Privacy

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.

How this was put together

If you only read a few

Ignore calls from unrecognized numbers unless you are anticipating them.
Picking up verifies the line is live, which may result in increased spam or your number being sold.
- You might miss legitimate calls from clients, hospitals, teachers, or family members using different phones
- Some employers, such as schools, may not leave voicemails if they have many applicants
8 people, independently
- Do not answer advertising or scam calls.1
Press your face close to the glass and shield outside light with your hands to check for visibility through it.
If it is a two-way mirror, blocking excess light should reveal objects on the opposite side.
- You may look silly doing this.
3 people, independently
Only send nudes to people you explicitly trust.
Others may use the images for blackmail.
- Some users state they do not trust anyone except close family members not to blackmail them.
3 people, independently
- Do not send nude images to anyone.7
- If you send nudes, watermark them with the recipient's full name.1
Exclude your face, tattoos, distinguishing marks, and identifiable background items from nude photos.
To make it difficult for others to trace the image back to you.
- Even minor details might allow determined individuals to identify you.
4 people, independently
- Crop out your face or keep it out of nude images to prevent identification.5

calls, unknown, numbers, number25

Search unknown phone numbers online before calling them back.

Press 9 on automated calls to add yourself to the Do Not Call list.
It might work, as one user reported getting fewer calls.
- Effectiveness is uncertain ('might work idk').
one person who lived it
File complaints against persistent spam callers on the government's website.
This action may cause the calling to slow down.
one person who lived it
Answer spam calls politely, then mute the microphone and leave the line open for an extended period to waste the scammer's time.
Keeping the caller on the line prevents them from swindling other victims.
one person who lived it
Answer unknown calls by identifying yourself as a specific business entity (e.g., 'card member services') to cause scammers to hang up.
Scammers often hang up immediately upon hearing this.
- One dissenting view suggests this is rude because the caller may be doing their job to support family
one person who lived it
- Answer unknown calls by saying only 'telephone' to confuse the caller.1

19 more on this

Name your do-not-answer contact list with a letter like 'Z' to push it to the bottom of your contacts.
It avoids accidental pocket dials.
one person who lived it
Call back pocket-dialers with your number blocked (*67) to make your number un-callable from their recent calls list.
Dialing *67 before the number makes your call appear as 'Private Caller,' rendering it unusable for them to redial.
one person who lived it
Check the saved addresses and phone numbers in the GPS system of any used car you purchase.
Previous owners often leave their home and work addresses stored in the infotainment system.
2 people, independently
Clear all saved addresses, contacts, and history from a vehicle's built-in GPS before selling or trading it in.
Dealers often forget to do this, leaving personal info like home and work addresses for the next owner to see.
2 people, independently
Answer unknown calls by stating only your first name ('This is [Name]').
It provides no useful information to cold callers but remains professional if it is a client.
one person who lived it
Ignore unexpected calls from numbers that closely mimic your own phone number or area code.
Answering these calls often leads to being added to lists for further spamming.
one person who lived it
Be skeptical of texts claiming urgent account issues (e.g., Amazon, bank, Apple) from unknown numbers.
Scammers frequently use these claims, sometimes targeting people who do not even own the product mentioned.
one person who lived it
Avoid saying 'Yes' on telemarketer calls, though be aware this concern is disputed.
Some believe recording a 'yes' has legal implications, while others state it is a myth with no actionable power.
- There is disagreement: some claim it is a myth that recordings of 'yes' can be used against you.
one person who lived it
Google unknown phone numbers to check if they are associated with fraudulent activities.
Chances are, it's fraudulent.
one person who lived it
- Search unknown phone numbers online before calling them back.3
Save important contacts in your address book to bypass call screening filters.
Regular contacts can add you to their lists so screening features do not activate.
one person who lived it
Use a domain privacy service to replace your personal contact information with that of the hosting service.
It reduces exposure to telemarketers.
one person who lived it
Set your voicemail greeting to a modem handshake sound to trick robocalls into thinking they reached a machine.
Robots may interpret the sound as a modem connection and remove the number from their list.
one person who lived it
Reply 'Who is this?' or 'Possibly' to unknown callers to avoid providing clear voice authorization.
Scammers can use clear verbal confirmations for authorization.
one person who lived it
Identify yourself as a fraud department agent when answering suspicious calls to deter scammers.
Live people disconnect quickly.
one person who lived it
Do not assume car thieves will use GPS data to locate and break into your home.
Professional thieves typically sell stolen vehicles quickly rather than using them to find owners' addresses.
one person who lived it
Avoid saying a quick 'Hello' followed by silence, as this signals a human to telemarketers.
Detection systems distinguish humans from voicemails by listening for a short greeting and subsequent silence.
one person who lived it
Ask for corporate office information to verify a caller's legitimacy.
Legitimate centers will provide verifiable contact details that can be cross-referenced online.
one person who lived it
Identify and learn to recognize the specific cars owned by those following you, rather than assuming they are using rental vehicles.
Using rentals is considered excessive for harassment purposes.
one person who lived it
Accept that you cannot control others putting your number online or businesses selling your data to scammers.
one person who lived it

two-way, mirrors, see6

Do not rely on the finger-gap test to identify two-way mirrors, as front-silvered mirrors also show no gap.

