Get All Access for $5/mo

How to Be Invisible Online -- Without Going Off the Grid (Infographic) It's important to go the extra mile to protect your personal information online.

By Rose Leadem

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Johner Images | Getty Images

Companies and organizations are getting their hands on our data and using it for a number of reasons we don't even know about. Luckily, there are a number of things you can do to minimize your presence online and protect your privacy, without having to ditch the internet.

Related: No One Is Safe From the Data Breach Epidemic (Infographic)

For starters, turn on incognito mode in your web browser. This disables the tracking tools in your browser and prevents websites from collecting your personal information. You can also block third-party cookies -- cookies are small pieces of data that enable information about you to be remembered by external sites.

Related: How You Can Protect Your Business From Online Threats

If you're a social media user, you've got a 46 percent higher risk of an account takeover or fraud compared to non-social media users. So it's important to set specific settings for your posts. For example, on Facebook you can limit access to your future posts to make sure they are only visible to your friends. You should also update your privacy settings to hide your personal information from your pages so random people can't access things including your email address or phone number. Lastly, make sure to block external apps from accessing your personal data.

Related: 12 Tips to Protect Your Company Website From Hackers

To learn more about hiding your personal information and protecting your data, check out Cashnet USA's infographic below.

Rose Leadem is a freelance writer for Entrepreneur.com. 

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business News

Elon Musk Says He Will 'Fight' Mark Zuckerberg 'Any Place, Any Time, Any Rules'

Rumors of a cage fight between the two billionaires heated up last summer.

Growing a Business

4 Financial Blind Spots That Could Be Preventing You From Making More Money

If you're ready to grow but feel stagnated and not sure why, check out these common money secrets where revenue is hiding.

Growing a Business

You Need an Advisory Team More Than Ever. Here's Why — and How to Run One Effectively.

The right advice, particularly in a company's early stages, can be an existential matter: how to surround yourself with the right minds.

Starting a Business

How to Find the Right Programmers: A Brief Guideline for Startup Founders

For startup founders under a plethora of challenges like timing, investors and changing market demand, it is extremely hard to hire programmers who can deliver.

Business News

Chipotle CEO Addresses Backlash Over Portion Sizes: 'There Was Never a Directive to Provide Less'

The fast-casual chain has been under fire about inconsistent portion sizes.