Archives - Privacy Settings


Send “do not track” requests to websites

In your browser’s settings, you should be able to turn on “do not track,” which means every website you visit will be asked to refrain from tracking your data. While many sites will ignore this request, it’s a good way to start limiting how much of your data is being collected by online services.

Reread every email before sending

An email can live forever if the recipient doesn’t delete it. Even then, it might still be recovered on one of its mail servers. Review each email to see if it contains any information that might cause you trouble down the road, such as some inadvertently copy/pasted text or a Social Security number.

Use the highest-level settings on your web browsers

Web browsers are your principal connection to the rest of the Internet, and multiple applications rely on your browser to work. Numerous web applications try to enhance your browsing experience by enabling different types of functionality, but this could be unnecessary and may leave you vulnerable attack. A good approach is to set the highest […]

Share only with people you know

Although many users seek to establish as many contacts on social networks as possible, consider sharing personal information only with people you know. If you expand your contacts beyond people you are sure you can trust, check the service’s settings to see if you can group your contacts and assign different levels of access based […]

Secure your web browser

When you first install a web browser on a new computer, it will not usually have secure settings by default, you will need to adjust your browser’s security settings manually. Securing your browser is another critical step in improving your computer’s security by reducing attacks that take advantage of unsecured web browsers.

Don’t assume an app is safe just because it came from an official app store

Downloading apps from official sources such as the Apple App Store and Google Play is far safer than sideloading apps or buying them from third-party stores. Still, even official apps can have their security compromised or be problematic for privacy. The best way to mitigate your risk is to check the permissions the apps ask […]