Online privacy tips
Practical, actionable steps you can take today to reduce your digital footprint, lock down your accounts, and keep your personal data out of the wrong hands.
10 tips covered
Remove yourself from data broker sites
Data brokers are the single biggest source of personal information exposure online. Sites like Spokeo, WhitePages, BeenVerified, and over 80 others publish your full name, address, phone number, email, age, relatives, and more.
What to do:
• Run a free scan to see which sites list you
• Submit opt-out requests to each site (each has a different process)
• Re-check every 3 months, because brokers re-list your data from public records
• Consider an automated removal service to handle this continuously
Use a password manager and unique passwords
If you reuse passwords across sites, a single breach exposes all your accounts. Data breaches happen constantly, and stolen credentials are traded and tested against other sites within hours.
What to do:
• Install a password manager (1Password, Bitwarden, or similar)
• Generate a unique, random password for every account
• Enable two-factor authentication on every site that supports it
• Use a hardware security key (YubiKey) for your most critical accounts
Use email aliases and burner addresses
Your email address is a master key that links your accounts together. Data brokers, advertisers, and hackers all use email addresses to connect your activity across services.
What to do:
• Use a primary email only for important accounts (banking, government, etc.)
• Create aliases or use a service like SimpleLogin or Apple's Hide My Email for signups
• Never use your primary email for contests, newsletters, or free trials
• Check if your email has been in breaches using a breach monitoring tool
Guard your phone number
Your phone number is increasingly used as an identity anchor. It connects your social media, banking, delivery apps, and more. It is also the primary vector for SIM-swapping attacks.
What to do:
• Avoid giving out your real number for loyalty programs and signups
• Use a Google Voice or similar VoIP number for non-essential signups
• Contact your carrier and set up a SIM lock/PIN to prevent SIM swapping
• Remove your number from data broker sites (many list it publicly)
Harden your browser and search habits
Your browsing history reveals your interests, health concerns, finances, and personal life. Advertisers and data brokers track you across the web using cookies, fingerprinting, and tracking pixels.
What to do:
• Use a privacy-focused browser like Firefox or Brave
• Install uBlock Origin to block ads and trackers
• Use a privacy-focused search engine like DuckDuckGo for personal searches
• Clear cookies regularly or use containers to isolate sites
• Use a VPN when on public Wi-Fi or when you want to mask your location
Secure your devices
A lost or stolen phone or laptop gives someone direct access to your email, social media, banking, and personal photos. Even without theft, unsecured devices leak data through apps and system settings.
What to do:
• Use a strong passcode (not 4 digits) and enable biometric unlock
• Turn on full-disk encryption (enabled by default on modern iOS and Android)
• Keep your operating system and apps updated
• Review app permissions regularly, especially location, camera, and microphone
• Turn off Bluetooth and Wi-Fi when not in use to prevent tracking
Protect your financial privacy
Financial data breaches can lead to identity theft, fraudulent accounts, and damaged credit scores. Your spending habits also reveal deeply personal information.
What to do:
• Freeze your credit with all three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion), it is free
• Use credit cards instead of debit cards for online purchases (better fraud protection)
• Enable transaction alerts on all financial accounts
• Monitor your credit report regularly (AnnualCreditReport.com gives free weekly reports)
• Use virtual card numbers for online shopping when available
Keep your home address private
Your home address is one of the most sensitive pieces of personal information. Data brokers publish it, property records make it searchable, and it appears in countless databases.
What to do:
• Use a PO Box or virtual mailbox for online orders and subscriptions
• Opt out of data broker sites that list your address
• Register domains with privacy protection
• Do not share your address on social media or public profiles
• Consider an LLC for property ownership if you have heightened privacy concerns
Make privacy a habit, not a project
Privacy is not something you set up once and forget. New threats emerge, settings change, and your information gets re-published constantly.
What to do:
• Set a monthly calendar reminder to Google yourself
• Re-scan data broker sites every quarter
• Review app permissions and social media settings every few months
• Stay informed about major breaches (signing up for breach alerts automates this)
• Before signing up for any new service, ask: what data are they collecting, and do I really need this account?
Find out what data brokers know about you
Run a free scan and get a report showing exactly where your personal data is exposed online.
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Lock down your social media privacy settings
Social media platforms default to public or semi-public sharing. Old posts, tagged photos, and comments from years ago are searchable and can be used against you.
What to do:
• Set profiles to private or friends-only where possible
• Review and remove old posts, especially anything controversial or personal
• Disable location tagging on photos and posts
• Limit who can tag you and who can see your friends list
• Search your name on each platform to see what is publicly visible
• Deactivate accounts you no longer use (do not just stop posting)