not yet thinking

Brushing your Teeth

A quick breakdown of security hygiene steps. Each of these tasks will move you towards better digital security and privacy. Try to knock out 2 a day and in a week you'll be in a great place! Pass it along and help others go through this guide. We keep us safe. - JT

January 21, 2026

Delete your Ad ID

Delete your Ad ID


On Android: Settings > Privacy > Ads > Delete advertising ID
iOS: Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking > Allow Apps to Request To Track

Keep Your Phone up to Date

Keep Your Phone up to Date

On Android, Google Play > your profile picture > Settings > Network Preferences > Auto-update apps > choose an auto update option

Also on Android, go to System > Software Update > Software Updates to make sure your Android versions are up to date.

On iOS, Settings > General > Software Updates > Turn on automatic updates

Private your socials
Instagram: Settings > Account Privacy > Private account
Facebook:

Private your socials

Instagram: Settings > Account Privacy > Private account
Facebook:

  • Settings > Privacy Center

    • Audience Settings

      • Profile Information > 'Only Me' or 'Friends'

      • Posts > 'Friends'

      • Review tags before they appear on your profile > 'On'

    • Ad Preferences > Manage in Account Center

      • Categories used to reach you > 'off'

      • Activity information from ad partners > 'Review Setting' > 'No, don’t make my ads more relevant by using this information'

      • 'Ads from ad partners in other apps' > 'Don’t show me ads from ad partners'

      • Social Interactions > 'Select an account' > 'Only Me'

Twitter:

  • '...' icon > 'Settings and Privacy > 'Privacy and Safety' > 'Audience and tagging' > 'Protect your posts'

Vet who is following you
On all of those now private social media accounts, spend some time going through that list and ask yourself

Vet who is following you

On all of those now private social media accounts, spend some time going through that list and ask yourself

  • Do I really know this person?

  • Do I know that this account is actually tied to the person I think it is?

  • Does this person need to have access to everything about me?

Use a password manager
Use Bitwarden, LastPass, ProtonPass to store your passwords.

Use a password manager

Use Bitwarden, LastPass, ProtonPass to store your passwords.

Bitwarden is free for personal use.

Turn on MFA (or 2FA) on your accounts
Use Google Authenticator or another authenticator app when logging into accounts.

Turn on MFA (or 2FA) on your accounts

Use Google Authenticator or another authenticator app when logging into accounts.

Avoid using SMS authentication when possible, as it is significantly less secure than an authentication app. There are several approaches to gaining codes sent through SMS such as SMS sniffing and SIM swapping.

Turn on device encryption
iOS and Android encrypt automatically if you have a pin set

Turn on device encryption

iOS and Android encrypt automatically if you have a pin set

Windows: settings > privacy & security > device encryption > on

Mac OS: search 'File Vault' > turn on

Turn off Biometrics
iOS:

Turn off Biometrics

iOS:

Android:

  • Settings > Security & Privacy > Biometrics

    • Face Unlock > off

    • Fingerprint unlock > off

Set a 6 digit pin
Android: Settings > Security & Privacy > Lock screen > Screen lock > PIN > set a 6 digit pin

Set a 6 digit pin

Android: Settings > Security & Privacy > Lock screen > Screen lock > PIN > set a 6 digit pin

iOS: Settings > Face ID & Pin > Turn Passcode on (or Change Passcode) > custom numeric pin > set a 6 digit pin

Remove EXIF data from shared pictures
Manual: Screenshot a picture before sharing it

Remove EXIF data from shared pictures

Manual: Screenshot a picture before sharing it

Android: Settings > Location > App Location Permissions > Camera: Set the location to not allowed.

Apple permissions: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > Camera, then tap Never.

NOTE: only screenshotting (or using an exif removal app like https://www.exifdata.com/) remove what kind of camera took the picture, which can be used for finger printing

Check haveibeenpwned.com
https://haveibeenpwned.com/ > put in your email > change the passwords for any site that has come up > sign up for notifications

Check haveibeenpwned.com

https://haveibeenpwned.com/ > put in your email > change the passwords for any site that has come up > sign up for notifications

Use an Ad Blocker/Privacy Badger
Mobile: https://adguard-dns.io/en/welcome.html

Use an Ad Blocker/Privacy Badger

uBlock Origin - Free, open-source ad content blocker.
uBlock Origin is not just an “ad blocker“, it's a wide-spectrum content blocker with CPU and memory efficiency as a primary feature. Developed by Raymond Hill.
https://ublockorigin.com/
Privacy Badger
Privacy Badger is a browser extension that stops advertisers and other third-party trackers from secretly tracking where you go and what pages you look at on the web. If an advertiser seems to be tracking you across multiple websites without your permission, Privacy Badger automatically blocks that advertiser from loading any more content in your browser. To the advertiser, it’s like you suddenly disappeared.
https://privacybadger.org/

Mobile: https://adguard-dns.io/en/welcome.html

Other Resources

Other Resources

twincities.fyi
Every place on the main street of my neighborhood is either closed indefinitely or posts a guard at the door to keep it locked and unlock it for patrons. Volunteers often stand outside during opening and closing to keep people safe on their way to and from their cars.
https://twincities.fyi/
Electronic Frontier Foundation
Defending your rights in the digital world
https://www.eff.org/
Mullvad VPN - Privacy is for the people
Free the internet from mass surveillance and censorship. Fight for privacy with Mullvad VPN and Mullvad Browser.
https://mullvad.net/en
Neocities
Create and surf awesome websites for free.
https://neocities.org/
Signal Messenger: Speak Freely
Say "hello" to a different messaging experience. An unexpected focus on privacy, combined with all of the features you expect.
https://signal.org/#signal
Doxcare
A step-by-step guide explaining how to protect yourself from online stalkers, why it's important, and what to do if you are targeted for doxxing.
https://crimethinc.com/2020/08/26/doxcare-prevention-and-aftercare-for-those-targeted-by-doxxing-and-political-harassment#maintaining-separate-spheres
Surveillance Self-Defense
We’re the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a member-supported non-profit working to protect online privacy for over thirty-five years. This is Surveillance Self-Defense: our expert guide to protecting you and your friends from online spying. Read the BASICS to find out how online surveillance works. Dive into our TOOL GUIDES for instructions...
https://ssd.eff.org/
Security Essentials | Digital Security Checklists for Activists
Every click, message, and location ping creates a digital trail that can be used against activists and organizers. Law enforcement regularly demands data from t...
https://activistchecklist.org/essentials/

Stuff to add? email jt@yet.earth

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