Information Technology Services recommends these five steps to help limit how your personal information is collected, shared and used online:
1. Don’t overshare. Social media accounts with too much personal information make identity theft easier. Your high school, birth city or mother’s maiden name could help a criminal change your banking passwords, so choose tougher security questions and be careful what you post. Or make your profiles private on Instagram, Facebook and X, formerly Twitter.
2. Use incognito or private web browsing. Using incognito mode can prevent the storage of your search history, temporary internet files or cookies. Another alternative is an anonymous search engine like StartPage or DuckDuckGo.
3. Limit app access to personal data. When an account or app asks for access to your personal information, consider whether the benefits are worth it. Be wary if the requested information is not relevant to the service being provided. Does the app really need your Social Security number or location? Can you just enter your zip code?
4. It’s OK to say no to cookies. Cookies can keep you logged in on websites, track your browsing activity and set you up for more targeted marketing. Continue without accepting, if you don’t want this, or accept only necessary, or functional, cookies. Periodically clear cookies using the privacy and security settings of your web browser. Apple products, Safari, Firefox, Google and Microsoft all provide instructions.
5. Change your privacy settings. Customize the privacy and security settings for your apps and websites, limiting what you share and with whom. The National Cybersecurity Alliance has a helpful Manage Your Privacy Settings page with links to dozens of popular services.
Learn more about protecting yourself at defendyourdata.wvu.edu.