I’ve been a privacy aficionado for close to two decades now, which is basically ancient in internet years. Back then, we were all tossing our MySpace passwords around like confetti and posting entire family albums on Facebook without a second thought. Now, every time I see a pop-up asking for cookie consent, I sigh deeply, make tea, and wish we’d collectively learned a bit more self-preservation online.
Anyway, I thought I’d share what I’ve learned along the way about keeping your digital life, well, yours. Because if you’re reading this in 2025, odds are some app, ad network, or slightly shady data broker is already trying to figure out how long you lingered on this sentence.
Passwords: The Key to the Kingdom (So Stop Using “123456”)
Let’s start with the obvious one. Your password is basically your first (and often last) line of defense. If you’re still using something like “ilovecats” or your birth year, please, I beg you—retire it.
Use a password manager. Seriously. Bitwarden, 1Password, Proton Pass—take your pick. They’ll create long, ugly, random passwords like “zL3!pX#h2R9w@” that even you won’t remember (and that’s the point). All you have to do is remember one master password that’s complex but memorable to you.
And for the love of your sanity, turn on two-factor authentication. Yes, it’s annoying. Yes, you’ll grumble when you have to grab your phone to log in. But that minor inconvenience is what keeps hackers from waltzing into your accounts like they own the place.
VPNs: Your Digital Cloak of Invisibility
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) isn’t magic, but it’s close. Think of it as slipping into a digital disguise. When you use one, your online activity gets rerouted through an encrypted tunnel, making it much harder for anyone—be it your internet provider, government snoop, or curious hacker at the coffee shop—to see what you’re up to.
I’ve been using VPNs since before most people even knew what they were, and it’s wild how far they’ve come. Back in the day, they were slow, buggy, and constantly disconnecting. Now, services like ProtonVPN, Mullvad, or NordVPN are fast, reliable, and don’t log your data.
Just don’t use the free ones. If you’re not paying for the product, you are the product.
Email: Ditch the Freebies
I used to be a Gmail devotee, until I realized how much data Google collects about you just by reading your emails. Now I use Proton Mail, which is privacy-focused and encrypted end to end. It’s sleek, secure, and doesn’t shove ads down your throat based on the content of your messages.
Tutanota is another good one. Sure, you might have to pay a few bucks a month, but you’re buying peace of mind—and fewer creepy ads for the thing you mentioned once in an email to your aunt.
Don’t Click That Link
This one’s simple: never click a link in an email or text message unless you’re 100% sure who it’s from. Even then, be suspicious. Phishing scams are getting trickier—sometimes they even look like your bank’s website, right down to the logo.
If you get an email saying “urgent account notice,” ignore the link and go directly to the website yourself. Nine times out of ten, it’s a scam trying to trick you into giving away your password or credit card info.
Encrypt Everything
Encryption sounds intimidating, but it’s really just a fancy word for “scrambling your stuff so only you can read it.” You can encrypt files on your computer, your external drives, and even your messages.
On macOS, FileVault does this automatically if you turn it on. On Windows, you can use BitLocker. There are even apps like VeraCrypt or Cryptomator that let you create encrypted folders you can lock up like a safe.
If someone steals your laptop, at least they’ll have to work a lot harder than just guessing your password to get your data.
The Cloud: Not as Fluffy as It Looks
I love the convenience of iCloud and Google Drive, but I don’t trust them with everything. Once you upload something to “the cloud,” it’s not really yours anymore.
Use encrypted cloud storage if you’re uploading sensitive stuff—Sync.com, Proton Drive, and Tresorit are good options. They encrypt your files before they even leave your computer. So even if someone broke into their servers, all they’d see is gibberish.
Social Media: The Oversharing Trap
This one’s tough, because social media is addictive by design. But before you post that vacation pic or rant about your new job, remember—once it’s online, it’s basically public.
Facebook and X (ugh, I still call it Twitter) track everything. Every like, every click, every DM. Their business model depends on knowing you better than you know yourself. I treat social media like I treat public restrooms: use them when you must, wash your hands afterward, and don’t linger longer than necessary.
My Privacy Philosophy
After nearly twenty years of this, I’ve realized privacy isn’t about paranoia—it’s about boundaries. It’s about deciding how much of you the internet gets to have.
I still shop online. I still use social media. But I do it with my digital armor on. VPN running. Passwords locked down. Files encrypted. And maybe a tin-foil hat nearby, just in case.
If you start making even small changes—like using a password manager or switching to a privacy-first email—you’ll feel a surprising sense of relief. Like, “ah, yes, I control this tiny corner of the internet, and it’s mine alone.”
Stay private, my friends. And don’t click suspicious links. Ever.
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