personal-security-checklist.yml

- title: Authentication
  slug: authentication
  description: Securing your online account login credentials
  icon: password
  color: yellow
  intro: >-
    Most reported data breaches are caused by the use of weak, default or stolen passwords
    (according to [this Verizon report](http://www.verizonenterprise.com/resources/reports/rp_dbir-2016-executive-summary_xg_en.pdf)).
    Use long, strong and unique passwords, manage them in a secure password manager, enable
    2-factor authentication, keep on top of breaches and take care while logging into your accounts.
  checklist:
  - point: Use a Strong Password
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      If your password is too short, or contains dictionary words, places or names- then it can be easily
      cracked through brute force, or guessed by someone. The easiest way to make a strong password, is by
      making it long (12+ characters)- consider using a 'passphrase', made up of many words. Alternatively,
      use a password generator to create a long, strong random password. Have a play with
      [HowSecureIsMyPassword.net](https://howsecureismypassword.net), to get an idea of how quickly common
      passwords can be cracked. Read more about creating strong passwords:
      [securityinabox.org](https://securityinabox.org/en/passwords/passwords-and-2fa/)

  - point: Don't reuse Passwords
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      If someone was to reuse a password, and one site they had an account with suffered a leak, then a
      criminal could easily gain unauthorized access to their other accounts. This is usually done through
      large-scale automated login requests, and it is called Credential Stuffing. Unfortunately this is all
      too common, but it's simple to protect against- use a different password for each of your online accounts

  - point: Use a Secure Password Manager
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      For most people it is going to be near-impossible to remember hundreds of strong and unique passwords.
      A password manager is an application that generates, stores and auto-fills your login credentials for you.
      All your passwords will be encrypted against 1 master passwords (which you must remember, and it should be
      very strong). Most password managers have browser extensions and mobile apps, so whatever device you are on,
      your passwords can be auto-filled. A good all-rounder is
      [Bitwarden](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/essentials/password-managers/bitwarden), or see
      [Recommended Password Managers](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/essentials/password-managers)

  - point: Avoid sharing passwords
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      While there may be times that you need to share access to an account with another person, you should
      generally avoid doing this because it makes it easier for the account to become compromised. If you
      absolutely do need to share a password for example when working on a team with a shared account this
      should be done via features built into a password manager.

  - point: Enable 2-Factor Authentication
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      2FA is where you must provide both something you know (a password) and something you have (such as a
      code on your phone) to log in. This means that if anyone has got your password (e.g. through phishing,
      malware or a data breach), they will not be able to log into your account. It's easy to get started,
      download [an authenticator app](https://github.com/Lissy93/awesome-privacy#2-factor-authentication)
      onto your phone, and then go to your account security settings and follow the steps to enable 2FA. Next
      time you log in on a new device, you will be prompted for the code that displays in the app on your phone
      (it works without internet, and the code usually changes every 30-seconds)

  - point: Keep Backup Codes Safe
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      When you enable multi-factor authentication, you will usually be given several codes that you can use if
      your 2FA method is lost, broken or unavailable. Keep these codes somewhere safe to prevent loss or
      unauthorized access. You should store these on paper or in a safe place on disk (e.g. in offline storage
      or in an encrypted file/drive). Don't store these in your Password Manager as 2FA sources and passwords
      and should be kept separately.

  - point: Sign up for Breach Alerts
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      After a website suffers a significant data breach, the leaked data often ends up on the internet. There
      are several websites that collect these leaked records, and allow you to search your email address to check
      if you are in any of their lists. [Firefox Monitor](https://monitor.firefox.com), [Have I been pwned](https://haveibeenpwned.com)
      and [DeHashed](https://dehashed.com) allow you to sign up for monitoring, where they will notify you if your
      email address appears in any new data sets. It is useful to know as soon as possible when this happens, so
      that you can change your passwords for the affected accounts. [Have i been pwned](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/security-tools/online-tools/have-i-been-pwned) also has domain-wide
      notification, where you can receive alerts if any email addresses under your entire domain appear (useful if
      you use aliases for [anonymous forwarding](https://github.com/Lissy93/awesome-privacy#anonymous-mail-forwarding))

  - point: Shield your Password/ PIN
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      When typing your password in public places, ensure you are not in direct line of site of a CCTV camera and
      that no one is able to see over your shoulder. Cover your password or pin code while you type, and do not
      reveal any plain text passwords on screen

  - point: Update Critical Passwords Periodically
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Database leaks and breaches are common, and it is likely that several of your passwords are already somewhere
      online. Occasionally updating passwords of security-critical accounts can help mitigate this. But providing
      that all your passwords are long, strong and unique, there is no need to do this too often- annually should be
      sufficient. Enforcing mandatory password changes within organisations is [no longer recommended](https://duo.com/decipher/microsoft-will-no-longer-recommend-forcing-periodic-password-changes),
      as it encourages colleagues to select weaker passwords

  - point: Don’t save your password in browsers
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Most modern browsers offer to save your credentials when you log into a site. Don’t allow this, as they are
      not always encrypted, hence could allow someone to gain access into your accounts. Instead use a dedicated
      password manager to store (and auto-fill) your passwords

  - point: Avoid logging in on someone else’s device
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Avoid logging on other people's computer, since you can't be sure their system is clean. Be especially cautious
      of public machines, as malware and tracking is more common here. Using someone else's device is especially
      dangerous with critical accounts like online banking. When using someone else's machine, ensure that you're in a
      private/ incognito session (Use Ctrl+Shift+N/ Cmd+Shift+N). This will request browser to not save your credentials,
      cookies and browsing history.

  - point: Avoid password hints
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Some sites allow you to set password hints. Often it is very easy to guess answers. In cases where password hints
      are mandatory use random answers and record them in password manager (`Name of the first school: 6D-02-8B-!a-E8-8F-81`)

  - point: Never answer online security questions truthfully
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      If a site asks security questions (such as place of birth, mother's maiden name or first car etc), don't provide
      real answers. It is a trivial task for hackers to find out this information online or through social engineering.
      Instead, create a fictitious answer, and store it inside your password manager. Using real-words is better than
      random characters, [explained here](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29244870)

  - point: Don’t use a 4-digit PIN
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Don’t use a short PIN to access your smartphone or computer. Instead, use a text password or much longer pin.
      Numeric passphrases are easy crack, (A 4-digit pin has 10,000 combinations, compared to 7.4 million for a
      4-character alpha-numeric code)

  - point: Avoid using SMS for 2FA
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      When enabling multi-factor authentication, opt for app-based codes or a hardware token, if supported. SMS is
      susceptible to a number of common threats, such as [SIM-swapping](https://www.maketecheasier.com/sim-card-hijacking)
      and [interception](https://secure-voice.com/ss7_attacks). There's also no guarantee of how securely your phone
      number will be stored, or what else it will be used for. From a practical point of view, SMS will only work when
      you have signal, and can be slow. If a website or service requires the usage of a SMS number for recovery consider
      purchasing a second pre-paid phone number only used for account recovery for these instances.

  - point: Avoid using your PM to Generate OTPs
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      Many password managers are also able to generate 2FA codes. It is best not to use your primary password manager
      as your 2FA authenticator as well, since it would become a single point of failure if compromised. Instead use a
      dedicated [authenticator app](https://github.com/Lissy93/awesome-privacy#2-factor-authentication) on your phone or laptop

  - point: Avoid Face Unlock
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      Most phones and laptops offer a facial recognition authentication feature, using the camera to compare a snapshot
      of your face with a stored hash. It may be very convenient, but there are numerous ways to [fool it](https://www.forbes.com/sites/jvchamary/2017/09/18/security-apple-face-id-iphone-x/)
      and gain access to the device, through digital photos and reconstructions from CCTV footage. Unlike your password-
      there are likely photos of your face on the internet, and videos recorded by surveillance cameras

  - point: Watch out for Keyloggers
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      A hardware [keylogger](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardware_keylogger) is a physical device planted between
      your keyboard and the USB port, which intercepts all key strokes, and sometimes relays data to a remote server.
      It gives a hacker access to everything typed, including passwords. The best way to stay protected, is just by
      checking your USB connection after your PC has been unattended. It is also possible for keyloggers to be planted
      inside the keyboard housing, so look for any signs that the case has been tampered with, and consider bringing your
      own keyboard to work. Data typed on a virtual keyboard, pasted from the clipboard or auto-filled by a password
      manager can not be intercepted by a hardware keylogger.

