6 Ways You're Overexposed Online

In our era, the internet is an integral part of our daily life. However, together with the advantages it offers us, problems also arise and one of them is the leakage of our personal information to third parties.

We therefore present 6 cases where you are exposed to online risks without realizing it, as well as how to protect yourself.

1. When using public Wi-Fi   Public Wi-Fi networks are inherently insecure. Because anyone can access the same public hotspot, any information you send or receive over public Wi-Fi could be vulnerable to prying eyes. This means that any messages you send online or passwords you enter could be intercepted by third parties on the same network. How to protect yourself: Limit your use of public Wi-Fi and be aware of the risks involved. Make sure you choose a legitimate hotspot and avoid using websites that provide access to sensitive financial information or using your personal emails when surfing the web on public Wi-Fi.
2. When giving out personal information via email Email is one of the most popular means of communication. It’s tempting to use email when exchanging personal information, such as passwords , because it’s convenient, but it can be risky. Even if you’re absolutely sure your connection is secure, you don’t know that the recipient’s is, and that means your sensitive personal information could be at risk. How to protect yourself: Don’t include any sensitive personal information in an email. Whenever possible, you should use a secure email service that offers a higher level of protection.
3. When you post carelessly on social media Your social media posts showcase your life. However, depending on your privacy settings and the actions of your connections, those posts can be seen by the wrong people. It’s possible to expose private or sensitive information to criminals who could break into your home or attack your digital identity. How to protect yourself: Don’t post anything on social media, and double-check all your privacy settings to make sure you’re safer.
4. When filling out online forms Most websites these days ask for some kind of personal information, whether it’s an email address or even more personal information to gain access to them. This isn’t inherently dangerous – most are actually very trustworthy – but if you’re not careful, your personal information could be used for questionable purposes. How to protect yourself: Be aware of the websites you use and how your information is being used. Most legitimate websites will have privacy policies that explain how your personal information will be used.
5. When you use weak or common passwords. Complex passwords are difficult to come by, so most people opt for simpler alternatives and tend to use those simple passwords over and over again. However, doing so can leave your data vulnerable to attacks. Hackers can easily guess simple passwords, and once they know them, they can apply them to pages across the Internet to gain even more access to your personal accounts. How to protect yourself: Make sure all your passwords are strong, combining uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Use different passwords for each site and remember to change them regularly.
6. When you accept privacy policies without reading them Most online sites will tell you to accept a privacy policy. Most users just click through without reading them. And while in most cases this won't hurt you, it's an unsafe practice in general. How to protect yourself: Ignore privacy policies and familiarize yourself with how various organizations track your activities and information online.