Hey all,
I am wanting to offer this information to keep you safe in your everyday things! This comes from a Sysadmin/Security Engineer. I’ve done policy, investigations on corporate computers and more. Here is a list of apps and general advice/policies to follow. Open Source is your best bet with trying to stay private.
1) BitWarden – Open Source Password Manager (Free and $10/yr)
Use this software to randomize your password across online accounts. You make 1 password for this software and then it will generate and hold passwords for you for all websites and accounts.
2) Mulvard is a paid for VPN with awesome purchasing options.
Directly from their site: “Which payment methods do you accept?
We accept cash, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Monero, bank wire, credit card, PayPal, Swish, Giropay, Eps transfer, Bancontact, iDEAL, and Przelewy24.”
3) uBlock Origin ad blocker and honestly, FireFox at this point.
FireFox on Android allows for Extensions and that’s where you would use uBlock Origin.
4) Apple Products are by nature safer than Android (Unless you can root your android)
No matter the product you choose, use your VPN at all times.
5)Cryptomator for any type of files you need to house in the cloud. It will encrypt the file before moving it into your cloud storage
6) Signal – Alternative Encrypted End-To-End Communication app
This is probably one of the most useful communication apps to exist. It is end-to-end encryption, not viewable except on your device that holds the local key.
7) General tips
– Do not auto upload your photos
– Turn off your GPS for your photos
– Before posting online, remove metadata from your photos
– FaceBook, WhatsApp, Instagram are bad places to share information about your personal life. These will cause issues depending on what you post. Just be extra careful here.
– Sometimes it is best to not take your phone or any digital device that can be tracked to an event that needs to be kept private. And no, keeping it in your pocket turned off does not keep it from tracking you in the background
8) For those who are completely technically involved
– ZeroTier is a good open-source end to end encryption Mesh Network software. Easy to setup, secure to use.
– Local NAS (Synology, QNAP, etc…) mixed with ZeroTier
9) Companies
– Companies can and will review logs of websites you visit and connections you make while on their Wi-Fi/Networks
– They can and do have access to review files stored on any computer
– This also goes for email and any other form of company communications!
10) If you have made it this far, welcome! I will leave it open for others to give advice and answer questions but I wanted to provide this.