Most websites collect personal data, for example: first and last name, age, address, phone number, and even questions from private life. Sometimes access to web pages is conditioned by specifying personal data.

Some websites collect data in a more subtle way – by registering the Internet Protocol (IP) address of the websites we visit. This is accomplished by transferring/setting up one or more so-called cookies on the hard drive of the computer. Cookies are small text documents that can collect and store data about:

  • the Internet Protocol (IP) address of the computer
  • the frequency of visiting the website
  • user needs
  • the username and password
  • a list of products that have been purchased on the Internet
  • the websites visited
  • name and surname and
  • the alphanumeric characters associated with the personal data of the computer user

Cookies are data that websites use to identify web users. Through this data, the website can identify the user the next time he visits it. Therefore, it is not necessary for the user to identify himself every time he enters the same web page.

Cookies allow websites to create a profile for the user based on the data they have previously provided, mostly for advertising purposes. Advertising agents may use this data to send e-mails about products and services that they think will be of interest to users.

Once collected data is used, forwarded, but can also be misused in countless ways. It can be difficult to determine what happens to personal data circulating on the Internet. Poor data care and security can lead to unauthorized access to personal data.

The best way to protect privacy is to not provide personal information on websites, but this is not always possible in practice.

How to reduce the risk

  • Before providing personal data (especially financial and health data) you should read the website’s privacy policy. You should never agree to something you don’t understand.
  • Rejection of cookies offered by websites. This data can be used for marketing. Personal data that is not mandatory should not be provided. The opt-out option should always be checked to restrict access to personal data.
  • Surf the Internet anonymously. This is possible by installing a program that hides the real IP address.
  • When giving data to an unknown site on the Internet, a different e-mail address should be used instead of the one used regularly.
  • An encrypted web connection should be used for sensitive transactions (such as e-banking).