The Internet offers boundless opportunities… for those willing to take a few risks. Data privacy is a hot-button issue regarding the Internet, as most websites and social media platforms can track your activity and sell it to advertisers (or even train AI systems). Here’s how you can keep this to a minimum.

Understand Why the Data Gets Collected

The primary reason for this data collection is market research, plain and simple.

Businesses want to know who is accessing their websites, social media pages, and apps so they can better market their products or services to users. This data can give them a glimpse into user preferences, behaviors, and information. They then use this data to offer a better user experience (think remembering preferences, saved items, or location-based content).

It’s all about refining the product into something better, but you can argue that it comes at the user's expense as well, to a certain extent.

Advertisers find this information extremely useful, as it can help their campaigns reach their target audiences. When websites track you directly, it’s called first-party tracking, while third parties that track you across several different sites are called third-party tracking. It’s one reason you might see an ad for something you looked at on a different website in your current window.

Now that AI is on the rise, many platforms are adjusting how they use these platforms for data collection—including LinkedIn, X, Facebook, and many more.

Limit Data Tracking

You can minimize the amount of tracking you experience in the following ways:

• Clear your browsing history: When you delete this, you also delete cookies and reduce the ads you see based on previous activity.
• Opt out of personalized ads: Share only the essential information for ads rather than personalized tracking.
• Adjust your privacy settings: Make sure your browsers and devices are only collecting necessary data, and you should disable unnecessary permissions, too.

Safeguard Your Data Today

Compudata wants to help your business achieve privacy and peace of mind through cybersecurity. To learn more, call us today at 1-855-405-8889.