Archives - Privacy


Curb online tracking in your browser

Most websites collect a lot of information on a visitor, which is then used to track them across the web and target ads. If you’re uncomfortable with that, consider setting up an ad blocker or installing specialized extensions that limit what any site can see about your device and activity.

Turn off auto-listening on a smart speaker if you’re not currently using it

Smart speakers like Amazon Alexa and Google Home listen for certain keywords that wake them up and prompt them to answer questions. You can turn this listening behavior off by pressing a button on the speaker itself. Doing so might be advisable if you’re concerned about privacy.

Avoid wrong password entry and lockouts by toggling password visibility

Most of the time, when you enter a password it shows up as a bunch of dots to obscure what’s actually being typed. Unfortunately, this setup makes it hard to know if you’re actually entering the right characters. Assuming no one is looking over your shoulder, consider toggling the visibility setting – it usually looks […]

Treat everything as public information

A good way to protect yourself is to limit the amount of personal information you post to social networks. This recommendation applies not only to information in your user profile, but also to any comments or photos you post. It is important that you consider information that you post about yourself and about others, particularly […]

Download your Facebook information

If you use Facebook, it’s a good idea to periodically download your data so that you have a copy in case anything were to ever happen to the site or you decided to leave the platform. You can do so from Settings -> Your Facebook Information -> Download Your Information.

Log out of your Facebook account on devices you’re not using

Facebook provides a way for you to see when and where you logged into the site/app. If you are still logged in from a browser or device you haven’t used in days or weeks, it’s prudent to log out so that someone else doesn’t gain access to your account.