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So much of what you do online, from social media activity to simply browsing, leaves a trail of data that can be tracked, analyzed, and used. This isn’t something to fear, but it’s essential to keep in mind that as technology advances for the world, it advances for bad actors, too, leading to a need for more robust digital privacy tools. The most common (and important) include apps that block video ads, secure communications apps, and secure browsers, all in addition to robust antivirus antimalware programs.
Your digital privacy matters
It’s become a basic feature of the internet that information about your online activity is collected and stored in many places. Companies, websites, and social media platforms often gather information about browsing habits, location data, and even personal communication without your knowledge. This is mainly used for targeted advertising or sold to third parties for research or marketing, but it can also increase the risk of becoming a victim of cybercrime.
A range of digital privacy tools is available, and some of the most useful are easy to find and intuitive to use. Secure browsers, for instance, operate as normal internet browsers but come ready to block tracking scripts, cookies, and ads. These functions can be extended or brought into other browsers with privacyfocused extensions that limit what data websites can see and collect.
Video ad blockers have become part of the essential toolkit for many netizens, as many websites have subjected their users to industrywide competition to maximize advertising dollars. This won’t surprise most internet users, as YouTube is the most timehungry site among its users, many of whom will have noticed an ongoing arms race between YouTube and the most popular adblocking apps.
Such apps are, however, an essential security guard for many of the most safetyaware internet users. Video ads can have tracking scripts embedded within them, so blocking them does the double job of decreasing intrusive ads online and reducing the collection of your data. In some less secure parts of the internet, video ads can even be a source of malware.
Emerging trends and new best practices
Bad actors are already using artificial intelligence (AI) to exploit security weaknesses in networks, and this same technology is increasingly being used to defend those systems. Security systems backed by AI can detect and prevent data breaches much more quickly and consistently, and while the most robust of AI defenses aren’t yet shared on the systems of individual users, such security features might soon be as readily installed as any video ad blocker.
As these tools become more elaborate and their use becomes more common, users must balance security and ease of use. Secure messaging platforms are already causing these individual negotiations to take place. For many, the convenience of social media gives way to the safety of encrypted messaging and video calling services. Such services have been obligatory in regulated industries like finance and healthcare, where robust data encryption is essential.
Every new tool added to your security kit comes with a learning curve; however, the primary responsibilities of online safety haven’t changed too much: choose your tools, keep them updated, and be careful with your data. One of the best things to come from the growth of the online security ecosystem is the expansion of choice, as you can choose from a growing number of tools to create the security recipe that works best for your needs.
The future of digital privacy solutions
Do you find it hard to believe that you’ll one day have a dedicated AI fighting off online threats on your behalf? Maybe even soon? Look at blockchain developments and how it offers new methods to secure digital identities. It’s a step toward cloud computing, toward putting even more of your data in digital spaces where AI algorithms already do so much work. With decentralized platforms like this becoming more common and sophisticated, almost anything is on the table. A personalized AI data protector doesn’t sound so extreme.
Online threats will only grow more sophisticated, and security technology will evolve to meet that challenge. This progress will shape how you approach digital tools and behave online. Staying informed and ahead of the next big thing is the best way to keep safe in virtual spaces.