Taking initiative in protecting yourself against online tracking
Why is it, that we protect our devices with antivirus software against hacking, but we do not protect ourselves against tracking online? – One of the first things that pops up once I start my computer is a notification from the antivirus software installed on my computer. It automatically starts scanning through all my files once I hit the turn on button. Most times, I do not even think about it. I do not have to think about it, because I know I once installed and configurated it and it works. I trust it. (An IT security specialist might call this reckless.) But the point I am trying to make is that installing an antivirus programme is a thing that most people will do after getting a new computer or other device or at least they will activate the pre-installed software.
I keep wondering, why is it that we protect ourselves so commonly against malware, that might access, change or damage the data we store on our hardware, but are careless when it comes to protecting the tracking of our personal data and behaviour online? – There is a difference between the two scenarios which might explain it: while we can visually perceive the data stored in doc- or jpg-files on our computers, the data we create while we are online is invisible to us. The data we give away online is spread, unstructured and we often do not know about it (though the GDPR-access right would allow us to). – Privacy law should protect where imbalances of knowledge exist, ensuring that we have an actual free choice. It should not prevent us, though, from taking initiative to protect ourselves. There are means of protecting ourselves against online tracking as much as against hardware security issues. Ad and cookie blockers can be installed in our Browsers.
So all in all, on the one hand, I think people should take more of an initiative in protecting themselves and make use of the means available in a way as naturally as having antivirus software installed on their devices. On the other hand, I want the law to be construed in a way that it effectively protects us, so we do not have to worry about unknown exploitations of our lack of specialised knowledge all the time. Thus, the law should intervene where the tech lay reaches its limits.