  - point: Consider a Hardware Token
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      A U2F/ FIDO2 security key is a USB (or NFC) device that you insert while logging in to an online service, in to
      verify your identity, instead of entering a OTP from your authenticator. [SoloKey](https://solokeys.com) and
      [NitroKey](https://www.nitrokey.com) are examples of such keys. They bring with them several security benefits,
      since the browser communicates directly with the device and cannot be fooled as to which host is requesting
      authentication, because the TLS certificate is checked. [This post](https://security.stackexchange.com/a/71704) is
      a good explanation of the security of using FIDO U2F tokens. Of course it is important to store the physical key
      somewhere safe, or keep it on your person. Some online accounts allow for several methods of 2FA to be enabled

  - point: Consider Offline Password Manager
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      For increased security, an encrypted offline password manager will give you full control over your data.
      [KeePass](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/essentials/password-managers/keepass) is a popular choice, with lots of [plugins](https://[KeePass](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/essentials/password-managers/keepass).info/plugins.html) and
      community forks with additional compatibility and functionality. Popular clients include: [KeePassXC](https://keepassxc.org)
      (desktop), [KeePassDX](https://www.keepassdx.com) (Android) and [StrongBox](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/strongbox-password-safe/id897283731)
      (iOS). The drawback being that it may be slightly less convenient for some, and it will be up to you to back it up,
      and store it securely

  - point: Consider Unique Usernames
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      Having different passwords for each account is a good first step, but if you also use a unique username, email or
      phone number to log in, then it will be significantly harder for anyone trying to gain unauthorised access. The easiest
      method for multiple emails, is using auto-generated aliases for anonymous mail forwarding. This is where
      [anything]@yourdomain.com will arrive in your inbox, allowing you to use a different email for each account (see
      [Mail Alias Providers](https://github.com/Lissy93/awesome-privacy#anonymous-mail-forwarding)). Usernames are easier,
      since you can use your password manager to generate, store and auto-fill these. Virtual phone numbers can be generated
      through your VOIP provider
  softwareLinks:
    - title: Password Managers
      url: https://github.com/Lissy93/awesome-privacy#password-managers
    - title: 2-Factor Authentication
      url: https://github.com/Lissy93/awesome-privacy#2-factor-authentication

- title: Web Browsing
  slug: web-browsing
  description: Avoiding tracking, censorship, and data collection online
  icon: browser
  intro: >-
    Most websites on the internet will use some form of tracking, often to gain
    insight into their users behaviour and preferences. This data can be incredibly
    detailed, and so is extremely valuable to corporations, governments and intellectual
    property thieves. Data breaches and leaks are common, and deanonymizing users web
    activity is often a trivial task.


    There are two primary methods of tracking; stateful (cookie-based), and stateless
    (fingerprint-based). Cookies are small pieces of information, stored in your browser
    with a unique ID that is used to identify you. Browser fingerprinting is a highly
    accurate way to identify and track users wherever they go online. The information
    collected is quite comprehensive, and often includes browser details, OS, screen
    resolution, supported fonts, plugins, time zone, language and font preferences,
    and even hardware configurations.


    This section outlines the steps you can take, to be better protected from threats,
    minimise online tracking and improve privacy.
  checklist:
  - point: Block Ads
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Using an ad-blocker can help improve your privacy, by blocking the trackers that ads implement.
      [uBlock Origin](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/networking/ad-blockers/ublock-origin) is a very
      efficient and open source browser addon,
      developed by Raymond Hill. When 3rd-party ads are displayed on a webpage, they have the ability to
      track you, gathering personal information about you and your habits, which can then be sold, or used
      to show you more targeted ads, and some ads are plain malicious or fake. Blocking ads also makes pages
      load faster, uses less data and provides a less cluttered experience.

  - point: Ensure Website is Legitimate
    priority: Basic
    details: >-
      It may sound obvious, but when you logging into any online accounts, double check the URL is correct.
      Storing commonly visited sites in your bookmarks is a good way to ensure the URL is easy to find. When
      visiting new websites, look for common signs that it could be unsafe: Browser warnings, redirects,
      on-site spam and pop-ups. You can also check a website using a tool, such as:
      [Virus Total](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/security-tools/online-tools/virus-total),
      [IsLegitSite](https://www.islegitsite.com), [Google Safe Browsing Status](https://transparencyreport.google.com/safe-browsing/search)
      if you are unsure.

  - point: Watch out for Browser Malware
    priority: Basic
    details: >-
      Your system or browser can be compromised by spyware, miners, browser hijackers, malicious redirects,
      adware etc. You can usually stay protected, just by: ignoring pop-ups, be wary of what your clicking,
      don't proceed to a website if your browser warns you it may be malicious. Common signs of browser malware
      include: default search engine or homepage has been modified, toolbars, unfamiliar extensions or icons,
      significantly more ads, errors and pages loading much slower than usual. These articles from Heimdal
      explain [signs of browser malware](https://heimdalsecurity.com/blog/warning-signs-operating-system-infected-malware),
      [how browsers get infected](https://heimdalsecurity.com/blog/practical-online-protection-where-malware-hides)
      and [how to remove browser malware](https://heimdalsecurity.com/blog/malware-removal).

  - point: Use a Privacy-Respecting Browser
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      [Firefox](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/essentials/browsers/firefox) (with a few tweaks)
      and [Brave](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/essentials/browsers/brave-browser)
      are secure, private-respecting browsers. Both are fast, open source, user-friendly and available on all
      major operating systems. Your browser has access to everything that you do online, so if possible, avoid
      Google Chrome, Edge and Safari as (without correct configuration) all three of them, collect usage data,
      call home and allow for invasive tracking. Firefox requires a few changes to achieve optimal security,
      for example - [arkenfox](https://github.com/arkenfox/user.js/wiki) or [12byte](https://12bytes.org/firefox-configuration-guide-for-privacy-freaks-and-performance-buffs/)'s
      user.js configs. See more: [Privacy Browsers](https://github.com/Lissy93/awesome-privacy#browsers).

  - point: Use a Private Search Engine
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Using a privacy-preserving, non-tracking search engine, will reduce risk that your search terms are not
      logged, or used against you. Consider [DuckDuckGo](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/essentials/search-engines/duckduckgo),
      or [Qwant](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/essentials/search-engines/qwant).
      Google implements some [incredibly invasive](https://hackernoon.com/data-privacy-concerns-with-google-b946f2b7afea)
      tracking policies, and have a history of displaying [biased search results](https://www.businessinsider.com/evidence-that-google-search-results-are-biased-2014-10).
      Therefore Google, along with Bing, Baidu, Yahoo and Yandex are incompatible with anyone looking to protect
      their privacy. It is recommended to update your [browsers default search](https://duckduckgo.com/install)
      to a privacy-respecting search engine.

  - point: Remove Unnecessary Browser Addons
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Extensions are able to see, log or modify anything you do in the browser, and some innocent looking
      browser apps, have malicious intentions. Websites can see which extensions you have installed, and may
      use this to enhance your fingerprint, to more accurately identify/ track you. Both [Firefox](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/essentials/browsers/firefox) and Chrome
      web stores allow you to check what permissions/access rights an extension requires before you install it.
      Check the reviews. Only install extensions you really need, and removed those which you haven't used in a while.

  - point: Keep Browser Up-to-date
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Browser vulnerabilities are constantly being [discovered](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvekey.cgi?keyword=browser)
      and patched, so it’s important to keep it up to date, to avoid a zero-day exploit. You can [see which browser
      version you're using here](https://www.whatismybrowser.com/), or follow [this guide](https://www.whatismybrowser.com/guides/how-to-update-your-browser/)
      for instructions on how to update. Some browsers will auto-update to the latest stable version.

  - point: Check for HTTPS
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      If you enter information on a non-HTTPS website, this data is transported unencrypted and can therefore
      be read by anyone who intercepts it. Do not enter any data on a non-HTTPS website, but also do not let
      the green padlock give you a false sense of security, just because a website has SSL certificate, does
      not mean that it is legitimate or trustworthy. [HTTPS-Everywhere](https://www.eff.org/https-everywhere)
      (developed by the [EFF](https://www.eff.org/)) used to be a browser extension/addon that automatically
      enabled HTTPS on websites, but as of 2022 is now deprecated. In their [accouncement article](https://www.eff.org/)
      the EFF explains that most browsers now integrate such protections. Additionally, it provides instructions
      for [Firefox](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/essentials/browsers/firefox), Chrome, Edge and Safari browsers on how to enable their HTTPS secure protections.

  - point: Use DNS-over-HTTPS
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Traditional DNS makes requests in plain text for everyone to see. It allows for eavesdropping and
      manipulation of DNS data through man-in-the-middle attacks. Whereas DNS-over-HTTPS performs DNS
      resolution via the HTTPS protocol, meaning data between you and your DNS resolver is encrypted.
      A popular option is [CloudFlare](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/networking/dns-providers/cloudflare)'s [1.1.1.1](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/security-tools/mobile-apps/1.1.1.1), or compare providers- it is simple to enable in-browser.
      Note that DoH comes with its own issues, mostly preventing web filtering.

  - point: Multi-[Session](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/communication/encrypted-messaging/session) Containers
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Compartmentalisation is really important to keep different aspects of your browsing separate. For
      example, using different profiles for work, general browsing, social media, online shopping etc
      will reduce the number associations that data brokers can link back to you. One option is to make
      use of [Firefox Containers](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/security-tools/browser-extensions/firefox-multi-account-containers)
      which is designed exactly for this purpose.
      Alternatively, you could
      use different browsers for different tasks
      ([Brave](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/essentials/browsers/brave-browser),
      [Firefox](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/essentials/browsers/firefox),
      [Tor](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/networking/mix-networks/tor) etc).

