The world is changing fast and your private data is at risk whenever you go online. Numerous entities, both public and private, are working hard to track, monitor, and record your digital activities. There are many reasons for this:
- Advertisers (including Google and Facebook) want to know everything about you, including your web browsing history, location data, contacts, and more. This makes it easier (and more profitable) to serve you targeted ads and influence your purchases.
- In an age of pandemics and lockdowns, many governments around the world are working hard to track movement and biometric data of their citizens.
- ISPs (internet service providers) are spying on their customers and feeding this data to various third parties, including advertisers and government agencies. In many countries, this is not only legal, but required. See for example in the United Kingdom (with the Investigatory Powers Act), United States (Senate Joint Resolution 34), and now also in Australia (mandatory data retention).
- The internet is also becoming less free due to censorship efforts and content blocking. Whether it is China, Germany, the UK, or the United States, various groups are working hard to censor content online.
But don’t get discouraged. Alternative technologies are experiencing a renaissance as awareness about these issues grows and people seek out solutions. Indeed, for all of the problems listed above, we find excellent solutions to give you more privacy, security, and freedom in your digital life. And that is the purpose of this guide: to give you solutions. Here’s what we’ll cover in this guide:
- Secure and privacy-focused browser
- Virtual Private Network
- Ad blocker
- Password manager
- Secure and encrypted messaging
- Private search engine
- Private email
- Operating system
- Antivirus software
- Conclusion
But before we begin, one key consideration is your threat model. How much privacy and security do you need given your unique situation and the adversaries you may face?
Most people today are seeking protection against online tracking by advertising networks as well as a higher level of privacy and security. Others, such as investigative journalists working with sensitive information, would likely need an even higher level of protection. So keep this in mind as you proceed. Everyone is unique in their approach to privacy and security; there is no one-size-fits-all solution.
So here’s what you need:
1. Secure and privacy-friendly browser
Everyone needs to be using a secure and privacy-friendly browser for three important reasons:
- Browsers have a large attack surface and can be compromised in many ways.
- By default, most browsers contain lots of private information, including your browsing history, usernames, passwords, and autofill information, such as your name, address, etc.
- Browsers can reveal lots of identifying information about your location, system settings, hardware, and much more to third parties.
Secure Browsers: Based on my own tests and experience, here are the most secure browsers that also respect your privacy:
- Brave – Brave is a chromium-based browser that is very privacy-focused right out of the box. By default, it will block ads and trackers, and it’s also customizable, fast, and has built-in protection against browser fingerprinting.
- Firefox (modified) – Firefox is a great browser for both privacy and security after doing some modifications. It is highly customizable to give you the level of security and privacy you desire, while also being compatible with many browser extensions. See our guide on how to modify Firefox for more privacy.
- Tor browser – The Tor browser is hardened version of Firefox that also utilizes the Tor network by default (but this can be disabled).
- Ungoogled Chromium – As the name suggests, Ungoogled Chromium is a stripped-down Chromium browser that has been “Ungoogled” for more privacy. Source code is here.
- Bromite (Android) – Bromite is a Chromium-based browser for Android platforms only (no support for desktops). It is a great mobile browser with ad blocking and built-in privacy protections.
Of course, there are many browsers on the market and choosing the best one all comes down to your own needs and tastes. Chrome, Opera, Safari, and Vivaldi also get some attention, but they’re not the best choices from a privacy standpoint.
Worth mentioning: Don’t use a browser-based password manager, which will store your usernames and passwords in plaintext, thereby leaving them vulnerable to exploitation. Passwords saved in browsers are popular targets for hackers.
2. Virtual Private Network (VPN)
Using a good VPN (virtual private network) is one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect your privacy, secure your devices, and also access blocked content online. A VPN is a critical tool to be using, especially with internet service providers spying on their users.
Here are some of the problems that VPNs solve:
- ISP Spying – A VPN will encrypt and anonymize your internet connection. This makes your traffic completely unreadable to your ISP and other third parties.
