Four easy ways to protect your digital Identity

GDPR has established Europe as a leader in data protection, but citizens themselves don’t always embrace best practices for online security and privacy. The reason is somewhere between resistance to change, lethargy, and lack of knowledge.

We don’t offer our credit card information or medical history to a stranger on the street, so why do we regularly relinquish the rights to our personal data to third parties, saying, “do as you please!”?

Today, on 28 January, Data Protection Day, it’s time to take a hard look at what we give away online. Protecting your digital identity doesn’t have to be hard. A few simple adjustments can turn privacy into a habit, and shield you from the latest data breach.

1. Read before you consent

We want what we want, without much disturbance to our routine. But often the devil’s in the details. Check the permissions and settings enabled in the software you use, and adjust them as necessary before checking the consent box. Many social media apps and tools in particular tend to heavily track your behaviour. Use the desktop versions, and make sure you check the security settings on your browsers as well.

2. Consider upgrading to paid versions

Unless clearly stated, assume most free or ad-sup