5 Ways To Protect Your Digital Privacy In 2024 – A Guide

When we say that a cybercriminal does not care whether you are a dedicated employee or just a person trying to enjoy another Netflix binge, we mean it! That is because any stolen information is worth gold for a hacker.

Selling confidential company data, worth more than your Netflix password, is inevitable. It would help if you put more effort into protecting your online privacy to avoid landing in such a situation.

Implementing certain security practices and following general rules can help you enjoy a more secure browsing experience! Get things under your control while securing your digital privacy with our five best security steps.

From good password practices to general security awareness, you will need it all to protect your digital assets and surf around more securely. Let's get right into it:

1. How can your digital privacy get threatened?

A regular person with an average life would feel like they have nothing to worry about. Why would a hacker hack them? But don't be mistaken! According to recent research, there is a victim of cybercrime every 37 seconds!

We risk our digital privacy every day by just being online. Here are the most common threats to your online privacy:

i) Data breaches

Data breaches rank high on the spectrum of digital threats. During a security breach, attackers exploit your network vulnerabilities and compromise your system. A hacker then has free access to your data and can use it as they wish.

According to The New York Times, Yahoo suffered from one of the worst data breaches ever, where around 500 million user accounts were compromised.

ii) Personal data monitoring

Hackers, online platforms, data brokers, and even governments can monitor and collect your sensitive information, preferences, and opinions from your Internet activity for selling purposes. Here is how Americans feel about general control over their data according to research led by the PEW Research Center:

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iii) Targeted ads

Preferences and sensitive information are often shared with various social media platforms and advertising markets to show ads tailored to your needs. So, if you ever wonder why that bougie handbag suddenly appeared on your feed after your little chat with a friend, now you know why. 

2. Common types of cyber attacks - How to identify one?

However, if you are undergoing an attack, it will be more specific. Cyber attacks come in different shapes and forms with their identifiers. It can be tricky to pinpoint precisely which type of breach you are going through. Here are some common cyber attacks plus ways to identify and deal with them if need be: 

i) Phishing Attacks

Phishing attacks can trap normal users by linking malicious sites in spam emails. Such attacks trick you into leaking credentials or downloading malware from authentic-looking websites. 

• How to identify a Phishing attack: Emails asking for private information, suspicious website URLs with grammatical errors, and too-good-to-be-true offers are mostly phishing attacks. 
• How to mitigate a Phishing attack: Avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading software from unauthentic websites.

ii) Malware and Ransomware Attacks

These are the most basic forms of cyber attacks and can infect systems and lockout data, so you must pay your way out. According to security statistics, there were over 623.3 million ransomware attacks in 2021 alone.

• How to identify Malware and Ransomware attacks: If you are observing unusual system behavior, configuration changes, pop-up ads, etc, chances are your system is infected. 
• How to mitigate Malware and Ransomware attacks: You should keep your system up-to-date and regularly scan it using reliable antivirus software. Backing up your data often also never hurts. 

iii) Distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks

If you have a website, you should fear a DDoS attack. Such an attack can overwhelm your servers and shut down operations. According to research, 70% of organizations suffer from 20 to 50 monthly attacks! 

• How to identify a DDoS attack: If you observe unusual spikes in your network traffic, it could be a DDoS attack under action. 
• How to mitigate a DDoS attack: Using traffic filtrating and limitation techniques to block or divert malicious traffic.  

iv) Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attacks

A MitM attack can intercept communication without a user's knowledge. It allows an attacker to pay, eavesdrop, collect and modify information. 

• How to identify a MitM attack: If the site you are on does not have HTTPS in its URL, it is not a secure website, and your communication or information could be intercepted. 
• How to mitigate a MitM attack:  Use safe network practices such as two-factor authentication, etc. 

v) Password attacks

Hackers attempt to access your accounts by stealing your credentials or passwords using various password attacks. Brute-force attacks, dictionary attacks, and credential stuffing are common types.  

• How to identify a Password attack: Unusual account activity, such as failed logins, password reset requests, etc., can be an indication. 
• How to mitigate a Password attack: These attacks are usually brutal to watch out for, so it is better to use strong passwords and password managers to keep your credentials safe. 

According to a study by the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity, here are the most common types of attacks for small-sized enterprises:

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3. Security attack phases - How does a general cyber attack work?

