Archives - Privacy


Use biometrics or a PIN

Biometrics includes data such as your fingerprint or face, which can be used to unlock your phone or log into apps. These tend to be much faster than typing in a password, and they’re generally secure. On the other hand, biometrics aren’t 100% secure and a stranger may still be able to unlock your phone. […]

Avoid using a credit card swipe if possible

Modern credit cards often have three mechanisms for in-person purchases – swiping, chip insertion and tapping. From a security perspective, chip insertion and tapping are much more secure and should be used if available. Mobile tap-to-pay solutions like Apple Pay and G Pay are also very secure.

Factory reset your phone before getting rid of it

Whether you’re trading it in, donating it or handing it off for any reason, you’ll want to wipe all the data from your phone before doing so. While the process for this varies by phone, you can easily find out how by searching your settings for something that says “Factory reset” or “Return to factory […]

If you’re entering sensitive information, cover the screen with your hand

You can never be totally sure if someone’s looking at your screen, so it’s a good idea to make this a habit. Another solution is using a privacy screen for your laptop if you often use your laptop in a crowded place, such as airplanes and airports. Privacy screens make it difficult for people to […]

Set up credit alerts

Someone who has some of your personal information can usually find more of it, and they might use it to open credit card accounts in your name. Protect yourself by setting up alerts on Experian, Equifax or TransUnion. It’s okay to set up alerts on just one of these, as the others will be automatically […]

Don’t use real photos of yourself if you don’t have to

Many sites allow you to upload “avatars” of yourself which are generally posted next to your username any time you make a post. You don’t have to use a real photo of yourself, however. Instead, use any other image that doesn’t reveal who you are.