In today’s digital world, personal data is currency—and many businesses collect far more than they need. From tracking your location to monitoring your online habits, companies often gather, store, and even sell your information without you fully realizing it. But you don’t have to accept this as the norm.
Here’s some proactive steps to stop (or at least significantly limit) how much of your personal data a business can collect and use:
Adjust Privacy Settings on Accounts and Devices: Most online platforms and apps collect data by default. Dive into your account settings and look for privacy, security, or personalization tabs. Here’s what you could change:
- Turn off location tracking
- Disable ad personalization
- Limit data sharing with third parties
- Revoke access to unnecessary permissions (e.g., camera, microphone, contacts)
- On mobile devices, both iOS and Android allow you to manage app permissions and even block apps from tracking you across platforms.
Use Privacy Tools to Block Online Trackers: When you visit websites, your activity is often monitored through cookies and hidden trackers. These are used to build a digital profile of you for advertising or analytics purposes. Here’s what you can do:
- Use browsers with built-in privacy protections
- Install tracker-blocking extensions
- Set your browser to block third-party cookies
- Enable “Do Not Track” requests (though not all websites honor them)
- Use a VPN to mask your IP address and browsing activity from your internet provider and other third parties.
Submit a Data Opt-Out or Deletion Request: Many businesses provide a “Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information” link on their websites or privacy policy pages. Look for this, or email them directly with a request.
Minimize the Data Trail You Leave Behind: You can reduce how much data businesses collect by limiting how much you share in the first place.
- Use an alternate or masked email address when signing up for accounts
- Avoid using “Sign in with Google/Facebook” options—use a unique login instead
- Decline cookies when prompted, or use a cookie management tool
- Don’t overshare on social media or in online forms
Delete Old Accounts You No Longer Use: Old accounts can become privacy risks over time. If you’re not using a service or page anymore, it’s smart to delete your account and remove your data from their systems.
Stopping businesses from collecting your data isn’t always straightforward—but with the right tools and habits, you can reduce your digital footprint. Taking a few minutes to adjust your settings, submit a request, or rethink how you interact online can pay off in long-term privacy and peace of mind.