  - point: Use Incognito
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      When using someone else's machine, ensure that you're in a private/ incognito session. This will
      prevent browser history, cookies and some data being saved, but is not fool-proof- you can still
      be tracked.

  - point: Understand Your Browser Fingerprint
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Browser Fingerprinting is an incredibly accurate method of tracking, where a website identifies you
      based on your device information. You can view your fingerprint at amiunique.org- The aim is to be
      as un-unique as possible.

  - point: Manage Cookies
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Clearing cookies regularly is one step you can take to help reduce websites from tracking you.
      Cookies may also store your session token, which if captured, would allow someone to access your
      accounts without credentials. To mitigate this you should clear cookies often.

  - point: Block Third-Party Cookies
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Third-party cookies placed on your device by a website other than the one you’re visiting. This
      poses a privacy risk, as a 3rd entity can collect data from your current session. This guide explains
      how you can disable 3rd-party cookies, and you can check here ensure this worked.

  - point: Block Third-Party Trackers
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Blocking trackers will help to stop websites, advertisers, analytics and more from tracking you in
      the background. [Privacy Badger](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/security-tools/browser-extensions/privacy-badger),
      [DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/security-tools/browser-extensions/privacy-essentials),
      [uBlock Origin](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/networking/ad-blockers/ublock-origin) and uMatrix (advanced)
      are all very effective, open source tracker-blockers available for all major browsers.

  - point: Beware of Redirects
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      While some redirects are harmless, others, such as Unvalidated redirects are used in phishing attacks,
      it can make a malicious link seem legitimate. If you are unsure about a redirect URL, you can check
      where it forwards to with a tool like RedirectDetective.

  - point: Do Not Sign Into Your Browser
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Many browsers allow you to sign in, in order to sync history, bookmarks and other browsing data across
      devices. However this not only allows for further data collection, but also increases attack surface
      through providing another avenue for a malicious actor to get hold of personal information.

  - point: Disallow Prediction Services
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Some browsers allow for prediction services, where you receive real-time search results or URL auto-fill.
      If this is enabled then data is sent to Google (or your default search engine) with every keypress,
      rather than when you hit enter.

  - point: Avoid G Translate for Webpages
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      When you visit a web page written in a foreign language, you may be prompted to install the Google Translate
      extension. Be aware that Google collects all data (including input fields), along with details of the current
      user. Instead use a translation service that is not linked to your browser.

  - point: Disable Web Notifications
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Browser push notifications are a common method for criminals to encourage you to click their link, since
      it is easy to spoof the source. Be aware of this, and for instructions on disabling browser notifications,
      see this article.

  - point: Disable Automatic Downloads
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Drive-by downloads is a common method of getting harmful files onto a users device. This can be mitigated
      by disabling auto file downloads, and be cautious of websites which prompt you to download files unexpectedly.

  - point: Disallow Access to Sensors
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Mobile websites can tap into your device sensors without asking. If you grant these permissions to your
      browser once, then all websites are able to use these capabilities, without permission or notification.

  - point: Disallow Location
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Location Services lets sites ask for your physical location to improve your experience. This should be
      disabled in settings. Note that there are still other methods of determining your approximate location.

  - point: Disallow Camera/ Microphone access
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Check browser settings to ensure that no websites are granted access to webcam or microphone. It may also
      be beneficial to use physical protection such as a webcam cover and microphone blocker.

  - point: Disable Browser Password Saves
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Do not allow your browser to store usernames and passwords. These can be easily viewed or accessed.
      Instead use a password manager.

  - point: Disable Browser Autofill
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Turn off autofill for any confidential or personal details. This feature can be harmful if your browser
      is compromised in any way. Instead, consider using your password manager's Notes feature.

  - point: Protect from Exfil Attack
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      The CSS Exfiltrate attack is a method where credentials and other sensitive details can be snagged with
      just pure CSS. You can stay protected,
      with the [CSS Exfil Protection](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/security-tools/browser-extensions/css-exfil-protection) plugin.

  - point: Deactivate ActiveX
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      ActiveX is a browser extension API that built into Microsoft IE, and enabled by default. It's not commonly
      used anymore, but since it gives plugins intimate access rights, and can be dangerous, therefore you should
      disable it.

  - point: Disable WebRTC
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      WebRTC allows high-quality audio/video communication and peer-to-peer file-sharing straight from the
      browser. However it can pose as a privacy leak. To learn more, check out this guide.

  - point: Spoof HTML5 Canvas Sig
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Canvas Fingerprinting allows websites to identify and track users very accurately. You can use the
      Canvas-Fingerprint-Blocker extension to spoof your fingerprint or
      use [Tor](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/networking/mix-networks/tor).

  - point: Spoof User Agent
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      The user agent tells the website what device, browser and version you are using. Switching user agent
      periodically is one small step you can take to become less unique.

  - point: Disregard DNT
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Enabling Do Not Track has very limited impact, since many websites do not respect or follow this. Since
      it is rarely used, it may also add to your signature, making you more unique.

  - point: Prevent HSTS Tracking
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      HSTS was designed to help secure websites, but privacy concerns have been raised as it allowed site
      operators to plant super-cookies. It can be disabled by visiting chrome://net-internals/#hsts in
      Chromium-based browsers.

  - point: Prevent Automatic Browser Connections
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Even when you are not using your browser, it may call home to report on usage activity, analytics and
      diagnostics. You may wish to disable some of this, which can be done through the settings.

  - point: Enable 1st-Party Isolation
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      [First Party Isolation](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/security-tools/browser-extensions/first-party-isolation) means
      that all identifier sources and browser state are scoped using the URL bar
      domain, this can greatly reduce tracking.

  - point: Strip Tracking Params from URLs
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      Websites often append additional GET parameters to URLs that you click, to identify information like
      source/referrer. You can sanitize manually,
      or use an extension like [ClearURLs](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/security-tools/browser-extensions/clearurls) to strip tracking data
      from URLs automatically.

  - point: First Launch Security
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      After installing a web browser, the first time you launch it (prior to configuring its privacy settings),
      most browsers will call home. Therefore, after installing a browser, you should first disable your internet
      connection, then configure privacy options before reenabling your internet connectivity.

  - point: Use The Tor Browser
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      The [Tor](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/networking/mix-networks/tor) Project provides a browser that encrypts and routes your traffic through multiple nodes, keeping
      users safe from interception and tracking. The main drawbacks are speed and user experience.

  - point: Disable JavaScript
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      Many modern web apps are JavaScript-based, so disabling it will greatly decrease your browsing experience.
      But if you really want to go all out, then it will really reduce your attack surface.
  softwareLinks:
    - title: Privacy Browsers
      url: https://github.com/Lissy93/awesome-privacy#browsers
    - title: Search Engines
      utl: https://github.com/Lissy93/awesome-privacy#search-engines
    - title: Browser Extensions
      url: https://github.com/Lissy93/awesome-privacy#browser-extensions
    - title: Browser & Bookmark Sync
      url: https://github.com/Lissy93/awesome-privacy#browser-sync
  color: emerald

- title: Email
  slug: email
  description: Protecting the gateway to your online accounts
  icon: email
  intro: >-
    Nearly 50 years since the first email was sent, it's still very much a big part
    of our day-to-day life, and will continue to be for the near future. So considering
    how much trust we put in them, it's surprising how fundamentally insecure this
    infrastructure is. Email-related fraud
    [is on the up](https://www.csoonline.com/article/3247670/email/email-security-in-2018.html),
    and without taking basic measures you could be at risk.
    

    If a hacker gets access to your emails, it provides a gateway for your other
    accounts to be compromised (through password resets), therefore email security
    is paramount for your digital safety.


    The big companies providing "free" email service, don't have a good reputation
    for respecting users privacy: Gmail was caught giving
    [third parties full access](https://www.wsj.com/articles/techs-dirty-secret-the-app-developers-sifting-through-your-gmail-1530544442)
    to user emails and also [tracking all of your purchases](https://www.cnbc.com/2019/05/17/google-gmail-tracks-purchase-history-how-to-delete-it.html).
    Yahoo was also caught scanning emails in real-time [for US surveillance agencies](http://news.trust.org/item/20161004170601-99f8c)
    Advertisers [were granted access](https://thenextweb.com/insider/2018/08/29/both-yahoo-and-aol-are-scanning-customer-emails-to-attract-advertisers)
    to Yahoo and AOL users messages to “identify and segment potential customers by picking up on contextual buying signals, and past purchases.”

  checklist:
  - point: Have more than one email address
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Consider using a different email address for security-critical communications from trivial mail such
      as newsletters. This compartmentalization could reduce the amount of damage caused by a data breach,
      and also make it easier to recover a compromised account.

