all of this information is collected in one easily searchable and accessible central location, these sites can be an ideal resource for hackers, spammers, and thieves.McAfee’s Personal Data Cleanup can help you take control. It scans for high-risk data brokering sites, lets you know which sites are selling your data, and, depending on your McAfee+ plan, deletes that data for you.

Yes, you can control your privacy
However, you can control your privacy even further. As part of the McAfee Security Series, we have a complete set of guides dedicated to the topic of online privacy, the McAfee Guide to Digital Privacy. This guide shows you ways to control your digital privacy, giving you insight into what information you might create and how you might pass it on – whether you know it or not.

In short, your privacy is your own. We believe that what you share, what you don’t share, who you share it with, who you don’t share it with, and for what reason …… should all be up to you.