- Blocked content – A VPN will let you easily get around blocked content and censorship. Simply connect to a VPN server in the region you need and access the website or stream as normal.
- IP and location tracking – Many websites and advertisers track users through their IP address. With a VPN, your IP address and location will be replaced by the VPN server’s IP address and location.
- Copyright issues – Torrenting and streaming media from third-party sources can come with some risk in the form of copyright issues. A VPN will anonymize your IP address and help keep you safe.
I have tested all of the popular VPN services and the results can really vary. Below are our current recommendations that are private, secure, fast, and reliable on many platforms.
Above are the top three VPNs that performed well in testing for the respective reviews. We have other recommendations and providers in our guide on the best VPN services.
And if you are new to VPNs, we have a general VPN overview here, which covers all the important details.
3. Advertisement, tracker, and malware blocker
A good ad blocker is essential for privacy and security reasons. From a privacy perspective, it’s important to block ads because they also function as tracking by recording your online activity to create an intimate user profile. This data is then used for targeted ads and/or sold to other parties.
Ads are also risky from a security perspective because they can contain malicious code that can infect your device when a web page loads – no clicks required.
Effectively blocking all ads is the only way to go. Here are a few different options from our guide on the best ad blockers:
- Browser ad blocker extensions – Browser-based ad blocker extensions, such as uBlock Origin are quite popular, but they also come with some tradeoffs. Online ads may still be using up resources and tracking you, even if the ads are not being displayed. Choose your ad blocker carefully – some ad blockers, such as Ghostery and Adblock Plus will collect user data for profit and/or show you “approved” ads.
- Ad blocker apps – A dedicated app will most likely do a very good job blocking ads on your device. One popular and well-regarded option is AdGuard.
- VPN ad blocker – Another option is to use a VPN that offers an ad blocking feature (VPN ad blocker). I tested various options for the VPN ad blocker guide and found most to work well.
- Ad blocking on a router – Ad blocking on a router can be accomplished various ways – from using ad blocking DNS to loading custom filter lists onto your router.
- Pi-hole – Pi-hole is a network-wide ad blocker that functions as a DNS server and can be deployed in various ways. It is most often used on a Raspberry Pi, connected to your home router (but there are many other different setup options).
The best ad blocking setup will depend on your situation and needs. If you have numerous devices you use at home, setting up a network-wide ad blocker would be a good solution for blanket protection. uBlock Origin remains a popular option for browser-based ad blockers. However, I like NordVPN with the CyberSec feature as a simple, all-in-one solution for VPN and ad-blocking.
4. Password manager
The topic of passwords is actually quite large, encompassing password strength, password management, and password storage. In this section we’ll focus on password management and storage. Many people store passwords directly in the web browser — but this can be risky.
A more secure method is to use a dedicated password manager app. And note that a dedicated password manager can also offer browser extensions that are convenient and secure. Here’s a screenshot of Bitwarden, which is one of our favorites:
Here are the best password managers we have tested:
- Bitwarden – A free and open source password manager that is user-friendly and secure. (See our Bitwarden review.)
- NordPass – From the makers of NordVPN and NordLocker, NordPass is a secure, user-friendly password manager that has also passed a third-party audit. (See the NordPass review here.)
- 1Password – Another great option is 1Password, with many features and strong security standards for all types of devices (our 1Password review has more info).
- KeePassXC – As a locally-hosted password solution, KeePassXC differs from the others on our list. See the pros and cons of this password manager in our KeePass review.
Start using a good password manager today.
5. Secure and encrypted messaging apps
Many people are turning to secure and encrypted messaging apps over concerns with privacy and security of other popular messengers. For example, WhatsApp collects and shares data from your phone with Facebook, the parent company of WhatsApp. If you find this concerning (and you should), then consider some of the secure alternatives below.
Additionally, with the inherent limitations of email, we recommend a secure messaging app for those wanting the most secure messaging platform possible. The secure messaging apps below utilize strong encryption standards and work well for teams or individual use on various operating systems and devices.