  - point: Keep Email Address Private
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Do not share your primary email publicly, as mail addresses are often the starting point for most
      phishing attacks.

  - point: Keep your Account Secure
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Use a long and unique password, enable 2FA and be careful while logging in. Your email account
      provides an easy entry point to all your other online accounts for an attacker.

  - point: Disable Automatic Loading of Remote Content
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Email messages can contain remote content such as images or stylesheets, often automatically loaded
      from the server. You should disable this, as it exposes your IP address and device information, and
      is often used for tracking. For more info, see [this article](https://www.theverge.com/2019/7/3/20680903/email-pixel-trackers-how-to-stop-images-automatic-download).

  - point: Use Plaintext
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      There are two main types of emails on the internet: plaintext and HTML. The former is strongly preferred
      for privacy & security as HTML messages often include identifiers in links and inline images, which can
      collect usage and personal data. There's also numerous risks of remote code execution targeting the HTML
      parser of your mail client, which cannot be exploited if you are using plaintext. For more info, as well
      as setup instructions for your mail provider, see [UsePlaintext.email](https://useplaintext.email/).

  - point: Don’t connect third-party apps to your email account
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      If you give a third-party app or plug-in full access to your inbox, they effectively have full unhindered
      access to all your emails and their contents, which poses significant security and privacy risks.

  - point: Don't Share Sensitive Data via Email
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Emails are very easily intercepted. Furthermore, you can’t be sure of how secure your recipient's
      environment is. Therefore, emails cannot be considered safe for exchanging confidential information,
      unless it is encrypted.

  - point: Consider Switching to a Secure Mail Provider
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Secure and reputable email providers such as [Forward Email](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/communication/encrypted-email/forward-email),
      [ProtonMail](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/communication/mail-forwarding/protonmail),
      and [Tutanota](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/communication/encrypted-email/tuta) allow for end-to-end
      encryption, full privacy as well as more security-focused features. Unlike typical email providers, your
      mailbox cannot be read by anyone but you, since all messages are encrypted.

  - point: Use Smart Key
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      OpenPGP does not support Forward secrecy, which means if either your or the recipient's private key is
      ever stolen, all previous messages encrypted with it will be exposed. Therefore, you should take great
      care to keep your private keys safe. One method of doing so, is to use a USB Smart Key to sign or decrypt
      messages, allowing you to do so without your private key leaving the USB device.

  - point: Use Aliasing / Anonymous Forwarding
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      Email aliasing allows messages to be sent to [anything]@my-domain.com and still land in your primary inbox.
      Effectively allowing you to use a different, unique email address for each service you sign up for. This means
      if you start receiving spam, you can block that alias and determine which company leaked your email address.

  - point: Subaddressing
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      An alternative to aliasing is subaddressing, where anything after the `+` symbol is omitted during mail delivery.
      This enables you to keep track of who shared/ leaked your email address, but unlike aliasing, it will not protect
      against your real address being revealed.

  - point: Use a Custom Domain
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      Using a custom domain means that you are not dependent on the address assigned by your mail provider. So you can
      easily switch providers in the future and do not need to worry about a service being discontinued.

  - point: Sync with a client for backup
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      To avoid losing temporary or permanent access to your emails during an unplanned event (such as an outage or
      account lock), Thunderbird can sync/ backup messages from multiple accounts via IMAP and store locally on your
      primary device.

  - point: Be Careful with Mail Signatures
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      You do not know how secure of an email environment the recipient of your message may have. There are several
      extensions that automatically crawl messages, and create a detailed database of contact information based upon
      email signatures.

  - point: Be Careful with Auto-Replies
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      Out-of-office automatic replies are very useful for informing people there will be a delay in replying, but all
      too often people reveal too much information- which can be used in social engineering and targeted attacks.

  - point: Choose the Right Mail Protocol
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      Do not use outdated protocols (below IMAPv4 or POPv3), both have known vulnerabilities and out-dated security.

  - point: Self-Hosting
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      Self-hosting your own mail server is not recommended for non-advanced users, since correctly securing it is
      critical yet requires strong networking knowledge.

  - point: Always use TLS Ports
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      There are SSL options for POP3, IMAP, and SMTP as standard TCP/IP ports. They are easy to use, and widely
      supported so should always be used instead of plaintext email ports.

  - point: DNS Availability
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      For self-hosted mail servers, to prevent DNS problems impacting availability- use at least 2 MX records, with
      secondary and tertiary MX records for redundancy when the primary MX record fails.

  - point: Prevent DDoS and Brute Force Attacks
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      For self-hosted mail servers (specifically SMTP), limit your total number of simultaneous connections, and maximum
      connection rate to reduce the impact of attempted bot attacks.

  - point: Maintain IP Blacklist
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      For self-hosted mail servers, you can improve spam filters and harden security, through maintaining an up-to-date
      local IP blacklist and a spam URI realtime block lists to filter out malicious hyperlinks.
  color: teal
  softwareLinks:
    - title: Secure Email Providers
      url: https://github.com/Lissy93/awesome-privacy#encrypted-email
    - title: Mail Forwarding
      url: https://github.com/Lissy93/awesome-privacy#anonymous-mail-forwarding
    - title: Pre-Configured Mail Servers
      url: https://github.com/Lissy93/awesome-privacy#pre-configured-mail-servers
    - title: Email Clients
      url: https://github.com/Lissy93/awesome-privacy#email-clients

- title: Messaging
  slug: messaging
  description: Keeping your communications private and secure
  icon: messaging
  intro: ''
  checklist:
  - point: Only Use Fully End-to-End Encrypted Messengers
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      End-to-end encryption is a system of communication where messages are encrypted on your device and
      not decrypted until they reach the intended recipient. This ensures that any actor who intercepts
      traffic cannot read the message contents, nor can anybody with access to the central servers where
      data is stored.

  - point: Use only Open Source Messaging Platforms
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      If code is open source then it can be independently examined and audited by anyone qualified to do
      so, to ensure that there are no backdoors, vulnerabilities, or other security issues.

  - point: Use a "Trustworthy" Messaging Platform
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      When selecting an encrypted messaging app, ensure it's fully open source, stable, actively maintained,
      and ideally backed by reputable developers.

  - point: Check Security Settings
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Enable security settings, including contact verification, security notifications, and encryption.
      Disable optional non-security features such as read receipt, last online, and typing notification.

  - point: Ensure your Recipients Environment is Secure
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Your conversation can only be as secure as the weakest link. Often the easiest way to infiltrate a
      communications channel is to target the individual or node with the least protection.

  - point: Disable Cloud Services
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Some mobile messaging apps offer a web or desktop companion. This not only increases attack surface but
      it has been linked to several critical security issues, and should therefore be avoided, if possible.

  - point: Secure Group Chats
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      The risk of compromise rises exponentially, the more participants are in a group, as the attack surface
      increases. Periodically check that all participants are legitimate.

  - point: Create a Safe Environment for Communication
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      There are several stages where your digital communications could be monitored or intercepted. This includes:
      your or your participants' device, your ISP, national gateway or government logging, the messaging provider,
      the servers.

  - point: Agree on a Communication Plan
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      In certain situations, it may be worth making a communication plan. This should include primary and backup
      methods of securely getting in hold with each other.

  - point: Strip Meta-Data from Media
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Metadata is "Data about Data" or additional information attached to a file or transaction. When you send a
      photo, audio recording, video, or document you may be revealing more than you intended to.

  - point: Defang URLs
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Sending links via various services can unintentionally expose your personal information. This is because,
      when a thumbnail or preview is generated- it happens on the client-side.

  - point: Verify your Recipient
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Always ensure you are talking to the intended recipient, and that they have not been compromised. One method
      for doing so is to use an app which supports contact verification.

  - point: Enable Ephemeral Messages
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Self-destructing messages is a feature that causes your messages to automatically delete after a set amount
      of time. This means that if your device is lost, stolen, or seized, an adversary will only have access to the
      most recent communications.

  - point: Avoid SMS
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      SMS may be convenient, but it's not secure. It is susceptible to threats such as interception, sim swapping,
      manipulation, and malware.

  - point: Watch out for Trackers
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Be wary of messaging applications with trackers, as the detailed usage statistics they collect are often very
      invasive, and can sometimes reveal your identity as well as personal information that you would otherwise not
      intend to share.

  - point: Consider Jurisdiction
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      The jurisdictions where the organisation is based, and data is hosted should also be taken into account.

  - point: Use an Anonymous Platform
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      If you believe you may be targeted, you should opt for an anonymous messaging platform that does not require
      a phone number, or any other personally identifiable information to sign up or use.

  - point: Ensure Forward Secrecy is Supported
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      Opt for a platform that implements forward secrecy. This is where your app generates a new encryption key
      for every message.

