June 17, 2020

Privacy 101: simple steps to protect your privacy online

Below are a few easy steps to protect your privacy online.

Secure your desktop browser

• Use Firefox, Vivaldi, Brave or ungoogled-chromium as your default browser (ditch Chrome or Safari);
• Set DuckDuckGo as your default search engine (ditch Google);
• Add the following extensions:
  • HTTPS Everywhere to make sure communications with websites you visit are encrypted;
  • Privacy Badger to block advertisers and third-party trackers from secretly collecting your personal data;
  • Facebook Container (Firefox only) to prevent Facebook from tracking you around the web. Facebook tracks you even if you don’t have a Facebook account.

Secure your mobile browser

• Use Firefox Focus (iOS, Android) as your default browser (ditch Chrome or Safari.)

Secure your messaging app

• Use Signal on desktop and mobile.

Secure your inbox/email

• Use one of those email providers:
  • ProtonMail;
  • Tutanota.
• Use a forwading email address to sign up for random websites and newsletters:
  • 33mail.
• Use a disposable email address for one-off usage:
  • Maildrop.

Secure your online accounts

• Use two-factor authentification as much as you can especially for:
  • your email account(s);
  • all your social media accounts;
  • on your bank’s website;
  • on websites where you have your credit card saved.
• Use a VPN — especially on public wifi:
  • ProtonVPN;
  • Mullvad VPN.

Secure your passwords

• Use a password manager to (1) generate a new password for each website, and (2) save your passwords.
• KeePassXC

Secure your data on your phone and laptop

• Encrypt your data:
  • on Mac OS: use FileVault to encrypt the startup disk;
  • on Window: use device encryption.
  • on iOS

Limit/block tracking on your iPhone

• Limit ad tracking by Apple:
  • tap Settings on your home screen
  • tap Privacy
  • scroll down a the bottom of Privacy settings * tap Advertising
  • toggle on Limit Ad Tracking
• Block analytics tracking by Apple. Apple is collecting usage data on your iPhone. To turn it off:
  • tap Settings on your home screen
  • tap Privacy
  • scroll down a the bottom of Privacy settings
  • tap Analytics & Improvements
  • toggle off Share iPhone Analytics,Improve Sire & Dictation, Share iCloud Analytics

Further learning

• Check out:
  • list of privacy-friendly products: storage, social network, spreadsheet, text editor, voip, phone;
  • alternatives to Google.

privacy how-to well-being

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