Health information is deeply personal and can reveal aspects of your life that you may wish to keep private, such as medical conditions, treatments, or lifestyle choices. When we think about protecting our identities online, we don’t often realize that unauthorized access to health data can also lead to identity theft or fraud, where your identity can be exploited for malicious purposes. Parents also should be mindful of protecting their children’s identities as well. To keep these personal details private, we have some practical tips to share.

(Psst… before you read on, there are a lot of security terms in this article—here’s a cheat sheet in case you need it).

Use Private Browsing

Private browsing doesn’t save your search history or the websites you visit, reducing the chances of others seeing your online activity on shared or public devices. Also, cookies created during a private browsing session are deleted once you close all private browsing windows, limiting tracking by websites and advertisers. While it doesn't completely eliminate tracking, private browsing makes it more difficult for websites to build a profile on you based on your browsing habits.

VPN Services

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) like NordVPN can help encrypt your internet connection and hide your IP address from websites. By masking your IP address, it makes it harder for websites and services to track your online activities and identify your location. When using public Wi-Fi networks, a VPN adds an extra layer of security, reducing the risk of data theft and man-in-the-middle attacks. For remote workers, a VPN can secure access to company networks, ensuring that sensitive data remains protected.

Limit Personal Information

Avoid entering personally identifiable information (PII) on websites unless absolutely necessary. Think twice before sharing personal details on social media, forums or any websites. Limit what you post about yourself, including location, phone number and full name and be wary of surveys and quizzes. Many are designed to gather personal information for marketing purposes. Additionally, you should regularly check the permissions of apps on your devices and limit access to your contacts, location and other sensitive information.

Clear Your Browsing History

Regularly clearing your browsing history helps protect your personal information from being accessed by others who might use your device, such as family members or co-workers. If you use a shared or public computer, clearing your history helps ensure that your private searches and personal information are not exposed to others. If someone gains access to your browsing history, they may be able to not only gather sensitive information, but you could expose yourself to potential identity theft or fraud.

Be Wary of Ads and Tracking

Ads often rely on tracking your online behavior to create targeted advertisements. This can lead to significant data collection about your interests, habits, and preferences, which you may not want shared or analyzed. Targeted ads can manipulate your choices and opinions, subtly influencing you based on your browsing history and behavior.

When you're tracked, your online experience can become tailored to a narrow set of interests, potentially limiting exposure to diverse content and viewpoints. Tracking can expose you to data breaches. If advertisers or third-party trackers store your information and it gets compromised, your personal data could be misused. Use ad-blockers and browser extensions that prevent tracking to reduce targeted ads related to your searches. Did you know AOL offers an Ad-Free email experience on the web and in the app?

Use Secure Websites

Secure websites use HTTPS, which encrypts the data exchanged between your browser and the server. This helps protect sensitive information, such as passwords and credit card numbers, from being intercepted by hackers. HTTPS helps ensure that your browsing activity is more private, and in turn, helps prevent eavesdropping by encrypting the data. Using secure websites simply makes it harder for third parties to monitor your online actions. By prioritizing secure websites, you can protect your personal information, enhance your online safety and contribute to a safer internet overall.

By the way, do you know what a hacker’s favorite sport is? Phishing!

Check out this article for some cyber security dad jokes, and more information on why it’s actually not a laughing matter.

Check Privacy Policies

Privacy policies explain what personal information is collected by the website or app, helping you understand how your data is being gathered. They outline how your information will be used, whether for marketing, analytics or other purposes. This helps you assess if you’re comfortable with the intended use of your data.

Privacy policies often detail if and how your data will be shared with third parties, such as advertisers or partners. They typically inform you of your rights regarding your personal information, including how to access, correct or delete your data. This information is crucial for understanding your privacy risks. If this sounds like a lot to manage, take control of your online identity with a service like MyPrivacy.

Consider Anonymous Browsing Tools

Anonymous browsing tools, such as Tor or specialized VPNs, help mask your IP address and online activity, making it difficult for websites, advertisers and even your ISP to track your browsing habits. These tools can help you bypass censorship and access websites that may be restricted in your region, allowing for more freedom of information.

Final Thoughts

It’s obvious that in today’s digital age, finding and managing health-related information online has become commonplace. Whether you're exploring treatment options, learning to manage a chronic condition or seeking general health advice, accessing the right information quickly is crucial. But as vital as it is to prioritize your health, it’s equally important to be mindful of your privacy during these searches. Health information is sensitive, and safeguarding it should be part of your overall approach to well-being. Luckily, there are several security and identity tools that can help make it easy to keep your information safe so that you can focus more on your health and wellness.