8 Tips to Stay Private Online

With the impact of the NSA Prism spying scandal continuing to ripple throughout the world, more people are now aware of the lengths to which private information is being accessed and utilized online. Whether it’s the U.S. intelligence community or the third-party ad networks of Facebook (NADAQ:FB) and Google (NASDAQ:GOOG), your private information is being accessed, analyzed and used by many organizations and in ways that are often hard to predict.

So what can you do to stop it? Is it really possible to hide your online tracks from spy agencies, data aggregators and advertisers?

The answer is - yes. By taking a few basic steps, the average person can protect their online privacy. Here’s what to do:

A Better “Do Not Track.”
Change Your Search Engine.
DIY Email -

Keep Calm and Encrypt -

Secure Your Internet Traffic.

Delete Your Stored Data.

Secure Your Phone.

Social Network Settings.

When used separately, each of these tactics isn’t enough to protect your online privacy. However, when used together, as part of a comprehensive strategy, they can provide a high level of protection for an individual or business.

Michael Gregg, CISSP, CISA, CISM, is a nationally prominent ‘ethical hacker’ who provides cybersecurity services to Fortune 500s and US government agencies. He’s consulted for the Department of Defense, National Security Agency and FDIC, as well as local law enforcement agencies around the country. The author of over a dozen books on computer security, Gregg is also a well-known security trainer and speaker. Gregg is COO of Superior Solutions Inc., headquartered in Houston.