At night, check your window reflection to gauge visibility from the outside; a vivid reflection means outsiders can see in clearly.
Dark areas can see into light areas, but light areas cannot see into dark areas.
- This method only works at night.
- UV tint may affect this observation.
2 people, independently
Take a taxi to see if followers can still locate you, which would indicate they are monitoring you visually rather than via a GPS tracker.
A taxi is GPS-free, so being found implies visual tracking.
one person who lived it
Be aware that cameras may be hidden in ceiling fixtures rather than behind mirrors, especially in stalls that do not extend to the ceiling.
A single camera in the ceiling can see multiple stalls if they don't go all the way up.
one person who lived it
Be aware that unique physical traits like piercings or tattoos can identify you even if your face is hidden.
Identifiers like piercings or tattoos in specific places can link an image to a person.
one person who lived it

2 more on this

Do not rely on the finger-gap test to identify two-way mirrors, as front-silvered mirrors also show no gap.
- The finger test is unreliable because many mirrors are front-silvered.
3 people, independently
Recognize that reflective metal surfaces, such as those in elevators, can pass the finger test but are not transparent two-way mirrors.
- Reflective metal surfaces mimic two-way mirrors in this test but are not actually transparent.
one person who lived it

photos, location, images, posting34

Watermark intimate photos with the recipient's personal information (such as their name or handle) to deter leaks by linking exposure to their identity.
Recipients may be less likely to share images if doing so exposes their own personal info or identifies them as the source.
- Recipients could edit or scribble out the watermark.
- Some argue nobody would actually share such an image anyway.
7 people, independently
Parents should avoid posting their children's photos online so the child can choose for themselves when they are older.
The child may hate it later but be unable to take it back.
2 people, independently
Avoid posting content online that you would not want sent to every contact, including relatives or unknowns.
It prevents distress since any person might discover it.
3 people, independently
Assume any shared picture could become public; avoid including your face in nude images to protect your identity.
Even trusted partners may change, ex-partners may seek to shame you, and AI facial recognition can identify people from posted faces.
- Having many tattoos may reduce identifiability concerns.
4 people, independently

28 more on this

Deny location access to apps that do not strictly need it.
You cannot leak data that the app does not have access to.
one person who lived it
Do not upload photos of people you are helping.
It exposes them at their lowest moments and makes you look like you are showing off.
one person who lived it
Do not set your actual home address in your car’s satnav or GPS device; use only the general area.
If the device gets lost or stolen, thieves won't know exactly where you live.
one person who lived it
Explain the reasons behind rules rather than just issuing commands.
Giving the reason goes farther than just saying 'don't'.
one person who lived it
Add fake moles to nude photos.
It tricks people into thinking it is not you.
one person who lived it
Avoid publicly posting details of your exercise routines.
Public posts can reveal your schedule and location to people who might wish to harm you or rob your home while you are away.
one person who lived it
Disable location metadata in camera settings before photographing indoors.
Sharing geotagged images can expose your precise residence and even the specific side of the building where your room is located.
3 people, independently
Do not take nude photos unless you are willing to accept the risk that they may end up online.
one person who lived it
- Do not take nude photos at all to eliminate the risk of them leaking.1
Turn off GPS tracking on your phone when near your home while using dating apps.
Disabling location services prevents matches from determining where you live.
one person who lived it
Stop sharing naked photos or videos of babies and toddlers on public social media platforms.
It invades their privacy and can cause them significant social backlash later in life.
one person who lived it
Refuse to send digital nude images; instead, invite partners to see you naked in person.
There is no time for teasing.
2 people, independently
Keep social media profiles appropriate for school, church, or job settings.
Future employers, in-laws, exes, parents, and children may view these profiles.
one person who lived it
Remove EXIF data from images by re-saving them via tools like Imgur, MS Paint, or dedicated metadata removers before posting online.
To maintain privacy by clearing metadata that could identify you or your location.
4 people, independently
- Take a screenshot of a photo instead of uploading the original file to social media to ensure GPS metadata is stripped.1
Do not record and post illegal or incredibly stupid actions on social media.
To avoid negative consequences.
- One counterpoint suggests recording it so the internet can meme it, immortalizing you as an object lesson.
one person who lived it
Turn off location services on all your apps.
Apps like Snapchat encourage sharing private information by default.
one person who lived it
Decline requests for nude photos by stating your body is too special for screens, which can increase desirability through exclusivity.
Making yourself rare and exclusive can make you more desirable.
one person who lived it
Recognize that some adult children check their parents' locations for reassurance of safety.
It reassures them that the parent is still safe.
one person who lived it
Use incognito mode when browsing adult content.
You will not be logged into any social media.
one person who lived it
Review the profile and posts of distant contacts to verify their genuineness before engaging.
Posts indicate whether a contact is genuine.
one person who lived it
Delete all compromising photos and videos from all devices immediately to prevent leaks.
Leaks can happen quickly and result in severe negative consequences.
one person who lived it
Check photos for embedded GPS location data before posting them online.
Most phones embed exact coordinates that anyone can extract in seconds.
one person who lived it
Check the metadata on videos received from others to see if they contain unintended personal information like location.
Metadata can reveal details such as phone type, exact time, and the location of the sender's house.
one person who lived it
Place watermarks on distinctive body parts or covering sensitive areas rather than corners, so the image cannot be simply cropped to remove them.
Watermarks on corners can be easily cropped out.
3 people, independently
Place an identifying emoji over your face in the photo so it cannot be easily edited out.
This prevents others from simply editing the cover away.
one person who lived it
Turn off automatic route posting in running apps to prevent revealing your home address via start and end points.
one person who lived it
Avoid posting photos of stolen goods or illegal operations with identifying information.
It can lead to immediate identification and consequences, such as termination by HR.
one person who lived it
Double-check email addresses when sending sensitive information like photos of illegal activities.
Typos can send incriminating data to the wrong recipient.
one person who lived it
Be aware that disabling location tracking may leave a timestamp revealing when it was turned off.
one person who lived it

