More on privacy and security
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Use Adrive.com as a cloud storage alternative to Dropbox.
It gives you free space and has a mobile app.
one person who lived it
Use a VPN to encrypt your traffic so ISPs only see connections to the server, not your browsing history.
ISPs cannot break the encryption and thus cannot see specific activity.
- Some VPNs have been caught storing user activity logs.
one person who lived it
Avoid pasting sensitive or financial information into a browser's URL bar, as this sends the data to your search engine provider.
Pasting text into the URL bar transmits that content to the search engine (e.g., Google/Bing).
one person who lived it
Use a Sharpie pen for filling out forms on clipboards so it does not seep through.
It requires less pressure and prevents ink from seeping through.
one person who lived it
Avoid using common dictionary words in passwords because attackers try lists of real passwords and their variations first.
Hackers use dictionaries to try every common word and then variations of those passwords before attempting blind brute force.
3 people, independently
Never write down anything you would not be comfortable having others see.
Your mind is safer than physical records.
one person who lived it
Digitize important physical documents like utility bills and rent receipts to enable quick retrieval and mailing when proof is requested.
It saves time and stress by allowing you to mail proofs in about 2 minutes.
one person who lived it
Back up your device's data immediately, recognizing that flash-based storage devices will eventually fail, often resulting in total data loss.
Flash storage devices will fail one day, and more often than not, all data is gone.
one person who lived it
Be aware that playing copyrighted songs to disrupt recording may not prevent non-public dissemination, such as private streaming or local storage.
That's not stopping anyone who doesn't make the content public.
one person who lived it
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Do not download third-party apps solely to track packages; use the shipper's website directly to avoid giving up privacy.
Third-party tracking apps simply enter the tracking number on the shipper's website in exchange for your privacy.
- Shippers already know your address, which may limit the additional privacy risk.
one person who lived it
Focus on password length over complexity, as long passwords do not need to be gibberish.
Computers take exponentially longer to go through all possible combinations for longer passwords.
2 people, independently
Assume that account lockouts after failed attempts are ineffective against offline cracking methods.
Offline cracking methods bypass the max attempts lockout.
one person who lived it
Set your phone wallpaper to an embarrassing personal image to deter snooping.
One person reported this scares off snoopers.
one person who lived it
Only share personal information that you are comfortable with everyone knowing.
Private information often ends up being known by everyone anyway.
one person who lived it
Mix symbols, uppercase, and lowercase letters into your mnemonic passwords.
Mixing character types adds many more possible combinations, increasing time to crack compared to just lowercase.
one person who lived it
Develop a 'threat model' to decide what personal information you want to protect and from whom, rather than blindly uploading everything to the cloud.
one person who lived it
Do not proceed to websites that demand personal information for access.
No website is important enough to require giving away personal information.
one person who lived it
Ensure people around you know not to overshare online, as their posts can negatively impact your employment or reputation.
one person who lived it
One person reported using famous addresses, such as 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, as billing addresses for virtual cards.
one person who lived it