Navigating the Privacy Paradox

By: The Security Awareness Company

The concept of personal privacy is at odds with the wealth of convenience the internet provides. This conundrum has given rise to what’s known as the privacy paradox. It refers to people who, despite concerns about their privacy, disclose personal information so they can access free online services.

Nothing, of course, is ever actually free. Those services are usually provided in exchange for your browsing habits, age, location, and other personal details, which will be used for marketing purposes.

The question then becomes, what actions can anyone take to balance their privacy with online convenience? The answer isn’t easy, but there are at least a few ways to control your privacy.

Review Permissions

Whenever you install mobile apps, take a minute to review permissions. Decline any that aren’t necessary for the app to function. For example, a mobile game shouldn’t need access to your contacts or messages.

Opt Out

You’ve probably noticed that many websites ask you to accept or reject cookies. These cookies are how sites store various settings for the next time the user visits. Feel free to reject them for any sites you don’t regularly frequent.

Go Incognito

Most modern web browsers offer an incognito or private browsing mode. It lets you use the internet without the browser tracking your history. This function can help you avoid unwanted advertisements and data collection.

Install Privacy Extensions

There are several browser extensions geared towards privacy that prevent websites from tracking or monitoring your web activity. They also eliminate pop-ups, which can help you avoid potentially malicious advertisements.

While these privacy measures won’t fully remove the concerns of data collection, they can help manage how your personal information is used. Like all things related to personal security, being proactive is the key.