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Last active July 13, 2024 18:02
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High impact, low-effort ways to protect yourself on the web

A Basic Guide to Protecting Yourself On the Web

Step One: Secure your passwords

How

Use a password manager and use different, complex passwords for every site. (The password manager will make it easy to generate and save new, secure passwords.) The one I use is OnePassword (paid plan).

Why

Eventually, one of your accounts will probably be breached in a hack. It's a lot more of a problem if hackers find the same password for every account. If it's a one-off, it's much less dangerous. Also, complex passwords will be less subject to brute force hacking.

Step Two: Set up your browser to block ads and tracking cookies

How

One of the most secure setups you can have is Firefox with strict mode tracking protection.

To enhance your privacy protections further, add these two extensions, both from the trusted Electronic Frontier Foundation:

For extra tracking protection you can also add Ublock Origin, a very good ad blocker.

(If you want to use Chrome instead, all the extensions above can also be used.)

And also add the browser extension for your chosen password manager so that passwords will be automatically filled in.

Try not to add any additional extensions, especially from unknown origins, as every new extension introduces a new potential vulnerability.

Why

Firefox is privacy-focused and its user experience has gotten a lot better in recent years.

Step Three: Always immediately apply available software updates to your computer and phone

How

Regularly restart your phone and computer to allow updates to install.

Why

The longer you have old code with known vulnerabilities running on your machine, the easier you are to hack.

Step Four: Turn on Two Factor Auth on all accounts that allow it

How

Many services now provide two factor authentication, which will have you enter in a code sent to your mobile number or authenticator app after you sign in.

Why

Two factor auth makes your accounts harder to hack. At least set it up for all your banking accounts and your email accounts.

Step Five: Audit apps on your phone and delete any you don't use regularly

How

You probably know how to do this already

Why

Many apps track a lot of your data, the fewer apps on your phone the fewer apps tracking you (and your phone will probably work better too.)

Congrats

If you did all these steps you are being proactive in protecting your data online!

References/ Further Reading

  1. https://www.nytimes.com/guides/privacy-project/how-to-protect-your-digital-privacy
  2. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/12/19/opinion/location-tracking-privacy-tips.html
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