Why does it feel like somebody’s watching me?

I consider myself lucky having missed the social online world as a teenager. I thank my lucky stars there was no such thing as Facebook to record my less finer moments of adolescence.

Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE all the resources available… I am all about what technology has to offer these days, relying more often than I’d like on Google Maps and spending perhaps a bit too much time on Facebook. I just like to think I may be a tad more discerning of what I put out there for the entire world to see.

That being said… I can’t help but feel a little paranoid. With so many apps asking my location and websites requiring personal information; it all feels a little “big-brotherish”.

It appears I’m not alone, a recent telephone survey revealed that over 1/2 of Canadians are worried about the combination of new technology and their personal information. Of those surveyed, Almost 70% have stopped using an app or chosen to not use a certain site that has murky terms in its privacy policy.

With increased use come increased risks, yet despite many Canadians being worried about online privacy, few are doing anything about it—not by choice, but because they aren’t sure where to start.

Aside from reading the privacy policies of websites and apps purchased, users should also take action to restrict the tracking of their activities while online.

Here are a few quick tips to aid in keeping your personal and company information secure:

• Add a password lock to all your devices—laptop, smartphone, tablet, work computer/phone, etc.
• Always have your devices on your person or out in the open where you can see them.
• Research apps and programs before you download them.
• Disable the location tagging function on your phone and certain apps.
• Wipe a device clean of all of your information before disposing, donating or selling it.

Less is more when it comes to your online life. If you contribute more information to a site than necessary, chances are you’re more at risk for online predators. Following these suggestions will not completely eliminate the possibility of your information being infiltrated or shared, but it will drastically reduce the likelihood of it happening.