10 Easy Ways to Boost Privacy and Security Without Complicating Life

In this age of constant connectivity, looking out for your online privacy is more important than ever. Finding that sweet spot where we can keep things convenient without sacrificing our personal security doesn't have to be difficult. Here are ten down-to-earth tips you can start implementing today:

1. Privacy-Focused Browsing:

Stick to browsers like Mozilla Firefox and throw in handy privacy extensions like uBlock Origin, HTTPS Everywhere, and Privacy Badger. It's like putting up a fence against snoopy trackers while keeping your web experience smooth. If leaving Google Chrome gives you anxiety, there are plenty of Chromium-based browsers that are respect your privacy.

Personally, I use Brave, which is available on all platforms. Bonus points, Brave also has a VPN to further protect your privacy from tracking and other online shenanigans!

2. Search Engines:

Switch things up by going for privacy-friendly search engines like DuckDuckGo or Startpage. They won't play detective with your search history, giving you a more laid-back online exploration. Your browser will typically come, by default, either Bing or Google if you're using a pre-installed browser. Downloading and installing one of the privacy-focused browsers will come with one of the aforementioned search engines.

I like Startpage, because it'll return a lot of the same results as Google, but without all of the tracking and snooping. DuckDuckGo also has a mobile-browser that you can download and adds more protection on Android by blocking trackers on your installed apps too!

3. Social Media Settings:

Take charge of your digital space by tweaking privacy settings on social media. Dial it down a bit on what you share publicly to keep your online persona just as chill as you are.

Updating your social media settings isn't enough. It's easy to get carried away and overshare with pictures, locations, and updates, but how and when you share could be giving away more than bargained for. Did you know that a photo you posted will contain "metadata" that includes when and where the photo was taken and even the device it was taken on? You can enhance your privacy by using services that can strip away metadata before sharing.

The safer bet is to avoid unnecessary social media apps. If you want to keep in touch with friends and family, you can use a secured messaging platform and share with those individuals directly. If you feel the need to join a social network, use a pseudonym and other anonymous details if you can.

4. Review App Permissions:

Keep tabs on those app permissions. Only give them access to the absolute necessities, so you're in control of your info without complicating your app experience. Similar to my advice on social media, only download the apps that you need. Many mobile apps have a web-friendly alternative that may have just as many features as the native mobile applications counterpart. In fact, many of these websites can be "installed" as a webapp with the benefit of less trackers and better privacy controls.

But if you absolutely need to download the app, make sure it's an app you trust and only allow the permissions it needs to function.

5. Use a VPN:

Throw in a Virtual Private Network (VPN) for good measure. It's like a digital invisibility cloak, encrypting your internet connection and adding a layer of security without making your online life a hassle. VPNs are notoriously associated to illegal activities like digital piracy, but you can use a VPN to tunnel into your own home network. In the case of privacy here, you can use a VPN to mask your internet activity. This helps prevent the website (and even your ISP!) from tracking where or who you are.

6. Secure Messaging:

Get cozy with encrypted messaging apps like Signal or Telegram for private chats. Keep things personal without making your conversations feel like a tech puzzle. Bear in mind, not all securing messaging apps are the same. Telegram is a great start, but you'll have to ensure you're enabling the end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for your one-on-one messages. Unfortunately, group chats cannot be encrypted.

Signal, on the other hand, is fully encrypted for all messages, video calls, and audio calls. Additionally, Signal, is the encryption protocol used for many well-known and used messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Google Messages. This doesn't mean they're all equally private, as Google and Meta will still have access to the metadata associated to each message. If you think that isn't an issue, know that Director of NSA and CIA Michael Hayden has been quoted by saying "We kill people based on metadata."

7. Secure Your Accounts:

Stay on top of your accounts and lock them down with strong, unique passwords and two-factor authentication (2FA) or multi-factor authentication (MFA). It's like putting up a digital moat around your gadgets, making them less vulnerable to cyber shenanigans. Password Managers like Bitwarden help you keep your passwords unique for each site or service you sign up for, lessening the threat of exposure if one of your accounts ends up being breached.

Even with a strong and unique password, you can still get breached, which is why it's important to add 2FA or MFA when possible. There are a plethora of options out there. The least frictional (and least recommended) are using email or SMS. Use it if it's the only option out there, but I recommend using a software-based TOTP authenticator (like Authy). Some services like Microsoft may require you to use their authenticator.

If you want to go the next level, you can get a hardware-based key, which requires you to carry a physical device to log into your accounts or services. Yubico has a line of products that allows you to use USB-A, USB-C, or even NFC to connect your hardware key to your device. There are others out there, but this is one that I use personally.

8. Limit Third-Party Cookies:

Tame those pesky cookies by adjusting your browser settings. It's a small tweak that keeps your online presence more low-key without cramping your style. It's real simple, when you're asked to accept cookies, reject them all! Some sites use dark patterns to make it more frictional to avoid being tracked. It's worth it, every time.

9. Educate Yourself:

Stay in the loop about privacy happenings, data breaches, and the nitty-gritty of the services you use. Knowledge is your digital superpower, helping you make savvy decisions in this online jungle. There are some services out there that'll help you keep on top of it all.

haveibeenpwned.com can let you know which sites have been breached with your information. It's a bit scary to know that even something from 10 or 15 years ago still has your information, so it's better to know than to stay in the dark.

There are also subscription services out there like DeleteMe (get 20% off if you use my link) that you can use to get your personal information out of those pesky and shady data brokers. Go ahead and type your name into your preferred search engine and see what pops up. I'll wait.

Scary, right?

10. Alternative Platforms:

Try out some privacy-focused alternatives to the usual suspects. ProtonMail can be your go-to email buddy, keeping things private without making your inbox feel like a fortress. ProtonMail also comes with a plethora of other services, like ProtonVPN, to make it even easier to go private! Services like ProtonMail and Skiff allow you to have encrypted communication with the recipient if you both are using the same service, using the PGP encryption protocol. For folks who haven't converted like you, when you send an encrypted email, ProtonMail will send them a link to log into so the message remains encrypted.

So, embrace these tips, make them yours, and let's keep your online space secure without turning it into a digital maze. It's your online world; let's make it work for you.