• Protect Yourself •
You don't need to be a tech expert to protect your privacy. These steps are quick, free, and make a real difference.
Start Here
You can do all of these today, in under an hour, for free.
GPC is a browser signal that automatically tells every website you visit "don't sell or share my data." It's legally recognized under California law. Use Brave browser (built-in), or install the Privacy Badger or DuckDuckGo extension on Firefox or Chrome. One setup, permanent protection.
Go to Settings → Privacy (iPhone) or Settings → Apps (Android) and look at which apps have access to your location, microphone, camera, and contacts. Revoke anything you don't recognize or didn't actively approve. Most apps don't need your location "always on."
Reusing passwords is one of the most dangerous habits online. If one site gets breached, attackers try the same password everywhere. Use a free password manager like Bitwarden to generate and store unique passwords for every site.
2FA adds a second step to logins — usually a code sent to your phone. Even if someone has your password, they can't get in without that code. Enable it on your email, social media, and any accounts with personal info. Use an authenticator app (like Google Authenticator) instead of SMS for stronger security.
This free tool tells you if your email address has been found in a known data breach. If you've been breached, change that password immediately on every site where you used it. Set up alerts for future breaches.
Social Media
Social platforms are built to collect as much data as possible. Here's how to dial it back on the most popular ones.
Safe Browsing
Brave blocks ads and trackers by default. Firefox with uBlock Origin is also excellent. Both are free. Chrome is convenient but heavily tied to Google's data ecosystem.
DuckDuckGo and Startpage don't track your searches or build a profile on you. Google stores your search history indefinitely and uses it to target you with ads.
Before entering personal information on any website, check that the URL starts with https:// (and the padlock icon shows). This encrypts the data between you and the site so others can't intercept it.
Public Wi-Fi (coffee shops, airports, schools) can be intercepted. Avoid logging into sensitive accounts on public networks. If you must, use a VPN to encrypt your connection.
Recommended Tools
These are well-vetted tools recommended by privacy experts. All have free tiers.
Open-source, free password manager. Generates and stores unique passwords for every site.
FreeBlocks ads and trackers by default. Built-in GPC support. Faster than Chrome.
FreeSearch engine that doesn't track you or build ad profiles. Has a browser app too.
FreeBrowser extension from EFF that learns to block invisible trackers automatically.
FreeEnd-to-end encrypted email. Based in Switzerland. Free plan available. Much more private than Gmail.
Free tierEnd-to-end encrypted messaging app. The gold standard for private communication. Free.
Free