- Signal – This is probably the most popular secure messenger with a rapidly-growing user base. It is free, open source, and very secure. We really liked how it performed in our Signal review — but also noted some drawbacks, such as the need to use your phone number for verification.
- Wickr Me – This is another great option for secure messaging, with some unique privacy and security features. Like Signal, Wickr Me is also free. See our Wickr Me review for the good and bad.
- Wire – Based in Switzerland, Wire is another great option that is secure, user-friendly, and fully featured. While there is a free version for personal use, it is hard to find, as described in our Wire messenger review.
- Threema – This is one of the few paid encrypted messengers, but it’s only $2.99 for a lifetime license. Threema is also based in Switzerland and is open source. See our Threema review here.
- Telegram – Telegram is a very popular encrypted messaging app out of Russia, but it also is not encrypted by default. See the pros and cons in our Telegram review.
With all of the people abandoning WhatsApp and going over to Signal, there’s a better chance to connect with people you know on a secure platform. This trend kicked off early last year and we hope to see it continue!
Note: Also keep in mind that standard SMS text messages are not secure or private. They can be read by your phone service provider and are susceptible to man-in-the-middle attacks and also eavesdropping by Stingray devices. When privacy matters, use a good secure messaging app.
6. Private search engine
The big search engines (Google, Yahoo, Bing) record and track your searches, which helps them to build a user profile for their advertising partners.
Consider these privacy-friendly search engines instead:
- MetaGer – An open source metasearch engine with good features, based in Germany.
- Searx – A privacy-friendly and versatile metasearch engine that’s also open source.
- SwissCows – A zero-tracking private search engine based in Switzerland, hosted on secure Swiss infrastructure.
- Qwant – A private search engine based in France.
- DuckDuckGo – A private search engine based in the US.
- Mojeek – The only true search engine (rather than metasearch engine) that has its own crawler and index (based in the UK).
- YaCy – A decentralized, open source, peer-to-peer search engine.
There are also a few “private search engines” that are now owned by advertising companies. For example, Startpage was bought out by System1, a pay-per-click ad company. For more information, see our guide on private search engines.
7. Private email
Many of the popular email providers, such as Gmail, Yahoo, and iCloud are not good choices when it comes to privacy. Would you want random people having full access to your emails, collecting data for targeted ads, or passing the information on to third parties? This actually happens.
- Gmail gives third parties full access to emails and also tracks all of your purchases by reading the receipts in your inbox.
- Advertisers are allowed to scan Yahoo and AOL accounts to “identify and segment potential customers by picking up on contextual buying signals, and past purchases.”
- Yahoo was found to be scanning emails in real-time for US surveillance agencies.
And while Gmail remains the most popular service in the world, you pay with your privacy. Consequently, as awareness about these issues grows, many people are seeking alternatives to Gmail.
If you care about privacy and the security of your data, consider these secure email services. And if you want to learn more, check out these reviews:
- ProtonMail Review
- Tutanota Review
- Mailfence Review
- Mailbox.org Review
- Hushmail Review
- Posteo Review
- Fastmail Review
- Runbox Review
- CTemplar Review
Note: We also have a guide on encrypting email.
8. Operating system
Consider using the free and open source Linux operating system. There are many different versions of the Linux operating system designed for different types of users:
- If you want the look and feel of Mac OS or Windows, check out Elementary OS.
- Ubuntu, Mint, and Debian are other popular options.
Tails is another privacy-focused operating system that can be run live on a USB drive, CD, or SD card.
Problems with Windows and Mac OS
Windows – The latest version of Windows (Windows 10) is a platform built for total surveillance – giving corporations and governments complete access to everything you do on your machine. Aside from data collection concerns, most malware targets Windows users – another serious drawback and security risk.
Mac OS – While Apple may be slightly better in terms of privacy, it too has problems. Just like Microsoft, Apple has configured its operating systems to collect vast amounts of your private data, whether it is browsing history through Safari, connection data, location services, and more.
