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Autofill features are commonly used to save time when filling out online forms, providing a convenient way to input frequently requested personal details like names, addresses, and emails.
While these features are undoubtedly helpful, they also come with hidden risks that can expose sensitive personal information to malicious actors.
Understanding how autofill works—and its potential dangers—is essential to maintaining your online privacy.
How Autofill Works
Autofill streamlines the process of completing online forms by automatically entering saved data into fields such as your name, email, phone number, and address. Once you begin typing into a form, autofill suggests or automatically inputs the rest of the information. Though convenient, autofill can sometimes complete fields you didn’t intend to fill, leading to unintended sharing of your personal data.
Hidden Fields: The Privacy Risk You Didn’t See
One of the major risks of using autofill is the presence of hidden fields on websites. Unscrupulous or malicious websites may include form fields that are not visible on the page, using techniques like matching the text and field color to the background or embedding fields under images. When autofill is enabled, these hidden fields may be automatically populated with your personal information, which is then unknowingly submitted.
How to Check for Hidden Fields on a Webpage
If you’re concerned about hidden fields in forms, it’s possible to check a webpage’s source code for any invisible input fields. Here’s how:
- View the Page Source: Right-click on the webpage and select “View Page Source” or press CTRL + U on your keyboard.
- Search for Hidden Fields: Once the source code opens, use the search function (CTRL + F) and look for the term “input”. This will show you all input fields on the page, including those labeled as “hidden”.
By reviewing the source code, you can spot any hidden fields and ensure you’re not unknowingly sharing extra personal data.
How to Delete Autofill Information for Added Safety
For improved privacy, regularly clearing saved autofill information is a good practice. Here’s how you can remove stored autofill data:
- When using autofill on a form, you’ll often see an option to “Manage Addresses” or similar. From here, you can delete stored information.
- Alternatively, go to your browser’s settings, navigate to the “Autofill and Passwords” section, and delete the saved data.
By removing your saved details, you prevent autofill from automatically completing fields—whether hidden or visible—on potentially unsafe websites.
Manually Entering Information: A Safer Alternative
While autofill offers speed, manually entering your information can help you avoid unintentionally sharing more than you intended. To make manual input more convenient, consider storing your frequently used information in a secure notepad or password manager, where you can copy and paste it into forms as needed. This way, you maintain control over exactly what data is entered in each field.
Autofill vs. Autocomplete: Key Differences
Though often used interchangeably, there’s an important distinction between autofill and autocomplete:
- Autofill automatically completes all form fields at once, based on stored information, making it faster but more prone to filling hidden or unintended fields.
- Autocomplete, on the other hand, suggests information for individual fields as you begin typing. This makes it a slower process but offers more control, as you manually select each piece of data you want to enter.
Opting for autocomplete over autofill can add an extra layer of security by reducing the risk of filling invisible or unnecessary fields.
Balancing Convenience with Privacy: Best Practices
Using autofill can certainly make life easier, but it’s important to be cautious, especially when dealing with personal information. Here are some tips for safely navigating the online world while using autofill:
- Double-check forms before submitting them, ensuring no hidden or unintended fields are being completed.
- Regularly clear autofill data from your browser to minimize the risk of exposing sensitive information.
- Consider using autocomplete instead of autofill for more control over the data you share.
- Manually input personal information when dealing with unfamiliar or untrusted websites.
By staying vigilant and controlling how your information is shared, you can strike a balance between convenience and privacy.
