Your identity is priceless. Having your identity stolen can not only compromise your everyday life, but it can also undermine your reputation, devastate your finances, and cause problems with your professional and private life. If someone is to get a hold of your identity and make it their own, it can cause you a lot of problems that you are unable to recover from. This is why it is important to protect your personal privacy online.
What would happen if a hacker got a hold of your identity? They could gain access to your bank accounts, for example, causing you financial distress. But it doesn’t stop there. They can also impact personal relationships by pretending to be you. If you are a professional, they can also damage your reputation and cause you to lose your job, and tarnish your name. You have to be careful when it comes to your identity. Even when the government asks for your details, your personal data can be misused.
So, what can you do to stop this from happening? How can you protect yourself? Luckily, there are many online privacy apps you can trust.
1. Password Manager
Most people have dozens of passwords to remember each day. Virtually every site we access these days requires a username and a password. Since writing down passwords is not recommended, and unless you have a photographic memory, recalling 25+ hexadecimal strings is impossible, a password manager is an essential tool.
There are plenty to choose from, but Keeper Password Manager & Digital Vault was recently voted Number 1 by PC Mag in the UK. Other options include LastPass and Dashlane.
2. ExpressVPN
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) should be your go-to app to encrypt all internet traffic traveling to and from your device. A VPN routes internet traffic via the VPN’s private server. This masks your identity and protects your data from being intercepted. With a VPN, all confidential or personal data sent over Wi-Fi is encrypted, preventing hackers from seeing your information.
3. Telegram Messenger
We have all read and heard about the many data issues Facebook has encountered over the years. Our online data has been misused and this can be distressing for many of us. Therefore, you should consider a different messaging app. Telegram gives you the same functionality as Facebook and Instagram, but it also guarantees privacy because of its encryption.
One added perk of Telegram Messenger is that it is a cross-platform cloud-based instant messaging service, meaning you can use it on a variety of devices without any issues.
Stay away from Facebook and use Telegram Messenger instead for added peace of mind. The Telegram app is available on most if not all devices, such as Android, iOS, Windows Phone, Windows, macOS, and GNU/Linux.
4. DuckDuckGo
Google tracks exactly what it is you are doing on their search engine, so rather than worry about what digital footprint you are leaving behind, DuckDuckGo is an alternative that is very trustworthy. DuckDuckGo does not store any of your data or personal information. Furthermore, there is no advertising. You can download DuckDuckGo to your computer, much like you do with Google Chrome.
5. Prevail
Prevail allows you to exchange emails without issues arising. For example, you can keep using your existing email with Outlook, Apple Mail, or Gmail, making it a very simple app to work out. This streamlining is ideal for professionals.
An added perk of Prevail is that you do not have to memorize your passwords, so if you forget your password, you will not lose access to your files. How is this possible? Well, the combination of access to your email account and you using trusted devices is enough to authenticate your identity.
While Prevail brings top-tier enterprise to your tech set-up, it is also user-friendly, meaning most people can understand its functionalities. You can easily navigate Prevail, making it a favorite for business professionals.
The threat of malicious parties accessing your data is very real, but as you can see, there are many ways to ensure you are protected. Use all of the above solutions and you can relax when you work online or chat with friends and family.