While various types of security differ in specifics, most follow similar principles. The general phases are commonly called the cyber kill chain or attack lifecycle. Here is a generalized overview of the stages of a cyber attack:

i) Reconnaissance

A hacker first collects information about their target that could help them fabricate the breach. They identify potential weaknesses, vulnerabilities, and other general information.

ii) Initial attack

The attacker uses the collected information to access the victim's network or system. They can exploit vulnerabilities or gain access via phishing attacks, malware downloads, etc.

iii) Escalation or lateral movement

The attacker seeks to gain further information about the victim's network and to seek out other vulnerabilities to exploit. They move deeper and deeper into the network, hoping to gain access to higher privileges or other sensitive areas.

iv) Data exfiltration

The attacker will then extract sensitive information and data and plant means to prolong their access. Backdoors, malicious software, trojans, etc., can be utilized to manage this.

v) Covering tracks

The attacker removes all traceable links to protect themselves from being tracked down. It means that they erase any sign of their presence. Modifying timestamps and deleting log files are common ways.

After all of this, an attacker would generally sell the information for a sum on illegal trading platforms, like the dark web. They can also contact the concerned authorities and ask them to pay a ransom amount to protect their stolen information.

4. 5 Ways to Protect Your Digital Privacy

i) Use strong passwords

Using strong passwords is extremely important and cannot be stressed enough. A compromised password also easily compromises your digital privacy. Therefore, it is the first step to protecting your online presence.

Avoid common phrases like qwerty and go for something more complex, like passphrases. Something like nO6#$&lI4%%F2m8rA2!t is a good example, as it is long (more than 15 characters), uses both cases, is random, and uses special characters and numbers. 

You can even use password managers to create and store your security keys in an encrypted form for maximum security. This tool makes your life much easier as you do not have to juggle your passwords further. 

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ii) Virtual Private Network (VPN)

A virtual private network or VPN is a service that helps encrypt your network connection so that you can communicate more securely. The encrypted tunnel is crucial as it prevents your information from getting intercepted and adds an extra security layer to your network.

You can even use public WiFi at your favorite cafe with a reliable VPN. And the best part is that a VPN has much more to offer. Using this tool, if VPN is not connecting, you can even hide your IP address for complete anonymity, bypass content restrictions, get early access, enjoy regional discounts, and even get around IP bans!

iii) Review privacy settings

If you use social platforms often, this security measure is for you! Your devices, apps, and social media accounts offer options for managing your privacy settings. Ensure you regularly review them to limit how your data is collected or shared with third parties. 

You can control who views, comments, shares, or likes your posts. This is crucial because it can limit your exposure and protect your digital privacy. It will help you keep your data and accounts away from cybercriminals and prevent them from snooping around your social media. 

iv) Two-step authentication

Security experts also recommend you use two-factor authentication (2FA) or multi-factor authentication (MFA) to protect your digital privacy. 

This technique implies that you need a second verification form (besides your password), primarily a code sent to your email or phone to log into your accounts. Two-factor authentication (2FA) or multi-factor authentication (MFA) helps to reduce the chances of a forced breach or password attacks.

v) Keep everything up-to-date 

Lastly, it is crucial to keep your systems and applications up-to-date. For this reason, manufacturers release software updates and patches regularly. These help remove any vulnerabilities that an attacker can later exploit.

If not addressed, these weaknesses can compromise your system and data. You can also use various tools to keep your system up-to-date and run regular scans to catch any unusual activity. Automatic update settings and reliable antivirus services are an excellent place to start!

5. 15 healthy Internet habits - Enjoy a more secure online experience

Just like you must adopt certain eating habits to protect your health, you must also assume some secure browsing habits to protect your digital privacy! Here are some of our best security tips to protect your system and data against cyber attackers:

1. Do not click on suspicious links or log onto suspicious websites.
2. Never download any piece of software without thoroughly verifying the source first. 
3. Make sure you always use strong passwords for your accounts.
4. Do not use the same passwords for different accounts.
5. Verify that a website is secure by checking the SSL certificate ( URL has HTTPS)
6. Use two-factor authentication (2FA) for added security. 
7. Always install security patches and regularly update your systems and applications. 
8. Use a virtual private network or VPN to encrypt your data and browse more securely. 
9. Ensure you regularly back up your data and files in some external drive or cloud storage to reduce the blow of a malware or ransomware attack. 
10. Review your privacy settings to limit who can view your personal information and data. 
11. Avoid handing out sensitive information via emails.
12. Never enter your credentials or other important data without thoroughly verifying the source.
13. Use a reliable antivirus service to scan your system regularly and detect unusual activity.
14. Use extensions and tools to block ads and reduce exposure to malicious links and campaigns.
15. Keep yourself educated about common security threats and ways to identify and deal with them.

Bottom line

All in all, you must remain vigilant and protect your digital privacy using the abovementioned ways. Experienced security experts recommend all these security tips! They are also go-to measures to help protect your system against a breach.

While it is impossible to protect your system against a breach completely, you can always soften up the blow of a cyberattack whenever you encounter one. Having these measures in place helps you mitigate the issue and sometimes stop an attack in its early stages. 

System analysis also assists with monitoring system activity and is crucial for reducing damages in case of a security breach.