How to make yourself a hard target online
This is a short and sharp guide to better protect your digital life.
2-Factor & Multi-Factor Authentication:
Not every service offers this but if they do – enable it.
SMS – Not bullet proof but better then nothing.
Authy – Simple to set up, secure cloud backup, multi device support.
YubiKey – The YubiKey reinvented hardware authentication and is 100% purpose built for security.
Ad Blocker:
Ads can be annoying but that isnt the only reason to use an ad blocker on your network or web browser.
Ads can be malicious, loaded withy malware that can infect your device just but viewing the ad. The ad blocker can help protect you by stoping the ads from loading as well as stopping tracking scrips from following you around the internet.
uBlock Origin – Free, open-source ad content blocker.
NoScript – NoScript’s unique pre-emptive script blocking approach prevents exploitation of security vulnerabilities.
Pi-hole – Network-wide Ad Blocking.
Passwords:
Gone are the day where you use the same password for every online service and account. Time to get on top of your account security and make each account unique. Why? If one account does down in a data breach the damage doesn’t flow over to your own digital life.
Own System – Come up with your own system to create and keep track of passwords. inc { !@#$%^&*() }
KeePassXC – Cross-Platform Password Manager. Never forget a password again. { Offline }
Bitwarden – Create and manage unique passwords, so you can strengthen privacy and boost productivity online.
Pay for Services:
This is a simple concept;
If the service your using is free to use…then you are the product.
Facebook, Google, Instagram, Spotify etc are all free because they’re making money by selling your data and it is in their interest to make you share as much information about yourself as possible.
Don’t be afraid to pay for a service like email if it means they keep your data private. By paying them, they dont’t need to sell your data to make money.
Clean Up Your Digital Footprint:
Do a stocktake on your digital life. How many old accounts do you have floating around that you no longer use but may use the same password in your current accounts?
Think hard about it, stalk yourself even. Find what other people would find if they were searching you. Identify what is no longer wanted and deactivate/remove. Having a smaller online footprint isn’t a bad thing.
Update:
Another easy one.
Keep all your devices, browsers and software updated with security patches.
Protect Your Network:
You wouldn’t want someone walking around your house uninvited and you take steps to stop that from happening like locking doors and windows.
It should be the dame with your home and business network. Shut ports that aren’t used, use a firewall, and don’t like anyone on your WiFi. Use a Guest WiFi network for friends and family.
Encrypt Hard Drives:
Devices get lost and stolen everyday.
You might not get it back which sucks but sleep easier knowing that who ever does have your device, cannot see and cannot use what’s on it.
Full-disk encryption means the data on your device’s can only be accessed with a password.
Take the time to encrypt all your hard drives, internal and external. Also make back ups of the data on your devices and store in a safe place. Then you wont lose sleep at all…just beer money.
Secure Communication:
I don’t know what you have been told in the past but SMS, Email, Phone Calls and Internet Browsing are fair from private. Telecommunications companies, Governments and other 3rd Parties can request and view your communications whenever they like.
Start taking steps to better protect your personal and business communications.
Session – Session is an end-to-end encrypted messenger that minimises sensitive metadata, designed and built
Element – Element is a Matrix-based end-to-end encrypted messenger and secure collaboration app.
Signal – State-of-the-art end-to-end encryption, keeps your conversations secure.
ProtonMail – ProtonMail is an end-to-end encrypted email service founded in 2013 in Geneva, Switzerland.
Own Email Server – Host your own email sever and have control of all your data.
Proton VPN – ProtonVPN is available on all your devices, including PCs, Macs, smartphones, and even routers.
Mullvad VPN – Browse the web securely and privately with Mullvad VPN. It’s fast, trustworthy, and easy to use.
< feel free to contact me with suggested changes and/or additions. >