Security is not equal to privacy. Even if you do use 2FA and change your passwords all the time. You don’t gain any additional privacy.
Changing your google password and adding 2FA to your google account does nothing to make your life more private because google still can read all your emails, and sell your data regardless of 2FA.
The best habits to maintain privacy are to avoid using the services of companies that’s business model is violating your privacy.
Some pro privacy habits might be:
Avoid any google products or services.
Avoid and Meta products or services.
Don’t use any free software or services that are not community run / non profit. They make money from selling your data.
In a positive light these habits might be reflected as:
Using a google free phone. (i.e. GraphineOS or CalyxOS or /e/OS or even an iPhone as a last resort.)
Use Lemmy, mastodon and other alternatives to big social media corps.
Pay for reputable e-mail hosting with a reputable provider, (Ie Microsoft365 Business Account, Tutanota, or Proton Mail) or host your own.
Privacy isn’t all or nothing. Small steps are still improvements. Microsoft respects their business client’s privacy because that is what is demanded and Microsoft makes money by providing B2B services. Apple is in the business of selling expensive hardware and iCloud services so they don’t need to violate your privacy as much. These products while not perfect are leaps and bounds better then using any google or meta product.
Small steps are good steps.
If I had to choose one thing to do I would say to drop any phone that has the play store pre installed.
One addition. People say to use a VPN but I would argue that this is virtually pointless if you continue to use privacy violating services from privacy violating companies.
If your connect to what’s app or Snapchat or gmail over a https collection inside a secure VPN you are still sending them your data. Just with an extra lawyer of encryption. Google doesn’t need your IP if you give them your complete email inbox.
Agreed. I’d still recommend a VPN in case your ISP is some sort of big company that sells or sends your traffic to other companies or the gov though, or if you want to torrent in the US, Germany or other countries where the copyright laws are super enforced.
Just make sure you choose a reliable VPN, not some random VPN from youtube. Read articles, reviews, investigate, ask in privacy-focused communities
Security is not equal to privacy. Even if you do use 2FA and change your passwords all the time. You don’t gain any additional privacy.
Changing your google password and adding 2FA to your google account does nothing to make your life more private because google still can read all your emails, and sell your data regardless of 2FA.
The best habits to maintain privacy are to avoid using the services of companies that’s business model is violating your privacy.
Some pro privacy habits might be:
In a positive light these habits might be reflected as:
Privacy isn’t all or nothing. Small steps are still improvements. Microsoft respects their business client’s privacy because that is what is demanded and Microsoft makes money by providing B2B services. Apple is in the business of selling expensive hardware and iCloud services so they don’t need to violate your privacy as much. These products while not perfect are leaps and bounds better then using any google or meta product.
Small steps are good steps.
If I had to choose one thing to do I would say to drop any phone that has the play store pre installed.
One addition. People say to use a VPN but I would argue that this is virtually pointless if you continue to use privacy violating services from privacy violating companies.
If your connect to what’s app or Snapchat or gmail over a https collection inside a secure VPN you are still sending them your data. Just with an extra lawyer of encryption. Google doesn’t need your IP if you give them your complete email inbox.
Agreed. I’d still recommend a VPN in case your ISP is some sort of big company that sells or sends your traffic to other companies or the gov though, or if you want to torrent in the US, Germany or other countries where the copyright laws are super enforced.
Just make sure you choose a reliable VPN, not some random VPN from youtube. Read articles, reviews, investigate, ask in privacy-focused communities