  - point: Consider a Decentralized Platform
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      If all data flows through a central provider, you have to trust them with your data and meta-data. You cannot
      verify that the system running is authentic without back doors.
  softwareLinks:
    - title: Secure Messaging Apps
      url: https://github.com/Lissy93/awesome-privacy#encrypted-messaging
    - title: P2P Messaging Platforms
      url: https://github.com/Lissy93/awesome-privacy#p2p-messaging
  color: cyan

- title: Social Media
  slug: social-media
  description: Minimizing the risks associated with using online communities
  icon: social
  intro: >
    Online communities have existed since the invention of the internet, and give
    people around the world the opportunity to connect, communicate and share.
    Although these networks are a great way to promote social interaction and
    bring people together, that have a dark side - there are some serious
    [Privacy Concerns with Social Networking Services](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privacy_concerns_with_social_networking_services),
    and these social networking sites are owned by private corporations,
    and that they make their money by collecting data about individuals and
    selling that data on, often to third party advertisers.

    Secure your account, lock down your privacy settings, but know that even
    after doing so, all data intentionally and non-intentionally uploaded is
    effectively public. If possible, avoid using conventional social media networks.
  checklist:
  - point: Secure your Account
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Social media profiles get stolen or taken over all too often. To protect your account: use a unique
      and strong password, and enable 2-factor authentication.

  - point: Check Privacy Settings
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Most social networks allow you to control your privacy settings. Ensure that you are comfortable with
      what data you are currently exposing and to whom.

  - point: Think of All Interactions as Public
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      There are still numerous methods of viewing a users 'private' content across many social networks.
      Therefore, before uploading, posting or commenting on anything, think "Would I mind if this was totally public?"

  - point: Think of All Interactions as Permanent
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Pretty much every post, comment, photo etc is being continuously backed up by a myriad of third-party
      services, who archive this data and make it indexable and publicly available almost forever.

  - point: Don't Reveal too Much
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Profile information creates a goldmine of info for hackers, the kind of data that helps them personalize
      phishing scams. Avoid sharing too much detail (DoB, Hometown, School etc).

  - point: Be Careful what you Upload
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Status updates, comments, check-ins and media can unintentionally reveal a lot more than you intended
      them to. This is especially relevant to photos and videos, which may show things in the background.

  - point: Don't Share Email or Phone Number
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Posting your real email address or mobile number, gives hackers, trolls and spammers more munition to
      use against you, and can also allow separate aliases, profiles or data points to be connected.

  - point: Don't Grant Unnecessary Permissions
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      By default many of the popular social networking apps will ask for permission to access your contacts,
      call log, location, messaging history etc. If they don’t need this access, don’t grant it.

  - point: Be Careful of 3rd-Party Integrations
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Avoid signing up for accounts using a Social Network login, revoke access to social apps you no longer
      use.

  - point: Avoid Publishing Geo Data while still Onsite
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      If you plan to share any content that reveals a location, then wait until you have left that place.
      This is particularly important when you are taking a trip, at a restaurant, campus, hotel/resort, public
      building or airport.

  - point: Remove metadata before uploading media
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Most smartphones and some cameras automatically attach a comprehensive set of additional data (called
      EXIF data) to each photograph. Remove this data before uploading.

  - point: Implement Image Cloaking
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      Tools like Fawkes can be used to very subtly, slightly change the structure of faces within photos in a
      way that is imperceptible by humans, but will prevent facial recognition systems from being able to recognize
      a given face.

  - point: Consider Spoofing GPS in home vicinity
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      Even if you yourself never use social media, there is always going to be others who are not as careful,
      and could reveal your location.

  - point: Consider False Information
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      If you just want to read, and do not intend on posting too much- consider using an alias name, and false
      contact details.

  - point: Don’t have any social media accounts
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      Social media is fundamentally un-private, so for maximum online security and privacy, avoid using any
      mainstream social networks.

  softwareLinks:
    - title: Alternative Social Media
      url: https://github.com/Lissy93/awesome-privacy#social-networks
    - title: Alternative Video Platforms
      url: https://github.com/Lissy93/awesome-privacy#video-platforms
    - title: Alternative Blogging Platforms
      url: https://github.com/Lissy93/awesome-privacy#blogging-platforms
    - title: News Readers and Aggregation
      url: https://github.com/Lissy93/awesome-privacy#news-readers-and-aggregation
  color: blue

- title: Networks
  slug: networks
  description: Safeguarding your network traffic
  icon: network
  intro: >
    This section covers how you connect your devices to the internet securely,
    including configuring your router and setting up a VPN.
  checklist:
  - point: Use a VPN
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Use a reputable, paid-for VPN. This can help protect sites you visit from logging your real IP, reduce
      the amount of data your ISP can collect, and increase protection on public WiFi.

  - point: Change your Router Password
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      After getting a new router, change the password. Default router passwords are publicly available,
      meaning anyone within proximity would be able to connect.

  - point: Use WPA2, and a strong password
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      There are different authentication protocols for connecting to WiFi. Currently, the most secure options
      are WPA2 and WPA3 (on newer routers).

  - point: Keep router firmware up-to-date
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Manufacturers release firmware updates that fix security vulnerabilities, implement new standards, and
      sometimes add features or improve the performance of your router.

  - point: Implement a Network-Wide VPN
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      If you configure your VPN on your router, firewall, or home server, then traffic from all devices will
      be encrypted and routed through it, without needing individual VPN apps.

  - point: Protect against DNS leaks
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      When using a VPN, it is extremely important to exclusively use the DNS server of your VPN provider or
      secure service.

  - point: Use a secure VPN Protocol
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      OpenVPN and WireGuard are open source, lightweight, and secure tunneling protocols. Avoid using PPTP
      or SSTP.

  - point: Secure DNS
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Use DNS-over-HTTPS which performs DNS resolution via the HTTPS protocol, encrypting data between you
      and your DNS resolver.

  - point: Avoid the free router from your ISP
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Typically they’re manufactured cheaply in bulk in China, with insecure propriety firmware that doesn't
      receive regular security updates.

  - point: Whitelist MAC Addresses
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      You can whitelist MAC addresses in your router settings, disallowing any unknown devices to immediately
      connect to your network, even if they know your credentials.

  - point: Change the Router’s Local IP Address
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      It is possible for a malicious script in your web browser to exploit a cross-site scripting vulnerability,
      accessing known-vulnerable routers at their local IP address and tampering with them.

  - point: Don't Reveal Personal Info in SSID
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      You should update your network name, choosing an SSID that does not identify you, include your flat
      number/address, and does not specify the device brand/model.

  - point: Opt-Out Router Listings
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      WiFi SSIDs are scanned, logged, and then published on various websites, which is a serious privacy
      concern for some.

  - point: Hide your SSID
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Your router's Service Set Identifier is simply the network name. If it is not visible, it may receive
      less abuse.

  - point: Disable WPS
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Wi-Fi Protected Setup provides an easier method to connect, without entering a long WiFi password, but
      WPS introduces a series of major security issues.

  - point: Disable UPnP
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Universal Plug and Play allows applications to automatically forward a port on your router, but it has
      a long history of serious security issues.

  - point: Use a Guest Network for Guests
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Do not grant access to your primary WiFi network to visitors, as it enables them to interact with other
      devices on the network.

  - point: Change your Router's Default IP
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Modifying your router admin panel's default IP address will make it more difficult for malicious scripts
      targeting local IP addresses.

  - point: Kill unused processes and services on your router
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Services like Telnet and SSH that provide command-line access to devices should never be exposed to the
      internet and should also be disabled on the local network unless they're actually needed.

  - point: Don't have Open Ports
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Close any open ports on your router that are not needed. Open ports provide an easy entrance for hackers.

  - point: Disable Unused Remote Access Protocols
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      When protocols such as PING, Telnet, SSH, UPnP, and HNAP etc are enabled, they allow your router to be
      probed from anywhere in the world.

  - point: Disable Cloud-Based Management
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      You should treat your router's admin panel with the utmost care, as considerable damage can be caused
      if an attacker is able to gain access.

  - point: Manage Range Correctly
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      It's common to want to pump your router's range to the max, but if you reside in a smaller flat, your
      attack surface is increased when your WiFi network can be picked up across the street.

  - point: Route all traffic through [Tor](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/networking/mix-networks/tor)
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      VPNs have their weaknesses. For increased security, route all your internet traffic through the [Tor](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/networking/mix-networks/tor)
      network.

  - point: Disable WiFi on all Devices
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      Connecting to even a secure WiFi network increases your attack surface. Disabling your home WiFi and
      connect each device via Ethernet.
  color: violet
  softwareLinks:
  - title: Virtual Private Networks
    url: https://github.com/Lissy93/awesome-privacy#virtual-private-networks
  - title: Mix Networks
    url: https://github.com/Lissy93/awesome-privacy#mix-networks
  - title: Router Firmware
    url: https://github.com/Lissy93/awesome-privacy#router-firmware
  - title: Open Source Proxies
    url: https://github.com/Lissy93/awesome-privacy#proxies
  - title: DNS Providers
    url: https://github.com/Lissy93/awesome-privacy#dns
  - title: Firewalls
    url: https://github.com/Lissy93/awesome-privacy#firewalls
  - title: Network Analysis Tools
    url: https://github.com/Lissy93/awesome-privacy#network-analysis
  - title: Self-Hosted Network Security Tools
    url: https://github.com/Lissy93/awesome-privacy#self-hosted-network-security

- title: Mobile Devices
  slug: mobile-devices
  description: Reduce invasive tracking for cells, smartphones and tablets
  icon: mobile
  intro: >
    Smart phones have revolutionized so many aspects of life and brought the world
    to our fingertips. For many of us, smart phones are our primary means of communication,
    entertainment and access to knowledge. But while they've brought convenience
    to whole new level, there's some ugly things going on behind the screen.

