No matter how much you share with readers your blog, it is always essential to keep certain personal information to yourself. Whatever the subject of your blog, the size of your readership, or your intentions, it's possible that someone will get more information than you want and use it to find out who you really are. Even if you share your real identity, it is important to remember to be discreet, as it is possible that your employer, friends and family will find out what you write.
Do not share everything
When you write, sometimes you can feel like saying more than you should. This is especially true when your emotions are heightened. It's easy to write something down when you're upset and regret it the next day. One way to avoid this is to have scheduled articles ready to publish - that way, you won't post anything on a whim.
When you start your blog, decide exactly what you want to share with others. For example, you could say what industry you're in without sharing your company name. You could write a blog update about your family without sharing your children's names. Depending on the goal of your blog, it is important to choose the right line between personal and professional. Always remember that the things you do online can impact the real world.
Anonymous domain registration
THEElectronic Frontier Foundation points out that it's easy for people to find out who you are if you register your domain without choosing the anonymous option. WHOIS records include your name and other personal information. Make sure that if you register your own domain instead of going through a blogging service, you choose to remain anonymous.
Use a virtual private network
Your IP address gives more information about you than you might think. On the one hand, it lets someone know who your ISP is. It also gives an approximate location of your information. It doesn't require significant hacking skills to access this information - all a person needs to do is verify who is viewing their page and then use the listed IP addresses.
If you interact with other blogs, which offers a lot of benefits, consider using a VPN to stay safe and private. If you use torrent sites to download files for your subscribers, a VPN will also help protect you from people who connect to you to download what you share. It's a simple and often inexpensive way to ensure your privacy online.
The metadata bands
Your photos often contain information about the device that took them, where they were taken, and when they were taken. GPS coordinates in metadata are often so accurate that someone could easily find your home. Not all download methods remove this information. Often times, it is attached to the file and remains even when someone else downloads it. To avoid leaving information about your files, remove the metadata. There are a few ways to do this, including using a photo editing program that does it for you.
With a few basic precautions you can ensure that your experience of blogging stay fun and professional, with no negative interactions that tarnish your reputation. Showing something for a minute means someone has the ability to save what you said and keep it for as long as they want. That's why it's so important to make sure that everything you post is exactly what you want it to be public.
A password protection
Another thing to consider when it comes to blogging security is whether or not your blog itself is protected. If someone enters your blog, it is possible that they have access to everything you have posted - and you can do whatever they want with it. They might also post stuff under your name that doesn't represent who you are and doesn't improve your reputation.
You must have a strong password, which people will not be able to easily guess. It shouldn't have anything to do with your blog name, your niche, or your real life. Preferably, it should be meaningful to you, and not meaningful to anyone else. You should also change your password regularly so that anyone who finds out is unexpectedly left without access.
Backups
Sometimes you can lose your blog without any malice. Your host might have some sort of problem or no longer be available, for example. Some people lost all of their blog content overnight and were unable to save it. If you do not do not save your work, start today.
Sometimes it's hard to find the motivation to get it right before something goes wrong. Backing up your blog shouldn't be something you just do after you've suffered your first loss. Better to save now and be satisfied later. You will be grateful when the years of work are not wasted.
Staying safe online is about protecting your identity, protecting your content, and protecting your privacy. If you're not already using best practices for taking care of your identity and content, change the way you do it. This is one of the most important considerations when it comes to managing your blog.
