Protect Your Privacy and Security with these Tools
Across the web companies are collecting information about you whether you like it or not. Knowing which companies are more trustworthy with your information than others and how to keep yourself safe on the internet is important.
If you are not sure whether the websites you use make the grade, then check out their policies with regards to data sharing.
Surprisingly, when you log in to most mobile or web applications, at least 15 pieces of information are sent in every direction. Do not let companies take advantage of the fact you might be unaware of this and take action if you catch them claiming one thing, but doing another.
You can get justice by reporting the company to the Federal Trade Commission.
If you are a company reading this, and concerned that you are lacking in a good set of privacy and security practices, check out the FTC’s best practices guide – otherwise, watch out.
Free Tools For Privacy Verification
Here are some free tools you can use to keep a company in line with their privacy practices. There are also some tools to prevent third parties (companies who track you) from getting your information as you browse the web.
Mitmproxy
Using Mitmproxy, a free “behind the scenes” tool, you can do some investigation to find out whether a company collects more information about you than you would expect or if it sends your information insecurely.
PrivacyGrade
PrivacyGrade is a website that allows you to see how robust a company’s mobile application is at protecting your privacy.
AdBlock
The AdBlock browser extension prevents ads from appearing on your browser when you are visiting sites. It also prevents some third parties from receiving some, but not all, information about you.
Do Not Track
The Do Not Track browser extension also attempts to minimize the information about you that third parties collect by informing them (many have opt-out policies) that you prefer not to be tracked.
Cookiepedia
Cookiepedia is an index of thousands of companies that try to collect information about you by placing cookies in your browser.
If a company lists the third parties that it uses in their Privacy Policy, you can look them up here to learn more about what they do with your data.
AppAnnie
AppAnnie gives you metrics about mobile applications and has some good aggregate statistics about sharing policies of different application industries.
You can use these to evaluate whether a mobile application you are using shares too much information relative to the average company in that sector.
Free Tools for Security Verification
Here are some free tools you can use to keep a company in line with their security practices, as well as a tool that you can use to enhance your own security in lieu of a bad-practice company.
TRUSTe
Look for TRUSTe‘s seal of approval as it provides companies with data privacy management solutions.
Verisign Trust Seal
Run by Symantec, look for the Verisign Trust Seal of approval on websites which ensures SSL encryption.
Infoencrypt, SafeGmail, Hushmail or Lockbin
Infoencrypt, SafeGmail, Hushmail or Lockbin – use these free services to send all of your emails encrypted.
Dashlane
Use a password manager like Dashlane Password Manager that gives you one master password for all of the passwords you use across the internet.
A manager will set your password for other companies to be really long and complicated (i.e. difficult to attack).
All you have to know is your master password and the rest is taken care of for you.
