Tomas Apodaca and Colin Lecher have shed light on a significant issue concerning the protection of personal health information through a healthcare exchange in California. An earlier investigation revealed that Covered California, along with other state exchanges, inadvertently transmitted sensitive health data to tech companies like LinkedIn, Google, and Snapchat. This alarming discovery has led to a class-action lawsuit and raised concerns among federal lawmakers about privacy standards.
In response to readers’ inquiries about safeguarding their personal data, there are several practical steps individuals can take. Trackers commonly used across websites—including educational, financial, and healthcare platforms—can be controlled effectively.
Here are some recommended measures to enhance your data privacy:
1. **Adjust Browser Settings:** Many browsers offer settings to block trackers. For instance, Safari users can enable the “Advanced Tracking and Fingerprinting Protection” feature, while Firefox users can enhance their “Enhanced Tracking Protection” to “Strict.” Although blocking third-party cookies in Chrome may reduce data linking, it doesn’t entirely prevent trackers from collecting information.
2. **Use Privacy-Enhancing Browser Extensions:** Installing extensions like Privacy Badger and uBlock Origin Lite can effectively block trackers from entities like LinkedIn and Snapchat, enhancing online privacy without requiring significant changes to your browsing habits.
3. **Explore Privacy-Focused Browsers:** For those concerned about default browser settings, switching to a privacy-centric browser such as Brave or DuckDuckGo can provide enhanced protection against trackers.
It’s essential to note that solutions like Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and private browsing modes may not provide the necessary level of protection against these data trackers. While VPNs obscure your location, they do not prevent trackers from accessing cookies and other sensitive information.
This issue illustrates the gap in data privacy protections and offers a hopeful outlook: by being proactive and adjusting our online behaviors, we can significantly enhance our data security and privacy. Such measures empower individuals to reclaim control over their personal health information in an increasingly interconnected digital landscape.