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Date: 25 July 2025
In 2025, your personal data is more exposed than ever. AI-generated phishing emails can mimic your coworkers. Deepfake voice scams target your phone. Your Instagram likes can be weaponized for identity theft.
With digital tools getting smarter, the schemes to misuse your information are getting more efficient, too. Whenever you click, scroll, or post, you create a digital footprint packed with personal details.
The good news? You can protect your data to an extent without professional support. With a few reliable tools and simple adjustments to your online habits, you can significantly reduce your exposure. This guide is designed to help you do just that; no technical background required. For more challenging situations, reach out to us and we’ll take care of things for you.
What Are You Sharing Without Realising It?
The short answer is that you share small doses of personal information every time you use an app, browse a website, or post on social media, often unknowingly. This can include:
- Your full name
- Location
- Browsing habits
- Device details
- And even your daily routines!
Businesses gather this data from account activity, cookies, and trackers. You may consciously share it at times, or it may be quietly collected in the background.
Why is this important? Because your data can be exploited.
Here’s how:
- Phishing attacks: Personal details are used to create fake yet realistic emails.
- Data scraping: Public profiles have detailed information on users that can be scraped together.
- Identity theft: There is enough information about you online for fraudsters to impersonate you or access your accounts.
The consequences go beyond spam. You lose money, damage your credit score, and possibly have your accounts compromised. Furthermore, these scams are only getting smarter and more foolproof.
Built-In Privacy Settings
Don’t run to experts or pay to use third-party security apps just yet. Start by adjusting the privacy settings on the platforms and browsers you use. Even if this doesn’t erase data that is already out there, you can drastically reduce the risk of tracking, unwanted contact, and further data leaks.
Securing Your Browser
Web browsers collect and share more information than most users realise. Fortunately, they also offer controls to manage this. Start by blocking third-party cookies and trackers.
- Chrome users have to select “Block third-party cookies” under Settings > Privacy and Security > Cookies and Other Site Data.
- Users of Safari should select “Enhanced Tracking Protection” under Preferences > Privacy and set it to “Strict.”
- Users of Firefox should make sure that “Enhanced Tracking Protection” is set to “Strict” under Settings for Privacy & Security.
- Microsoft Edge provides similar settings under Privacy, Search, and Services.
Next, your browsing data needs to be cleared out regularly, including cookies, cached files, and saved permissions. Most browsers allow you to schedule or automate this. You should also limit site permissions by disabling access to your location, camera, and microphone unless you specifically need them for a task.
Managing Social Media Exposure
Social platforms are some of the most common sources of data collection and personal risk. You need to set all your accounts to private wherever possible.
- On Instagram and TikTok, you can do this in Privacy, found under Settings.
- On Facebook, you can restrict who can see your posts, friend list, and profile details using the Privacy Checkup tool.
Review who can message or comment on your content. If you don’t know someone, they don’t need to know your details! Limit interactions to people you know and disable unsolicited contact from unknown users.
Finally, turn off location sharing, both in the app and your device’s global settings. Get rid of all the apps you no longer use. Most platforms include a settings section called Apps and Websites where you can remove access to older services. These small settings will keep your data from being leaked online.
Core Privacy Tools Everyone Should Use
Built-in settings are a good place to start, but some privacy risks like password leaks, data interception, and illegal access call for more than adjusting a few settings. Fortunately, there are easy-to-use technologies designed especially to safeguard regular consumers.
Encrypted Email Services
Most free email providers scan your messages for advertising data. Privacy-focused services like ProtonMail and Tutanota don’t. Emails you send through them are encrypted end-to-end. Only you and your recipient can read them. Both services offer free plans, are easy to set up, and don’t collect user data for profiling or advertising.
Password Managers
Most people either have weak passwords or use the same password everywhere. Some make it worse and use a weak password on all their accounts. This is obviously dangerous. Password systems like 1Password and Bitwarden make strong, unique passwords for all your accounts and keep them safe. You only need to remember one master password, and you can also have encrypted storage and autofill options.
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds a second step, usually a one-time code delivered to your phone, to make logging in safer. SMS was the old medium to get these one-time passcodes, but they have become susceptible to being hijacked, too. Instead, use solutions like Google Authenticator or Authy. They send in encrypted data that only your phone can receive and display.
Private Messaging Apps
Common messaging apps may store information or leave room for unauthorised access. Signal and Gem Space for private messaging have strong end-to-end encryption and don’t keep much of your data.
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)
People often assume VPNs are only useful for watching content from another country. However, in reality, VPNs encrypt your internet connection, which is especially useful when using public Wi-Fi. Free and trusted options like Proton VPN and Windscribe help protect your browsing activity from prying eyes.
Final Thoughts
Cybersecurity awareness is basic education in 2025. Users have every right to decide what they share and seek to further protect their data from con artists. These tips and tools are easy to use, too. They don’t cost a lot of money and aren’t just for security experts. They’re designed for regular people and can make your online safety significantly better.