documents, shredded, paper, shredding18

Destroy sensitive paper documents by ripping them up, running water over the pieces to bleed the ink, and mashing them into pulp to prevent reconstruction.
Water keeps the paper from being repairable and prevents scraps from being put back together.
- One person reported drying and pulling apart papers that went through a washer, finding this a terrible idea.
- Using large amounts of water may violate local regulations (e.g., California).
3 people, independently
Remove house keys from your keyring when giving car keys to a valet.
You do not want valets making copies of your house keys and coming back later.
one person who lived it
Burn documents in bulk using a wood stove, fireplace, outdoor fire pit, or grill.
- Not everyone has a safe or legal spot for a fire.
- Paper contains bad chemicals that can contaminate soil near food sources.
3 people, independently
shred junk mail and bills to use as packing material for fragile items
shredded paper creates a solid block useful for protecting items during moving
- bag items with slots or holes first to prevent shredded paper from getting stuck
one person who lived it

14 more on this

Buy a paper shredder and use it frequently to destroy sensitive documents.
It may help prevent identity theft.
2 people, independently
cut documents with scissors until they are small bits
it acts like a shredder but requires manual effort
- cutting takes time
one person who lived it
Use a crosscut shredder to produce small confetti pieces instead of long strips.
It makes reconstruction harder with less effort.
one person who lived it
Be aware that scammers can use mail found in bins to verify addresses and create fake IDs.
Scammers have used mail from homeowners' bins to create fake IDs matching the address, successfully proving residency for services like locksmiths.
one person who lived it
Avoid using office supply store document shredding services due to security risks.
Stores often place documents in basic plastic bins with cheap locks rather than shredding them immediately; break-ins have resulted in stolen documents.
one person who lived it
Split shredded documents between trash cans that are emptied on different schedules.
If someone is reconstructing shreds, they will likely collect all your trash; splitting bins complicates this.
one person who lived it
Note that historical examples exist of shredded documents being reassembled by dedicated teams.
In one instance, unemployed carpet weavers were marshaled to reassemble shredded documents from a library.
one person who lived it
Recognize that keeping registration and insurance cards in the glove box may reveal your address regardless of GPS settings.
Thieves can access your home address through these documents even if they do not use the vehicle's navigation system.
3 people, independently
Contact banks and billers to switch all statements and bills to electronic delivery.
It saves time, reduces environmental impact, and eliminates the need for shredding paper documents.
3 people, independently
soil shredded documents by placing them at the bottom of kitchen garbage cans or mixing them with used cat litter
it deters people from digging through trash to recover information
one person who lived it
donate shredded personal documents to animal shelters to be used as litter for cats
the shelter uses it for post-surgery kitties, keeping personal information safe
one person who lived it
If only the top part of a document contains personal information, tear out just that section to preserve the recyclability of the rest.
Shredding often renders paper unrecyclable because sorting machines won't recognize it.
one person who lived it
one person reported peeing on documents inside a plastic bag before trashing them to ensure they are not recovered
it makes the documents worthless and unrecoverable
one person who lived it
Report suspicious customer behavior to supervisors, even after the incident has occurred.
Supervisors can review security footage to investigate the behavior.
one person who lived it