To prevent your personal information from being used for targeted advertising and data mining, there are a few steps you can take:
- Opt-out from online tracking – websites like Google and Facebook offer settings to opt-out of targeted ad tracking.
- Manage your browser’s privacy settings – privacy settings in web browsers can also limit the tracking of your online activity.
- Be aware of what you click and share – some websites contain hidden tracking features, even when you’ve opted out of it. Make sure to be aware of what content you click on and are sharing.
- Set and monitor your privacy settings for other social media apps – some apps can store your data, which could then be collected and used to target you with ads.
- Use a secure VPN – a virtual private network (VPN) can be used to secure your network connection and encrypt your data, making it more difficult for companies to collect your data.