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ZDNET's key takeaways
There's a trade-off between convenience and privacy, but you can reduce online tracking.
VPNs, browser choice, and anti-tracking software can all reduce the risk of monitoring.
There are also solutions for removing your data that's already available online.
The moment we connect to the web, we risk being tracked.
Data is now one of the world's most valuable currencies. You might not consider your life to be particularly interesting, but each website you visit, purchase you ponder, interest you display, and comment you make represents dollar signs to companies that can profit from you.
Do these widespread practices make you feel uncomfortable? They should. Not only are you a commodity and subject to targeted ads, but your online trail may also pose a risk if you are in an area where governments conduct surveillance.
Also: How to delete or hide yourself from the internet - 11 effective ways (and most are free)
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