9. Antivirus software
While not necessarily a “privacy” tool, using good antivirus software may be wise depending on your situation. The problem, however, is that many antivirus solutions abuse your privacy and may come with some invasive and “unwanted” additions.
Just like with sketchy free VPN services, free antivirus software can also be problematic. In testing eight popular free antivirus suites, Emsisoft discovered that seven of them were bundled with PUPs (potentially unwanted programs), which can be harmful and very annoying. Tip: avoid free antivirus software!
Another major issue is privacy. Many popular antivirus suites utilize invasive data collection, to include browsing history, “suspicious” files, metadata, and more. Carefully read through the privacy policy of your antivirus before installing.
Although Restore Privacy does not devote much attention to antivirus software, one solution that offers the highest levels of security while also respecting user privacy is Emsisoft. Another potentially good option, which is entirely FOSS, is Clam AV.
See also the antivirus privacy guide.
Conclusion: Restore your privacy and take control of your data in 2022
That’s all for now, although this guide will continue to be updated with more privacy tools and information.
Comments?
If you have any feedback, tips, or suggestions based on privacy and security tools you are using, feel free to drop a comment below!
Hi Sven,
Could you add a page please with details on smartphone OS alternatives to Android and Apple?
Yep, we can do this with the next update.
Also forgot to ask,
Is there a full disk encryption service that you can recommend for Windows? For Ubuntu/ Qubes (based on your response to my prior questions)?
Pardon my ignorance if this is a silly question… Can these services have back door encryption keys that could be exploited? That’s my main inquiry regarding which service(s) to trust.
And finally… is LibreOffice secure? Would rather use and trust them than Word.
Thanks so much!
Bianca,
As for Windows, this guide is a good start: https://restoreprivacy.com/encrypt-files-windows/
Second, I use LibreOffice and it is great. If you use Windows, the update from within the system works pretty good.
Of course, there is a way to encrypt your docs so only you have the keys.
I don’t use Windows or Word but switching over, I was concerned I would be missing something.
Not only have I not missed anything, I actually find I can do more with Libre than my Office counterparts.
I use my LibreOffice ALL THE TIME and I don’t know why I didn’t switch over sooner.
what you trhink about perfect privacy ?
Pretty good option. See the Perfect Privacy review.
Hey Sven, a few suggestions for you: How about Opera for the browser? I use this and it’s ad free. I don’t know how “secure” but I have exactly the same experience as Brave but faster and better. It’s actually much much better. Lots of built in functionality and works with all Chrome addons.
Also for Documents, I came across: https://arcaneoffice.com
Hope this is helpful.
Not a big fan of Opera VPN browser, as discussed here. It started out strong, but then was sold off to a Chinese consortium in 2016. And after taking a close look at Opera VPN, I came to the conclusion that it’s basically a data collection tool in disguise.
Sven, I just want to say your blog kicks ass. Thanks for putting this info up. I am in the process of making my accounts even more secure in this new age of cyberattacks that is actively being planned by governments and private actors, as illustrated by the Cyberpolygon event, and this site has provided valuable information, especially in helping me to move to a new secure email provider.
I do wish that more of the providers could offer better customization of options and two-panel layouts instead of three-panel layouts, which do not give the ability to view the full messages in list format, but I expect and hope this will get better. If we continue to provide feedback to them, I believe they will, or may, be responsive to it. But some are a little privacy freaky at the moment, so something like weeklong signins for desktop access is not offered mostly. I think this should be an option, especially with more people working from home. Not a deal breaker, but who wants to sign in every 8 hours? I don’t.
Thanks again for your site.