    Geo-tracking is used to trace our every move, and we have little control over
    who has this data- your phone is even able to
    [track your location without GPS](https://gizmodo.com/how-to-track-a-cellphone-without-gps-or-consent-1821125371).
    Over the years numerous reports that surfaced, outlining ways in which your
    phone's [mic can eavesdrop](https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/smartphone-apps-listening-privacy-alphonso-shazam-advertising-pool-3d-honey-quest-a8139451.html),
    and the [camera can watch you](https://www.businessinsider.com/hackers-governments-smartphone-iphone-camera-wikileaks-cybersecurity-hack-privacy-webcam-2017-6)- all without your knowledge or consent.
    And then there's the malicious apps, lack of security patches and potential/ likely backdoors.

    Using a smart phone generates a lot of data about you- from information you
    intentionally share, to data silently generated from your actions.
    It can be scary to see what Google, Microsoft, Apple and Facebook know about
    us- sometimes they know more than our closest family. It's hard to comprehend
    what your data will reveal, especially in conjunction with other data.

    This data is used for
    [far more than just advertising](https://internethealthreport.org/2018/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-sides-of-data-tracking/) -
    more often it's used to rate people for finance, insurance and employment.
    Targeted ads can even be used for fine-grained surveillance (see [ADINT](https://adint.cs.washington.edu))

    More of us are concerned about how
    [governments use collect and use our smart phone data](https://www.statista.com/statistics/373916/global-opinion-online-monitoring-government/),
    and rightly so, federal agencies often
    [request our data from Google](https://www.statista.com/statistics/273501/global-data-requests-from-google-by-federal-agencies-and-governments/),
    [Facebook](https://www.statista.com/statistics/287845/global-data-requests-from-facebook-by-federal-agencies-and-governments/),
    Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and other tech companies. Sometimes requests are
    made in bulk, returning detailed information on everybody within a certain geo-fence,
    [often for innocent people](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/04/13/us/google-location-tracking-police.html).
    And this doesn't include all of the internet traffic that intelligence agencies around the world have unhindered access to.
  checklist:
  - point: Encrypt your Device
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      In order to keep your data safe from physical access, use file encryption. This will mean if your
      device is lost or stolen, no one will have access to your data.

  - point: Turn off connectivity features that aren’t being used
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      When you're not using WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC etc, turn those features off. There are several common threats
      that utilise these features.

  - point: Keep app count to a minimum
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Uninstall apps that you don’t need or use regularly. As apps often run in the background, slowing your
      device down, but also collecting data.

  - point: App Permissions
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Don’t grant apps permissions that they don’t need. For Android, [Bouncer](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/security-tools/mobile-apps/bouncer) is an app that allows you to grant
      temporary/ 1-off permissions.

  - point: Only install Apps from official source
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Applications on Apple App Store and Google Play Store are scanned and cryptographically signed, making them
      less likely to be malicious.

  - point: Be Careful of Phone Charging Threats
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Juice Jacking is when hackers use public charging stations to install malware on your smartphone or tablet
      through a compromised USB port.

  - point: Set up a mobile carrier PIN
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      SIM hijacking is when a hacker is able to get your mobile number transferred to their sim. The easiest way
      to protect against this is to set up a PIN through your mobile provider.

  - point: Opt-out of Caller ID Listings
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      To keep your details private, you can unlist your number from caller ID apps like TrueCaller, CallApp, SyncMe,
      and Hiya.

  - point: Use Offline Maps
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Consider using an offline maps app, such as OsmAnd or Organic Maps, to reduce data leaks from map apps.

  - point: Opt-out of personalized ads
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      You can slightly reduce the amount of data collected by opting-out of seeing personalized ads.

  - point: Erase after too many login attempts
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      To protect against an attacker brute forcing your pin, set your device to erase after too many failed
      login attempts.

  - point: Monitor Trackers
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      [εxodus](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/security-tools/online-tools/εxodus) is a great service which
      lets you search for any app and see which trackers are embedded in it.

  - point: Use a Mobile Firewall
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      To prevent applications from leaking privacy-sensitive data, you can install a firewall app.

  - point: Reduce Background Activity
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      For Android, SuperFreeze makes it possible to entirely freeze all background activities on a per-app basis.

  - point: Sandbox Mobile Apps
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Prevent permission-hungry apps from accessing your private data with [Island](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/security-tools/mobile-apps/island), a sandbox environment.

  - point: Tor Traffic
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      [Orbot](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/security-tools/mobile-apps/orbot) provides
      a system-wide Tor connection, which will help protect you from surveillance and public WiFi threats.

  - point: Avoid Custom Virtual Keyboards
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      It is recommended to stick with your device's stock keyboard. If you choose to use a third-party keyboard app,
      ensure it is reputable.

  - point: Restart Device Regularly
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Restarting your phone at least once a week will clear the app state cached in memory and may run more smoothly
      after a restart.

  - point: Avoid SMS
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      SMS should not be used to receive 2FA codes or for communication, instead use an encrypted messaging app,
      such as [Signal](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/communication/encrypted-messaging/signal).

  - point: Keep your Number Private
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      [MySudo](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/finance/virtual-credit-cards/mysudo) allows
      you to create and use virtual phone numbers for different people or groups. This is great for
      compartmentalisation.

  - point: Watch out for Stalkerware
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Stalkerware is malware that is installed directly onto your device by someone you know.
      The best way to get rid of it is through a factory reset.

  - point: Favor the Browser, over Dedicated App
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Where possible, consider using a secure browser to access sites,
      rather than installing dedicated applications.

  - point: Consider running a custom ROM (Android)
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      If you're concerned about your device manufacturer collecting too much
      personal information, consider a privacy-focused custom ROM.
  color: fuchsia
  softwareLinks:
  - title: Mobile Apps, for Security + Privacy
    url: https://github.com/Lissy93/awesome-privacy#mobile-apps
  - title: Encrypted Messaging
    url: https://github.com/Lissy93/awesome-privacy#encrypted-messaging
  - title: Mobile Operation Systems
    url: https://github.com/Lissy93/awesome-privacy#mobile-operating-systems

- title: Personal Computers
  slug: personal-computers
  description: Securing your PC's operating system, data & activity
  icon: computer
  intro: >
    Although Windows and OS X are easy to use and convenient, they both are far from secure.
    Your OS provides the interface between hardware and your applications, so if
    compromised can have detrimental effects.
  checklist:
  - point: Keep your System up-to-date
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      System updates contain fixes/patches for security issues, improve performance, and sometimes add new
      features. Install new updates when prompted.

  - point: Encrypt your Device
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Use BitLocker for Windows, FileVault on MacOS, or LUKS on Linux, to enable full disk encryption. This
      prevents unauthorized access if your computer is lost or stolen.

  - point: Backup Important Data
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Maintaining encrypted backups prevents loss due to ransomware, theft, or damage. Consider using
      [Cryptomator](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/security-tools/mobile-apps/cryptomator)
      for cloud files or [VeraCrypt](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/essentials/file-encryption/veracrypt) for USB drives.

  - point: Be Careful Plugging USB Devices into your Computer
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      USB devices can pose serious threats. Consider making a USB sanitizer with CIRCLean to safely check USB
      devices.

  - point: Activate Screen-Lock when Idle
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Lock your computer when away and set it to require a password on resume from screensaver or sleep to
      prevent unauthorized access.

  - point: Disable Cortana or Siri
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Voice-controlled assistants can have privacy implications due to data sent back for processing. Disable
      or limit their listening capabilities.

  - point: Review your Installed Apps
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Keep installed applications to a minimum to reduce exposure to vulnerabilities and regularly clear
      application caches.

  - point: Manage Permissions
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Control which apps have access to your location, camera, microphone, contacts, and other sensitive
      information.

  - point: Disallow Usage Data from being sent to the Cloud
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Limit the amount of usage information or feedback sent to the cloud to protect your privacy.

  - point: Avoid Quick Unlock
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Use a strong password instead of biometrics or short PINs for unlocking your computer to enhance
      security.

  - point: Power Off Computer, instead of Standby
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Shut down your device when not in use, especially if your disk is encrypted, to keep data secure.

  - point: Don't link your PC with your Microsoft or Apple Account
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Use a local account only to prevent data syncing and exposure. Avoid using sync services that compromise
      privacy.

  - point: Check which Sharing Services are Enabled
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Disable network sharing features you are not using to close gateways to common threats.

