When you shop online, you may be giving merchants more than your money. Many collect personal data and sell it. Consumer Reports launched a new free app that can help you reclaim your privacy.

TikTok is one of the hottest social media apps going. But while watching the videos is free, users are also giving up some privacy by providing information. There are some simple tweaks to make in settings to protect some privacy.

If you’ve ever used a fake name when signing up for a new service online as a way to protect yourself, that doesn’t really prevent companies from tracking you. Using an alternative or fake email address is an easy and more effective way, according to Consumer Reports.

But, don’t panic, as there is a way to fix it with just the flip of a switch. Why does “Off-Facebook Activity” exist? However, by disengaging the “Off-Facebook Activity” feature, the ads on the platform will be less personal to the user, according to the social media network. Click Your Facebook Information at the left column. Click Off-Facebook Activity to review.

A hacker had accessed his business’ Facebook page and changed the login. “The biggest problem, of course, is that I can no longer control my own business Facebook page,” Harris said. If you are concerned about hacking, identity theft or online tracking, there are some things you can do to protect your online life from intruders. First, Consumer Reports says to set up two-factor authentication for Facebook or any account that offers it. Consumer Reports recommends 1Password, Keeper and Bitwarden.