At some point when using a web browser, you’ve probably had the following experience: You look something up in a search engine and click a few links to product pages, review sites, etc. You then navigate to another website, like Facebook or someone’s blog, seemingly unrelated to that previous search. There, you notice specific advertisements […]

If you use two-factor authentication (2FA) to protect your logins, there’s still some risk if the 2FA code is sent via SMS. YubiKey (a hardware authentication device) offers a safer alternative to text messages, in the form of a USB stick that must be physically plugged into your Mac/PC during login. It’s already compatible with […]

Although it wasn’t designed as such, Facebook is a powerful caller ID service – it’s easy for anyone to paste a phone number into the search field and find the profile associated with it. The same can be done with email addresses. Change your privacy settings to prevent strangers from easily digging into your personal […]

Mobile apps often ask for many permissions, including access to your camera, contacts list and geolocation. Think twice before granting them, since some applications only want these abilities for data harvesting purposes. For example, it’s not usually necessary to give Facebook access to your location, or to let Instagram listen in on your microphone (unless […]

Facebook can be a useful platform for keeping in touch with friends and family. However, it collects immense data on its users, even when they leave the site. Consider installing a browser add-on like Facebook Container in Firefox to hide your web browsing details from Facebook and prevent targeted ads and suggestions.

If you have ever signed into a site using your Facebook, Google or Twitter account, then you have already shared some of your data with a third party. It’s a good idea to occasionally look at which services are connected to your social networks. Incidents such as the Cambridge Analytica leak illustrate the risks of […]