  - point: Don't use Root/Admin Account for Non-Admin Tasks
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Use an unprivileged user account for daily tasks and only elevate permissions for administrative changes
      to mitigate vulnerabilities.

  - point: Block Webcam + Microphone
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Cover your webcam when not in use and consider blocking unauthorized audio recording to protect privacy.

  - point: Use a Privacy Filter
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Use a screen privacy filter in public spaces to prevent shoulder surfing and protect sensitive
      information.

  - point: Physically Secure Device
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Use a Kensington Lock to secure your laptop in public spaces and consider port locks to prevent
      unauthorized physical access.

  - point: Don't Charge Devices from your PC
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Use a power bank or AC wall charger instead of your PC to avoid security risks associated with USB
      connections.

  - point: Randomize your hardware address on Wi-Fi
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Modify or randomize your MAC address to protect against tracking across different WiFi networks.

  - point: Use a Firewall
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Install a firewall app to monitor and block unwanted internet access by certain applications, protecting
      against remote access attacks and privacy breaches.

  - point: Protect Against Software Keyloggers
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Use key stroke encryption tools to protect against software keyloggers recording your keystrokes.

  - point: Check Keyboard Connection
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Be vigilant for hardware keyloggers when using public or unfamiliar computers by checking keyboard
      connections.

  - point: Prevent Keystroke Injection Attacks
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Lock your PC when away and consider using USBGuard or similar tools to protect against keystroke
      injection attacks.

  - point: Don't use commercial "Free" Anti-Virus
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Rely on built-in security tools and avoid free anti-virus applications due to their potential for
      privacy invasion and data collection.

  - point: Periodically check for Rootkits
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      Regularly check for rootkits to detect and mitigate full system control threats using tools like
      [chkrootkit](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/operating-systems/linux-defenses/chkrootkit).

  - point: BIOS Boot Password
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      Enable a BIOS or UEFI password to add an additional security layer during boot-up, though be aware of
      its limitations.

  - point: Use a Security-Focused Operating System
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      Consider switching to Linux or a security-focused distro like QubeOS or
      [Tails](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/operating-systems/desktop-operating-systems/tails)
      for enhanced privacy and
      security.

  - point: Make Use of VMs
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      Use virtual machines for risky activities or testing suspicious software to isolate potential threats
      from your primary system.

  - point: Compartmentalize
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      Isolate different programs and data sources from one another as much as possible to limit the extent of
      potential breaches.

  - point: Disable Undesired Features (Windows)
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      Disable unnecessary Windows "features" and services that run in the background to reduce data collection
      and resource use.

  - point: Secure Boot
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      Ensure that Secure Boot is enabled to prevent malware from replacing your boot loader and other critical
      software.

  - point: Secure SSH Access
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      Take steps to protect SSH access from attacks by changing the default port, using SSH keys, and
      configuring firewalls.

  - point: Close Un-used Open Ports
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      Turn off services listening on external ports that are not needed to protect against remote exploits and
      improve security.

  - point: Implement Mandatory Access Control
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      Restrict privileged access to limit the damage that can be done if a system is compromised.

  - point: Use Canary Tokens
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      Deploy canary tokens to detect unauthorized access to your files or emails faster and gather
      information about the intruder.
  color: pink
  softwareLinks:
  - title: Secure Operating Systems
    url: https://github.com/Lissy93/awesome-privacy#desktop-operating-systems
  - title: Linux Defenses
    url: https://github.com/Lissy93/awesome-privacy#linux-defences
  - title: Windows Defenses
    url: https://github.com/Lissy93/awesome-privacy#windows-defences
  - title: Mac OS Defenses
    url: https://github.com/Lissy93/awesome-privacy#mac-os-defences
  - title: Anti-Malware
    url: https://github.com/Lissy93/awesome-privacy#anti-malware
  - title: Firewalls
    url: https://github.com/Lissy93/awesome-privacy#firewalls-1
  - title: File Encryption
    url: https://github.com/Lissy93/awesome-privacy#file-encryption

- title: Smart Home
  slug: smart-home
  description: Using IoT devices without compromising your privacy
  icon: home
  intro: >-
    Home assistants (such as Google Home, Alexa and Siri) and other internet connected
    devices collect large amounts of personal data (including voice samples, location data,
    home details and logs of all interactions). Since you have limited control on what is
    being collected, how it's stored, and what it will be used for, this makes it hard to
    recommend any consumer smart-home products to anyone who cares about privacy and security.

    Security vs Privacy: There are many smart devices on the market that claim to increase
    the security of your home while being easy and convenient to use (Such as Smart Burglar
    Alarms, Internet Security Cameras, Smart Locks and Remote access Doorbells to name a few).
    These devices may appear to make security easier, but there is a trade-off in terms of
    privacy: as they collect large amounts of personal data, and leave you without control
    over how this is stored or used. The security of these devices is also questionable,
    since many of them can be (and are being) hacked, allowing an intruder to bypass
    detection with minimum effort.

    The most privacy-respecting option, would be to not use "smart" internet-connected
    devices in your home, and not to rely on a security device that requires an internet
    connection. But if you do, it is important to fully understand the risks of any given
    product, before buying it. Then adjust settings to increase privacy and security.
    The following checklist will help mitigate the risks associated with
    internet-connected home devices.
  checklist:
  - point: Rename devices to not specify brand/model
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Change default device names to something generic to prevent targeted attacks by obscuring brand or model information.

  - point: Disable microphone and camera when not in use
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Use hardware switches to turn off microphones and cameras on smart devices to protect against accidental recordings or targeted access.

  - point: Understand what data is collected, stored and transmitted
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Research and ensure comfort with the data handling practices of smart home devices before purchase, avoiding devices that share data with third parties.

  - point: Set privacy settings, and opt out of sharing data with third parties
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Adjust app settings for strictest privacy controls and opt-out of data sharing with third parties wherever possible.

  - point: Don't link your smart home devices to your real identity
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Use anonymous usernames and passwords, avoiding sign-up/log-in via social media or other third-party services to maintain privacy.

  - point: Keep firmware up-to-date
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Regularly update smart device firmware to apply security patches and enhancements.

  - point: Protect your Network
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Secure your home WiFi and network to prevent unauthorized access to smart devices.

  - point: Be wary of wearables
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Consider the extensive data collection capabilities of wearable devices and their implications for privacy.

  - point: Don't connect your home's critical infrastructure to the Internet
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Evaluate the risks of internet-connected thermostats, alarms, and detectors due to potential remote access by hackers.

  - point: Mitigate Alexa/ Google Home Risks
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Consider privacy-focused alternatives like
      [Mycroft](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/smart-home-and-iot/voice-assistants/mycroft) or use
      Project Alias to prevent idle listening by voice-activated assistants.

  - point: Monitor your home network closely
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Use tools like FingBox or router features to monitor for unusual network activity.

  - point: Deny Internet access where possible
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      Use firewalls to block internet access for devices that don't need it, limiting operation to local network use.

  - point: Assess risks
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      Consider the privacy implications for all household members and adjust device settings for security and privacy, such as disabling devices at certain times.
  color: red
  softwareLinks:
  - title: Home Automation
    url: https://github.com/Lissy93/awesome-privacy#home-automation
  - title: AI Voice Assistants
    url: https://github.com/Lissy93/awesome-privacy#ai-voice-assistants

- title: Personal Finance
  slug: personal-finance
  description: Protecting your funds, financial accounts and transactions
  icon: finance
  intro: >-
    Credit card fraud is the most common form of identity theft (with [133,015 reports in the
    US in 2017 alone](https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/identity-theft-statistics/)),
    and a total loss of $905 million, which was a 26% increase from the previous year.
    The with a median amount lost per person was $429 in 2017.
    It's more important than ever to take basic steps to protect yourself from falling victim

    Note about credit cards: Credit cards have technological methods in place to
    detect and stop some fraudulent transactions. Major payment processors implement
    this, by mining huge amounts of data from their card holders, in order to know
    a great deal about each persons spending habits. This data is used to identify
    fraud, but is also sold onto other data brokers. Credit cards are therefore good
    for security, but terrible for data privacy.
  checklist:
  - point: Sign up for Fraud Alerts and Credit Monitoring
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Enable fraud alerts and credit monitoring through Experian, TransUnion, or Equifax to be alerted of suspicious activity.

  - point: Apply a Credit Freeze
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Prevent unauthorized credit inquiries by freezing your credit through Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax.

  - point: Use Virtual Cards
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Utilize virtual card numbers for online transactions to protect your real banking details. Services like [Privacy.com](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/finance/virtual-credit-cards/privacy.com) and [MySudo](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/finance/virtual-credit-cards/mysudo) offer such features.

  - point: Use Cash for Local Transactions
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Pay with [Cash](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/finance/other-payment-methods/cash) for local and everyday purchases to avoid financial profiling by institutions.

