Privacy vs. Security: Protect Your Online Life

Cybercrime is a major headache that costs the Australian economy $30 billion annually. From online romance scams to phishing attacks and fraud, web-savvy crims have learned to drain our bank accounts in numerous nefarious ways.

Protecting your privacy has become paramount with the rise of cybercrime. Not only does strong online privacy safeguard against financial fraud, but it also protects you from data breaches, manipulative marketing, and reputational damage.

In this post, we’ll discuss the difference between privacy and security and then present actionable advice on how to stay safe online.

Privacy vs. Security: What’s the Difference?

While the two concepts are interrelated, they’re not one and the same.

Understanding Digital Privacy

Online privacy refers to the control you have over your personal data and how it is collected, accessed, and shared online. Managing your online privacy could include tweaking the settings on a social media platform, disabling cookies on a web browser, or clicking “No Thanks” on a data collection prompt.  

Although Australia has relatively robust online privacy laws, you still need to be proactive in protecting your personal information.

Understanding Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity means protecting your data against online crimes like phishing, social engineering, espionage, and ransomware. Cybersecurity best practices include using an anti-virus program, not clicking suspicious links, and using two-factor authentication.

Anyone who uses the internet should at least understand the basics.

Key Differences Between Privacy and Security

	Online Privacy	Cybersecurity
Definition	Controlling the access and distribution of personal data to prevent misuse	Protecting data or systems against unauthorised access or online threats
Aim	Restricting access to personal information	Preventing cybercrimes like fraud
Sample Best Practices	Using encryption and adjusting consent policies	Using firewalls, anti-virus software, and two-factor authentication

Why Balancing Privacy and Security Is Important

Privacy and security are the two fundamental pillars of internet safety. These two concepts are interrelated and of equal importance. The trick is to strike the right balance between protecting privacy and strengthening security.

Should you focus heavily on one, you could neglect the other. Protecting personal data against hackers becomes harder when you haven’t restricted its access. Likewise, maintaining online privacy is challenging when your cybersecurity practices aren’t up to scratch.By following the best practices for privacy and security, you can improve your internet safety overall. The good news is you don’t need to be an IT guru to mitigate the risk.

Web Security Best Practices for Enhancing Online Safety

From adopting tricky-to-crack passwords to tweaking social media settings, understanding security best practices can help you stay safe online.

Cybersecurity Best Practices:

• Adopt stronger passwords: A long combination of lowercase/uppercase letters, numbers and symbols is much harder to crack. Ensure every password is unique with no identifiable information (i.e., birthdays) and use a password manager to remember them for you.
• Use Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): 2FA is a surefire way to stop phishing attacks. Popular among banks and other high-risk accounts, this potent security process sees you receive and enter a code via SMS or email to proceed. Always use 2FA when available, and never give the code to anyone.
• Install anti-virus software: Get a reputable anti-virus/malware program and switch on its firewall to block unauthorised access. Set up scheduled scans to sweep for malicious code.
• Update software: Tech-savvy hackers can exploit software vulnerabilities and access personal data. Frequently update your anti-virus software, operating systems, and apps to patch potential loopholes. Turn on automatic updates to automate the process.
• Secure your Wi-Fi network: Enhance your network security by setting a strong, unique password for your router (the default “admin” isn’t okay) and activate WPA3 encryption. Disable unnecessary remote access settings.
• Browse safely: Avoid any unsecured websites with an HTTP prefix instead of HTTPS—most modern browsers will automatically warn you. Be sceptical of any too-good-to-be-true offers, especially when discovered through a social media platform.
• Analyse inbound communication: Scrutinize any unsolicited emails or text messages, even when they’re supposedly from a known institution. Always load a webpage manually rather than clicking an inbound link.  
• Seek professional help: Small businesses without a dedicated cybersecurity team can use the help of a skilled third-party consultant like Geeks2U.

Online Privacy Best Practices:

• Keep personal information private: Don’t share your full name, address, or phone number on social media.
• Adjust your privacy settings: Review and tighten the privacy settings on all your social media apps and other online platforms.
• Browse with privacy: Use an ad blocker and activate the Do Not Track setting in your preferred browser. Switch on Incognito Mode and periodically delete your cache and cookies.
• Use a VPN: Encrypt traffic and hide your IP address with a VPN, especially when on a public WiFi network.
• Minimise your online footprint: Audit all your accounts and close any you no longer use. Get a temporary email address for one-time sign-ups.
• Monitor permissions: Turn off location tracking and disable the camera and microphone for unnecessary apps. Delete any applications you no longer use.
• Use encrypted messaging: Opt for secure messaging apps with end-to-end encryption like Signal or WhatsApp.

Privacy Risk Assessments: A Key Step for Digital Safety

Worried about your online privacy? Get a Privacy Risk Assessment (PRA) to evaluate how your personal data is collected, processed, and shared. Upon completion, you’ll be able to pinpoint potential risks and minimise exposure.

A typical PRA involves identifying data collection, mapping data storage/sharing, and evaluating potential risks such as unauthorised access. Once these steps are complete, you can implement—and regularly review—online privacy safeguards such as data encryption and access control.Geeks2U can assess your online privacy as part of our Digital Security Check service. Contact us today for a no-obligation quote.

FAQ

• 1. What are the best cybersecurity best practices?

  Cybersecurity best practices include using strong passwords, two-factor authentication, anti-virus software, a secure WiFi network, and safe browsing/communication habits.

• 2. How do I protect my personal information online?

  You can protect your online privacy by adjusting social media settings, not sharing personal information, and browsing in incognito mode while deleting your cookies and cache.

• 3. What’s the difference between privacy and security online?

  Online privacy refers to how your personal information is collected, accessed, and shared. Cyber security is all about protecting that data from unauthorised access.

• 4. How do privacy risk assessments help protect me?

  A privacy risk assessment can evaluate and rectify any potential privacy-related issues.

• 5. Which web security tips are most effective?

  Treating all unfamiliar websites and inbound communication with utmost scepticism is the most effective way to stay safe online.