Covid-19: how to keep your privacy on the net?

In this time of coronavirus, it seems understandable that some countries are beginning to follow their civilians.

For public health reasons, state authorities can even go so far as to spy on your personal data stored on the web. However, respect for the privacy of the individual and the right to be forgotten are among the essential prerogatives conferred on citizens.

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Therefore, in the face of such a situation caused by the evolution of the Covid-19, what can you do to keep your privacy on the web? Do you want to protect your identity and sensitive information but you don't know how to do it? Discover tips in this comprehensive guide to keeping your privacy in this pandemic moment.

Set up your different accounts

Reducing your digital footprint on the web is one of the best ways to protect your identity. This is even more relevant during this period punctuated by the meteoric evolution of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is all the more important that cybercrime finds ways to thrive in this coronavirus season. On the other hand, to avoid the public authorities imposing extreme surveillance on you, caused by the state of health emergency, it is better to find a way to hide your personal data.

To do this, the first thing you could do is set up the security of all your accounts (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Google). When you log on to the net, especially on Google, the algorithms of the U.S. search engine trace you through their cookies. Thus, Google collects and stores most of your personal information, including the most sensitive ones! To better protect your privacy, you are advised to visit Google's Privacy Check Up menu first.

By setting it up, you can prevent the search engine from backing up your search history. This will also allow you to disable your position. Then you can use the "Security Check Up" option on Google. This allows you to know which devices have access to your account. This will allow you to restrict those you consider malicious. Finally, always with the U.S. search engine, you can use the "Delete me" option. To do this, go to the "Account Preference" section. This way, you can delete products or even your account.

The same work should also be done on your various social media accounts (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Whats App). For this, a simple reflex is to go to the "confidentiality" tab to control what others can see about you. Finally, if your account is compromised, an extreme step is to delete it. However, note that with Facebook, you can only disable your account. If you don't delete it, your account will no longer be visible to third parties.

Hide your identity using a VPN (Virtual Private Network)

If setting up your different accounts still doesn't guarantee you optimal privacy, you can use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). The VPN (virtual private network) is the best way to hide your identity on the net.Indeed, a VPN is known to guarantee you total anonymity on the web. It allows you, among other things, to hide your IP Address but also your private data. With this tool, you can then be sure to go under the radar of government control in this time of coronavirus. In addition, a VPN has the advantage of protecting you from possible viral attacks. Finally, it should be noted that VPNs are now very popular in the digital market.

Some are naturally more sophisticated than others. Be aware that some virtual private networks are free and others pay. It is recommended, in this regard, to choose paid VPNs because of their optimal performance. As such, you can note that the best VPNs on the market are currently NordVPN (3-year subscription from $2.75), Express VPN (15-month subscription from $6.67), CyberGhost (three-year subscription from 2.5 euros) and PIA (24-month subscription from $2.91). In addition to being efficient and easy to use, these VPNs offer a trial period ranging from 7 to 45 days.

Browse the TOR network

This is another trick that allows you to avoid being traced by public authorities because of the Covid-19. From the outset, you should know that TOR is a network that allows you to access the deep web. In this, it is a great way to hide your identity, and in turn, to keep your privacy on the net. It should also be noted that the TOR network is a tool that allows users to avoid tracking but also censorship. One thing is for sure, your IP Address will be completely invisible. However, we will have to be especially careful. By accessing a no-go zone on the web, such as the Darknet, you are not immune to professional hackers. A simple solution is to secure your connection.

Use a proxy server in this period of Covid-19

Finally, another option is to use a Proxy server to hide your identity and save your confidential information on the web. It should be remembered that the proxy is a server acting as an intermediary between your browser and the web page you want to view. By using it, the site you visit will not be able to see IP Address. He will thus see that of the Proxy network. Note that this is a totally free service. By going to Proxy.org, you will have a wide range of choices. All you have to do is choose the Proxy that takes the HTTPS format into account. But, the only downside is that this technique does not protect your identity when you use applications such as Twitter or Instagram.

In the end, there are several tricks to safeguard your privacy during this time of health emergency related to coronavirus. But, by using them, you are strongly advised to remain within the law. Don't hesitate to share your different experiences on the Covid-19 in commentary on this article!

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