If you’re interested in taking back your data, here are five useful app categories you can use to do just that.

VPN

VPNs are important in today’s society. VPN or Virtual private network acts as a private network even if you are browsing a public network. A user logs into their VPN of choice and can send secure data without the threats that a public network can bring. Those who are on a private network should also be interested in a VPN because it not only encrypts your data but hides exactly where and who you are. So which VPN should you chose? “You need to share a reliable no-log VPN so that your data won’t be susceptible to leaks and attacks,” Ariel Hochstadt stated in an interview with Forbes’ contributor Kate O’Flaherty. While there are numerous VPNs to choose from, the VPNs that get the most recognition include;  ExpressVPN, CyberGhost VPN, and NordVPN.

Privacy Assistant

With the need for more data protection inspired companies to create privacy assistants. Like the name suggests the privacy assistants aids users in deleting any unwanted personal information on the internet. Jumbo, an IOS app will delete old tweets from Twitter; browsing histories from your web browser; and data from Alexa. [Root] Privacy Assistant was developed by Carnegie Mellon University and uses machine learning to help users control what data can and cannot be collected by mobile applications. Because the app is part of a study it does collect a small percentage of users’ data under the guise of anonymity.

Messenger

If you want to ensure your messenger app is secure, invest in an encrypted messenger app that you know will keep your information secure. Like VPNs, there are many to choose from but the top  apps that are constantly topping privacy lists include; Signal, Telegram, and Wickr Me.

Browsers

If you use Google.com to browse the internet, be aware that Google stores your data to the point that it knows what you like, where you’ve been, and your internet history. If that doesn’t sound like something you want an internet browser to know about you - consider using an encrypted browser. Like VPN, it will not store your browser history and protect your identity. The most well-known encrypted browser is Tor, but there have been other successful browsers that have popped up recently on the web. Check out DuckDuckGo, Epic Browser, and Brave.

Whether you chose to go with an encrypted browser, a secure messenger, or a VPN- it’s time to take data privacy into your own hands and protect your information from potential threats.