4 Easy Ways to Stop Companies From Collecting Your Data

It’s been a while since I signed up for a new app or service online. I’ve been avoiding doing so because I just don’t enjoy giving companies my personal information in exchange for whatever goods or services they offer. 

For example, I once considered using an art editing app called Dream by Wombo. To my delight, I didn’t have to sign up for an account to create pictures. That said, when I looked at the app’s privacy policy, I learned that it collects and stores facial feature data from Apple and uses it to create better AI-generated images. Though I didn’t plan to use the app to touch up my selfies, I still didn’t want to share my facial feature data inadvertently, so I didn’t install it right away. Instead, I took time to make a decision about whether I was OK with that kind of data collection and usage. Having to go through this risk-benefit analysis every time I consider using a new service is, quite frankly, annoying.

Hacks and data breaches at companies that provide our most necessary services cause less alarm these days, but that doesn’t mean the fallout from your leaked data is nothing to worry about. It’s a good idea to learn what kinds of information apps are collecting from you, and then take steps to shut down data harvesting that seems invasive. You can stay safe by making a few changes to the way you live and work online. Below are suggestions for tools and habits to add to your family’s cybersecurity checklist.

1. Turn on MFA

(Credit: 2FAS/LastPass/Kim Key)

You can start protecting your data better by turning on the multi-factor authentication settings (MFA) for all of the apps and websites you visit regularly. There are plenty of authenticator apps you can use with your mobile devices, or you could carry around a hardware security key on your keychain. Entering passcodes is an extra step in the login process, but just think of it as another barrier around your valuable data, designed to keep malicious individuals out of your accounts.

2. Use a Password Manager

Similarly, you should consider using the password manager on your device (either Apple Passwords or Google Password Manager) or a password management app to keep track of passkeys and passwords for your online accounts. A good password manager can streamline your login process by filling in your passwords for you. Some, such as Enpass, even allow you to choose where you store your data. Taking control of how and where your data is stored by keeping it in your own secure cloud storage or locally on your computer keeps you from becoming a victim of a company’s vulnerabilities.

3. Don’t Provide Real Data

Lie online, whenever you can. Don’t give out your real information when filling out web forms. I’m not recommending you do this when communicating with government agencies or your bank, but yes, go ahead and fib to the cooking website that wants your birthday, full name, phone number, and physical address in exchange for a chili recipe.

(Credit: Cricut/PCMag)

If you can’t figure out why an app or website needs the information they’re harvesting from you, it’s not a good idea to give them your real data. In many cases, most of the information requested on a company’s webform is not required, so you can get away with leaving out important details about yourself. You can also choose not to accept cookies on many websites, and deny data requests made by applications without harming your user experience in any way.

4. Opt Out of Data Collection

Many companies are incorporating generative AI tools into their services, and in some cases, like LinkedIn, the companies are training their AI models on customer data. If you don’t want LinkedIn to scrape your future posts for AI training, visit the Settings menu, and choose Data Privacy > Data for Generative AI Improvement.

4 easy things you can do to be more secure online — Clarification Please

It’s more important than ever for you to read privacy policies and terms of service agreements before downloading or using online apps and services. You should also read the emailed notifications that companies send periodically.

Consider also using your pull as a customer to push back on company data collection and usage policies that don’t align with your wants and needs. For example, I recently received a notice from Optery, which is, ironically, a personal removal service, that customer data will be sent to OpenAI to generate removal reports. In the initial notice, people who use Optery were told they could opt out of the generative AI data processing. After receiving feedback from customers, Optery quickly changed the policy. Now, Optery users can click here to opt-in if they want AI-generated data removal report summaries.

Fed up with data collection? Check out our guide to completely disappearing online. And if you’re not quite ready to relinquish your internet presence, head over to our list of the best apps for online privacy.

About Kim Key

Senior Security Analyst

I review privacy tools like hardware security keys, password managers, private messaging apps and ad-blocking software. I also report on online scams and offer advice to families and individuals about staying safe on the internet. Before joining PCMag, I wrote about tech and video games for CNN, Fanbyte, Mashable, The New York Times, and TechRadar. I also worked at CNN International, where I did field producing and reporting on sports that are popular with worldwide audiences.

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