Talking about protecting your data online can sometimes sound techy and complicated, like something only hackers and IT people should care about. But it really doesn’t have to be that way.
Today we are changing that and we will be sharing some helpful tips. No jargon. Just simple, everyday habits you can actually use when browsing websites on your phone, laptop or tab.
You don’t need to be “tech-savvy” or install many tools. You just need to know what to look out for, what to avoid, and how to notice data privacy threats. Think of this as learning how to browse smarter, not harder, and keep your personal information yours.
1. Mandatory HTTPS Verification
Always check web address before you click and ensure websites start with “HTTPS” such as https://yourname.ng. Never enter a website or exchange data with a website that lacks the HTTPS protocol. No logins. No emails. No card details.
Without the “S” (which means SSL/TLS encryption), your connection is wide open. Anyone in between — public Wi-Fi providers, network admins, or hackers — can read your data in plain text. If it’s not encrypted, it’s not safe. Period.
2. The Cookie Policy
Websites love to offer you cookies. These are trackers designed to follow you around the internet. The Golden Rule: If a website forces you to “Accept All Cookies” just to view its content, say goodbye and close the tab.
Any site that respects your privacy will give you the option to “Reject All” or “Manage Preferences.” Cookies are the primary mechanism for cross-site tracking and digital profiling. Your privacy is worth more than the content behind the wall.
3. Never Use One Password for Different Sites
Firstly who does that? Who reuses passwords across profiles? Yeah. You. Probably.
Never use the same password on multiple sites.
Also, don’t base all your passwords on one “master word” with variations. Hackers know that trick.
Every site gets its own password, no exceptions.
PS: When you use a password manager, you don’t need to remember all passwords.
4. Decline the “Save Password” Prompt
Your browser is not a convenient or safe place to store passwords. It is the first place a hacker looks if they gain access to your device.
Instead of letting your browser “remember” you, use a dedicated, encrypted password manager. It provides much stronger protection and ensures that even if one site is compromised, the rest of your digital life remains under lock and key.
5. Use a Burner Identity
Whenever a website asks you to “Sign up to read more,” don’t hand over your primary email address. Except you can confirm the website is authentic and you plan to continue access it.
Use a masked email service or a temporary “burner” email. This keeps your real inbox safe from data breaches and prevents websites from linking your browsing habits to your real-world identity.
6. Deploy Content Blockers
Block ads, always.
Ads are often used to spread malware through something called malvertising, where harmful code is hidden inside normal-looking ads.
Using a content blocker (like uBlock Origin) helps stop these ads from loading in the first place. This makes your browsing faster, cleaner, and much safer because harmful ads never get the chance to run.
7. Use Container Tabs
Standard browsing allows websites to see traces of your other online activities.
Use Container Tabs (Firefox does this best) to separate activities. For example:
- Banking in one container
- Social media in another
- General browsing elsewhere
This stops trackers from connecting your activities across different websites by isolating data and keeping browsing sessions separate.
8. Browser Extensions
Only install browser extensions from trusted developers, and regularly delete the ones you don’t use. Each extension has access to your browser, and every unused or untrusted extension is a possible security risk. Fewer extensions mean fewer chances for your data to be exposed.
Protecting your data online is about awareness and a few smart choices made consistently. The internet isn’t getting safer on its own, so these habits help you stay one step ahead without changing how you browse.