WebsiteCompass 15 How to Improve Privacy on Facebook One of the best ways to maintain online privacy is to stay off of social media. These companies are built to collect information about you and share it with advertisers. That’s how they make money. But, given the benefits of social media for many people, the nextbest option is to ensure your settings are adjusted to maintain as much privacy as possible, especially on Facebook. Here are a few tips. • T o control what sites share information with Facebook, turn off the Off-Facebook Activity setting. To access it, go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Your Facebook information > OffFacebook Activity. From there you can manage your activity and clear the history. • U se the Ad Settings to control which ads you see on Facebook. Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Ads > Ad Settings. • D isable location services. The method will differ depending on which device you’re using. • D isable third-party app tracking from your desktop by accessing Settings & Privacy > Settings > Apps and Websites. • S top using Facebook Like and Share buttons on other websites. They are just one more way for Facebook to track you. Look for similar settings in your other social media apps as well. 8. Browse in incognito mode. Incognito mode is a private browsing option within your browser. It disables temporary data from being captured by the device you’re using, including cookies, browsing history, and information entered on forms. Each browser has its own version of incognito mode. In Chrome it’s called Incognito Mode, in Edge it’s InPrivate, in Firefox it’s Private Browsing, and in Safari it’s Private. Be aware that incognito mode isn’t foolproof. Websites can still collect data and entities like your internet service provider (ISP) can still see your IP address (a number that identifies your computer). 9. Use a VPN. If you want privacy at a level beyond what’s provided by incognito mode, consider using a virtual private network (VPN). This technology helps you secure private data like passwords, bank details, and credit card information. It masks your IP address, so your online actions are essentially invisible. It’s especially important when you use public Wi-Fi. Your home connection should be more secure, but you can use a VPN if you want to hide your online activities from your ISP. 10. Use a private search engine. Google is so ubiquitous as a search engine that you might not even realize there are others out there. One is DuckDuckGo (duckduckgo.com). It offers a private search solution that doesn’t track your search history as well as a browser, so all your online activity can be more private. The company also has a mobile app and browser extension so you can stay private no matter which device you use. QUICK TIP: When you enter websites and they ask if you want to allow cookies, it’s perfectly fine to answer “no.”
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