Privacy at risk, what do they know about you and how can you protect yourself?

We live in a reality where digital information flows rapidly and continuously, and where our interaction with the world is often measured in terms of data generated. This leads us to ask ourselves a question of utmost importance: are we really aware of the amount of information that is collected about us and the implications this has for our privacy?

Having weighed up this issue, a whole new set of questions opens up to answer in order to understand the magnitude of the risk. Do we really know why it is important to keep our data private? Do we consider that our personal information is well protected online? Have we taken any measures to safeguard it on the Internet? And, if we go to the source of it all, before we register somewhere, do we reflect on where our data can go?

Your data is worth more than your car

What a bombshell! It may seem exaggerated, but the true dimension of this value lies in its ability to build detailed profiles that reveal much more than just isolated data. Large corporations, data analytics companies and governments can reconstruct your personality with it very reliably, making you vulnerable to cyber-attacks, predicting your behaviors, anticipating your decisions, being able to alter your emotional and mental state, and even influencing your political and social decisions in subtle but profoundly effective ways. Manipulation is not just a potential risk, but a daily reality.

Therefore, you should not underestimate the value of your data and the importance of protecting it. Defending your privacy has become an act of resistance against a system that turns you into a commodity. To safeguard it is to protect your freedom, your autonomy and your ability to decide who you really are beyond the profiles that others build about you.

Data Collection Radiography

To understand the magnitude of the challenge, we must unravel the origins of all this personal information. Contrary to what many think, data is not just an accidental by-product of our digital browsing, but a highly coveted commodity. But where the hell do those who make use of them get them? Here's the thing, it's not going to be easy for you to assimilate: YOU GIVED THEM TO THEM and, on top of that, WITH GOOD GRACE. This truth like a fist makes you responsible for much of the information that circulates about you on the Internet.

Some companies have transformed personal information into a complex economic ecosystem. Social networking platforms, search engines, service applications, phone operators, device manufacturers - all participate in this global market for personal data. Their business model is no longer based on selling just a product or service, but on monetizing their users' most intimate knowledge. A modern smartphone, for example, is much more than a communication device. It is a permanent collector of information. Its sensors record location, movement, sleep habits, physical activity patterns. The installed software tracks consumer preferences, social interactions, musical tastes and entertainment options. In other words, you have a spy in your pocket. In view of this, it's almost better not to talk about virtual assistants...

On the other hand, every free application or service we use comes with a hidden cost. Engrave this phrase in your mind. "If the product is free, then the product is you". This lapidary statement reveals the business model underlying many free solutions, low-cost telephone operators and apparently cheap rates. The trade-off for access to these services is ultimately your personal information. You share your life on social networks, sign up for multiple platforms and often accept permissions without due diligence, paving the way for the mass collection of your data by some unscrupulous entities.

Practical strategies for digital survival

To protect your privacy, you don't need to be a cybersecurity expert. There are simple but effective strategies that anyone can implement.

• Apply the Zero Trust approach and, by default, trust nothing and no one (not even your mother!) This philosophy abandons the traditional idea of security based on defined perimeters. It is no longer assumed that inside is secure and outside is hostile. Instead, every access request, every interaction, every user person or device must be explicitly verified, regardless of its origin.

For digital citizenship, Zero Trust means transforming its approach to technology. It is not about falling into paranoia, but systematic skepticism. Verifying the legitimacy of websites, questioning the permissions you grant to applications, or periodically monitoring your digital footprint, are habits that should be incorporated into your routines.

• Activate all security measures. Two-factor authentication has become an almost indispensable shield. That additional code sent to your cell phone or generated by a specialized tool represents a significant barrier to potential attackers, even if they manage to obtain your primary password.

• Make diversification your hallmark. Creating multiple email accounts for different services limits the potential damage of a breach. One account for banking services, another for social networks, a third for subscriptions..., each with unique and complex passwords.

• Password design deserves special attention. Contrary to popular belief, constantly changing them does not significantly increase security. What is really effective is to create long passwords, combining uppercase, lowercase, numbers and symbols. A memorable phrase transformed into code can be more secure than a random alphanumeric sequence.

• Don't expose yourself too much on social media. I know, it's almost a losing battle. These platforms are perhaps the spaces where you willingly give up the most of your privacy, thanks to the seductive promise of connection and social recognition.

Every post, every photo shared, every reaction to a piece of content builds a detailed psychographic profile of you. This is because algorithms can easily infer everything from your political orientation to your consumer preferences, emotional state and even potential mental health issues.

The key is in the configuration. Meticulously reviewing privacy options, limiting the visibility of publications, being selective with friend requests and connections, becomes a very healthy exercise in digital self-protection.

Technology is a tool, not a demon

It is essential to banish technological Manichaeism. Technology is neither good nor bad; it is an instrument whose value depends on how we use it.

The same tools that can invade our privacy have democratized knowledge, facilitated global communications, enabled revolutionary medical breakthroughs and connected communities once separated by geographic and language barriers. The challenge is not to reject technology, but to develop a conscious and critical relationship with it. Educate, inform yourself, keep up to date on the latest trends in privacy and digital security.

In addition, we must foster a culture of digital responsibility, both individually and collectively. This involves making informed decisions about how we use technology, protecting our personal data and respecting the privacy of others. It also involves demanding that companies and governments act ethically and transparently in the handling of our data, and that they provide us with the tools and laws necessary to safeguard our personal information.

Ultimately, the future of technology depends on society as a whole. We must be aware of its potential and its risks, and we must take steps to ensure that it is used ethically and responsibly. Only in this way will we be able to maximize its benefits and minimize its potential harms

Technology is necessary, we like it and we must ensure that it is used to build a more just, equitable and sustainable world for all. We just need to pay attention and stay one step ahead.