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Three of the most important concepts to understand online are: privacy, anonymity, and security. But while most treat them as synonymsfor having a safe digital presence, they dont mean the same thing. And depending on your online needs, you should prioritize one over the other.

While the three often overlap, the only way to determine which one you need the most in a particular scenario is to understand what they actually mean.

You probably use technology in your day-to-day life substantially more than the average person 10 or 15 years ago. With that, comes the need to ensure everything you do online is secure. But what about privacy and anonymity?

Over the last few years, the words privacy, security, and anonymity became buzzwords that websites, apps, and tech companies in general use in promoting their products and services to gain peoples trust.

Some of them are honest and transparent in what they offer. Others prey on peoples cyber literacy and their inability to differentiate the meanings. That way, companies are safe from accusations of false advertisements while still giving users a false sense of trust.

You need to understandwhat it means when software or an app says that they secure your data or pride themselves on offering complete privacy or anonymity. This allows you to pick the right option for your needs without falling prey to the halo effect of similar words.

Privacy is the ability to keep certain data and information about yourself exclusive to you and control who and what has access to it.

Think of privacy as owning a smartphoneunencrypted and without a password. Everyone around you knows who the phone belongs to, but they dont know whats on it. If someone goes through your phone without permission, its an invasion of privacy, even if they don't use it to hurt or blackmail you.

When it comes to online privacy, its a matter of how much personal information you can keep to yourself when browsing the internet or using software on any of your devices.

Invasion of privacy, in itself, doesnt cause direct harm to you as an individual. But in 1948, the United Nations declared privacy a human right, making some types of privacy invasions illegal in some countries.

Make privacy your priority when using apps or services that have access to your personal information such as full name, email address, phone number, location, etc.

You should optimize your experience for privacy when using social media platforms and apps, messaging and emailing services, and browsers.

To be anonymous is to hide or conceal your identity, but not your actions. You can be anonymous in the physical world by covering your face and fingerprints. In the digital world, you can be anonymous by preventing online entities from collecting or storing data that could be used to identify you.

Anonymity is important for freedom of speech andparticularly for whistleblowers. That's especially true in areas of the world where having certain viewpoints and opinions could endanger your safety or put your career and future at risk.

Anonymity also often overlaps with privacy, allowing you to browse the internet without worrying about tracking logs. These record your every move and usecollected information to build a profile about you or include you in studies and statistics you didnt consent to.

Online anonymity is a case-by-case need. Generally, youd want to be anonymous anytime youre doing something you wouldn't want to be traced back to you or your online personas.

Its important when discussing sensitive topics; whether its asking for advice on online forums, expressing fringe political views, or exposing a public person or commercial entity's misconduct.

Security is a set of precautions and measures for protection against potential harm to your person and reputation, and files directly or indirectly from malicious parties. You can practice online and data security by using antivirus software, encrypting important files, and using passwords to secure accounts and devices.

We also advise using Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) on services where possible.

Security incidentscan cause direct harm to their victims. This could be a data breach that compromises passwords and other critical information, or a virus that damages your files and hardwareby turning off your devices cooling fan, for example.

Its natural to view security as the most important of the three. After all, compared to the other two, security is a need rather than a right or a preference. But more often than not, ensuring user security is used as an excuse to undermine rights to privacy and anonymity.

You need security to protect any type of information that others could use against you, such as private images and financial information. Look for services with the utmost security when dealing with password managers, antivirus, and financial services.

While privacy, anonymity, and security all mean different things, itsincreasingly difficult to separate them online.

Sometimes, having one could compromise the other, like how antivirus software keeps your files secure but doesnt always keeps them private. Other times, they work in tandem. For example, using anonymous social media accounts with fake credentials to protect your privacy.

While you should prioritize one over the other in certain situations, the trick is finding the right balance between the three, where you have a safe and free online experience without sacrificing convenience. This depends on understandingimplications your online actions have on your internet experience and real life.

The basic definitions of privacy, anonymity, and securitywon't change anytime soon. But how they're interpreted by the majority would naturallyalter the fine details of what they mean.

Its important to stay on top of the latest terminology tech companies use in promoting products and services. Thatway, youavoid falling victim to a misunderstanding and losing a valuable facet of your online experience.

How do you stay safe online? Here are 10 basic security tips to live by.

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Anina is a freelance technology and internet security writer at MakeUseOf. She started writing in cybersecurity 3 years ago in hopes of making it more accessible to the average person. Keen on learning new things and a huge astronomy nerd.

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Privacy vs Anonymity vs Security: Why They Don't All Mean the Same Thing - MUO - MakeUseOf