  - point: Use Cryptocurrency for Online Transactions
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Opt for privacy-focused cryptocurrencies like
      [Monero](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/finance/cryptocurrencies/monero) for
      online transactions to maintain anonymity. Use cryptocurrencies wisely to ensure privacy.

  - point: Store Crypto Securely
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      Securely store cryptocurrencies using offline wallet generation, hardware wallets
      like [Trezor](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/finance/crypto-wallets/trezor) or
      [ColdCard](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/finance/crypto-wallets/coldcard), or
      consider long-term storage solutions like
      [CryptoSteel](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/finance/crypto-wallets/cryptosteel).

  - point: Buy Crypto Anonymously
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      Purchase cryptocurrencies without linking to your identity through services
      like [LocalBitcoins](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/finance/crypto-exchanges/localbitcoins),
      [Bisq](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/finance/crypto-exchanges/bisq), or Bitcoin ATMs.

  - point: Tumble/ Mix Coins
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      Use a bitcoin mixer or CoinJoin before converting Bitcoin to currency to obscure transaction trails.

  - point: Use an Alias Details for Online Shopping
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      For online purchases, consider using alias details, forwarding email addresses, VOIP numbers, and secure delivery methods to protect your identity.

  - point: Use alternate delivery address
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      Opt for deliveries to non-personal addresses such as PO Boxes, forwarding addresses, or local pickup locations to avoid linking purchases directly to you.
  color: purple
  softwareLinks:
  - title: Virtual Credit Cards
    url: https://github.com/Lissy93/awesome-privacy#virtual-credit-cards
  - title: Cryptocurrencies
    url: https://github.com/Lissy93/awesome-privacy#cryptocurrencies
  - title: Crypto Wallets
    url: https://github.com/Lissy93/awesome-privacy#crypto-wallets
  - title: Crypto Exchanges
    url: https://github.com/Lissy93/awesome-privacy#crypto-exchanges
  - title: Other Payment Methods
    url: https://github.com/Lissy93/awesome-privacy#other-payment-methods
  - title: Budgeting Tools
    url: https://github.com/Lissy93/awesome-privacy#budgeting-tools

- title: Human Aspect
  slug: human-aspect
  description: Avoiding social engineering security risks
  icon: human
  intro: >-
    Many data breaches, hacks and attacks are caused by human error.
    The following list contains steps you should take, to reduce the risk of this
    happening to you. Many of them are common sense, but it's worth takin note of.

  checklist:
  - point: Verify Recipients
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Emails can be easily spoofed. Verify the sender's authenticity, especially for sensitive actions, and prefer entering URLs manually rather than clicking links in emails.

  - point: Don't Trust Your Popup Notifications
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Fake pop-ups can be deployed by malicious actors. Always check the URL before entering any information on a popup.

  - point: Never Leave Device Unattended
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Unattended devices can be compromised even with strong passwords. Use encryption and remote erase features like Find My Phone for lost devices.

  - point: Prevent Camfecting
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Protect against camfecting by using webcam covers and microphone blockers. Mute home assistants when not in use or discussing sensitive matters.

  - point: Stay protected from shoulder surfers
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Use privacy screens on laptops and mobiles to prevent others from reading your screen in public spaces.

  - point: Educate yourself about phishing attacks
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Be cautious of phishing attempts. Verify URLs, context of received messages, and employ good security practices like using 2FA and not reusing passwords.

  - point: Watch out for Stalkerware
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Be aware of stalkerware installed by acquaintances for spying. Look out for signs like unusual battery usage and perform factory resets if suspected.

  - point: Install Reputable Software from Trusted Sources
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Only download software from legitimate sources and check files with tools
      like [Virus Total](https://awesome-privacy.xyz/security-tools/online-tools/virus-total) before installation.

  - point: Store personal data securely
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      Ensure all personal data on devices or in the cloud is encrypted to protect against unauthorized access.

  - point: Obscure Personal Details from Documents
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      When sharing documents, obscure personal details with opaque rectangles to prevent information leakage.

  - point: Do not assume a site is secure, just because it is `HTTPS`
    priority: Essential
    details: >-
      HTTPS does not guarantee a website's legitimacy. Verify URLs and exercise caution with personal data.

  - point: Use Virtual Cards when paying online
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Use virtual cards for online payments to protect your banking details and limit transaction risks.

  - point: Review application permissions
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Regularly review and manage app permissions to ensure no unnecessary access to sensitive device features.

  - point: Opt-out of public lists
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Remove yourself from public databases and marketing lists to reduce unwanted contacts and potential risks.

  - point: Never Provide Additional PII When Opting-Out
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Do not provide additional personal information when opting out of data services to avoid further data collection.

  - point: Opt-out of data sharing
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Many apps and services default to data sharing settings. Opt out to protect your data from being shared with third parties.

  - point: Review and update social media privacy
    priority: Optional
    details: >-
      Regularly check and update your social media settings due to frequent terms updates that may affect your privacy settings.

  - point: Compartmentalize
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      Keep different areas of digital activity separate to limit data exposure in case of a breach.

  - point: WhoIs Privacy Guard
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      Use WhoIs Privacy Guard for domain registrations to protect your personal information from public searches.

  - point: Use a forwarding address
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      Use a PO Box or forwarding address for mail to prevent companies from knowing your real address, adding a layer of privacy protection.

  - point: Use anonymous payment methods
    priority: Advanced
    details: >-
      Opt for anonymous payment methods like cryptocurrencies to avoid entering identifiable information online.

  color: indigo

- title: Physical Security
  slug: physical-security
  description: Taking measures to prevent IRL security incidents
  icon: physical
  intro: >-
    Public records often include sensitive personal data (full name, date of birth,
    phone number, email, address, ethnicity etc), and are gathered from a range of
    sources (census records, birth/ death/ marriage certificates, voter registrants,
    marketing information, customer databases, motor vehicle records, professional/
    business licenses and all court files in full detail). This sensitive personal
    information is
    [easy and legal to access](https://www.consumerreports.org/consumerist/its-creepy-but-not-illegal-for-this-website-to-provide-all-your-public-info-to-anyone/),
    which raises some [serious privacy concerns](https://privacyrights.org/resources/public-records-internet-privacy-dilemma)
    (identity theft, personal safety risks/ stalkers, destruction of reputations, dossier society)


    CCTV is one of the major ways that the corporations, individuals and the government
    tracks your movements. In London, UK the average person is caught on camera about
    500 times per day. This network is continuing to grow, and in many cities around
    the world, facial recognition is being rolled out, meaning the state can know
    the identity of residents on the footage in real-time.

    Strong authentication, encrypted devices, patched software and anonymous web
    browsing may be of little use if someone is able to physically compromise you,
    your devices and your data. This section outlines some basic methods for physical security

  checklist:
  - point: Destroy Sensitive Documents
    priority: Essential
    details: |
      Shred or redact sensitive documents before disposal to protect against
      identity theft and maintain confidentiality.

  - point: Opt-Out of Public Records
    priority: Essential
    details: |
      Contact people search websites to opt-out from listings that show persona
      information, using guides like Michael Bazzell's Personal Data Removal Workbook.

  - point: Watermark Documents
    priority: Essential
    details: |
      Add a watermark with the recipient's name and date to digital copies of
      personal documents to trace the source of a breach.

  - point: Don't Reveal Info on Inbound Calls
    priority: Essential
    details: |
      Only share personal data on calls you initiate and verify the recipient's phone number.

  - point: Stay Alert
    priority: Essential
    details: Be aware of your surroundings and assess potential risks in new environments.

  - point: Secure Perimeter
    priority: Essential
    details: Ensure physical security of locations storing personal info devices, minimizing external access and using intrusion detection systems.

  - point: Physically Secure Devices
    priority: Essential
    details: Use physical security measures like Kensington locks, webcam covers, and privacy screens for devices.

  - point: Keep Devices Out of Direct Sight
    priority: Essential
    details: Prevent devices from being visible from outside to mitigate risks from lasers and theft.

  - point: Protect your PIN
    priority: Essential
    details: Shield your PIN entry from onlookers and cameras, and clean touchscreens after use.

  - point: Check for Skimmers
    priority: Essential
    details: Inspect ATMs and public devices for skimming devices and tampering signs before use.

  - point: Protect your Home Address
    priority: Optional
    details: Use alternative locations, forwarding addresses, and anonymous payment methods to protect your home address.

  - point: Use a PIN, Not Biometrics
    priority: Advanced
    details: Prefer PINs over biometrics for device security in situations where legal coercion to unlock devices may occur.

  - point: Reduce exposure to CCTV
    priority: Advanced
    details: Wear disguises and choose routes with fewer cameras to avoid surveillance.

  - point: Anti-Facial Recognition Clothing
    priority: Advanced
    details: Wear clothing with patterns that trick facial-recognition technology.

  - point: Reduce Night Vision Exposure
    priority: Advanced
    details: Use IR light sources or reflective glasses to obstruct night vision cameras.

  - point: Protect your DNA
    priority: Advanced
    details: Avoid sharing DNA with heritage websites and be cautious about leaving DNA traces.

  color: lime