This post aims to provide you with steps to help you take control of your digital footprint, whether you choose to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) or not.
You might be thinking, “I have nothing to hide.” But, online privacy isn’t just about hiding secrets. It’s about:
Security: Protecting your personal information from hackers and identity theft.
Autonomy: Controlling who has access to your data and how it’s used.
Freedom: Preventing censorship and ensuring access to information without bias.
Even seemingly innocuous data points, when aggregated, can paint a surprisingly detailed picture of your life, habits, and beliefs.
Level 1: Privacy Basics (No VPN Required)
You don’t need to be a tech guru to significantly improve your online privacy. Here are some beginner-friendly steps you can take right now:
Step 1: Embrace HTTPS
What it is: HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) encrypts the communication between your browser and the website you’re visiting. This makes it much harder for anyone eavesdropping on your network (like on public Wi-Fi) to see the content of your communication.
How to do it: Most modern websites automatically use HTTPS. Look for the padlock icon in the address bar of your browser. If a site doesn’t use HTTPS, be cautious about entering sensitive information. You can often manually try changing “http://” to “https://” in the address bar.
Step 2: Set Custom DNS Servers
What it is: When you type a website address (like google.com), your device needs to translate that into a numerical IP address. This is done by DNS (Domain Name System) servers. By default, your internet service provider (ISP) usually provides these servers. Using third-party DNS servers like Google’s (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) or Cloudflare’s (1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1) can sometimes offer faster speeds and potentially more privacy by preventing your ISP from directly logging these requests.
How to do it (Windows 10/11):
Open the Control Panel (search for it in the Start Menu).
Go to Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center.
Click on your active network connection (usually Wi-Fi or Ethernet).
Click the Properties button.
Scroll down and select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), then click Properties.
Select “Use the following DNS server addresses:”.
Enter 8.8.8.8 for the Preferred DNS server and 8.8.4.4 for the Alternate DNS server (for Google), OR enter 1.1.1.1 for Preferred and 1.0.0.1 for Alternate (for Cloudflare).
Click OK on all windows.
How to do it (macOS):
Open System Settings (or System Preferences).
Click on Wi-Fi (or Network).
Click the Details… button next to your connected network.
Go to the DNS tab.
Click the + button to add new DNS servers.
Enter 8.8.8.8 and then 8.8.4.4 (for Google), OR 1.1.1.1 and then 1.0.0.1 (for Cloudflare).
Click OK or Apply.
Step 3: Be Mindful of Cookies and Tracking
What it is: Websites use cookies to remember information about you. While some are necessary for functionality, others are used for tracking your browsing activity across different sites.
How to do it:
Browser Settings: Most browsers allow you to manage cookies. You can block third-party cookies (often used for tracking), clear cookies regularly, or set your browser to ask before accepting cookies. Look for “Privacy and Security” settings in your browser.
Browser Extensions: Consider using privacy-focused browser extensions like Privacy Badger or uBlock Origin, which can automatically block trackers and intrusive ads.
That’s would be all for now. Feel free to drop your questions.