The Washington Post joined in an international investigative journalistic effort, called the Pegasus Project, to report on spyware and other issues related to privacy and security.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2021/07/18/takeaways-nso-pegasus-project/
WaPo is the CIA News my friend. This report is going to be highly colored. NSO Group is the Israeli-intelligence connected firm behind these backdoors, and I have news for you: BACKDOORS across all of the US govt infrastructure. Please start reading Whitney Webb’s work at [unlimitedhangout.com] and check out Brendon O’Connell on bitchute.com. Learn about Unit 8200, the military group behind NSO group.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University’s CyLab looked into how people perceive using privacy tools (like Tor browser, antivirus, and VPN’s). They found people tend to engage in risky behavior when using them. If you decide to use any of the devices or apps geared to protect your privacy, it would be advisable to keep what is in this manuscript in mind. Using privacy-oriented means to surf the web or use on your phone to reduce tracking does not mean you have license to do what ever you want without consequences.
https://techxplore.com/news/2021-07-misconceptions-plague-privacy-tools.html
A new Android smartphone dedicated to free speech and privacy. What a novel concept!
https://freedomphone.com/
It would be so great and helpful if you could create an article about privacy-friendly alternatives to daily apps like weather, contacts, reminder, news (and if default one could be harmful for privacy, gallery) apps. If you can do it it would be really cool for the ones who cares about privacy.
Really good work,
Best regards.
Are you looking for Android? Desktop? Apple? That might help.
Just a quick search and I found these:
Weather – https://apkpure.com/weather-privacy-friendly/org.secuso.privacyfriendlyweather
Review: https://www.vice.com/en/article/pke9p9/heres-a-privacy-focused-alternative-to-dark-sky-on-android
Contacts: https://apkpure.com/simple-contacts-address-book-with-contact-backup/com.simplemobiletools.contacts
I have used it and it is very minimal in permissions requested.
Reminders: If you are looking for a calendar style reminder, I personally use ProtonCalendar: https://apkpure.com/proton-calendar-private-and-secure-calendar/me.proton.android.calendar
This gives me notifications even with Google disabled on my phone. This works because it is encrypted on my phone.
I would also say look here: https://restoreprivacy.com/google-alternatives/ for other ideas.
News: I don’t use it but have played with it a little. Looks really good: https://brave.com/announcing-brave-today/
Gallery: I go back to Simple tools: https://www.simplemobiletools.com/
They have others you may not have known about. I have used them all and some more than others.
Thank you so much J.M.! It will really help me soon. Thank you again.
You’re welcome. Glad to help.
There are a lot of privacy-friendly alternatives listed at the various links at this website, including alternatives to Google, especially in the comments section of each section of this site. They’re listed under the Privacy and Security Guides on the right side of the webpage or at the “Tools” link above.
Try the F-Droid app store
What about phone companies, like … T-Mobile, Verizon, pure talk, patriot, sprint, at&t, …
Phone companies are notorious for non privacy things. T-Mobile made an agreement to sell the information on the apps you have downloaded and use as well as your web data.
https://www.droid-life.com/2021/03/09/not-very-uncarrier-t-mobile-starts-selling-your-usage-data-to-advertisers-on-april-26/
T-Mobile owns MetroPCS and now they own Sprint.
This means that anyone can know what you have on your phone and know what you actively use.
Verizon is not known for its privacy respect. There was some uproar about them selling minute by minute life data events to advertisers, but whether that was suspended or not, I could not find.
https://www.wired.com/story/carriers-sell-location-data-third-parties-privacy/
AT&T, I would also avoid as they have had several issues in the past as well.
https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/356750/att-customers-still-face-location-privacy-risks.html
That leaves Pure Talk and Patriot.
Pure Talk is owned by AT&T, so you will have to base your trust with them, if you wish.
For me, there was and is only one option left. Patriot Mobile is not as big, but it is growing. They respect your privacy and what you do on your phone. They are privately held so no big corp. overlooking what they are doing.
Do know, you may have a little less service with them, but in my area, they have not been much different than what I had before.
OnionShare is a free, open source file-sharing tool that enables people to share files of any size over the Top Network. You can use an inexplicit or secret URL that can be shared with receivers to download or even send files.
https://onionshare.org/
I wonder if you could create a page on how domain owners can improve privacy. It is difficult – what are the advantages and disadvantages of proxies for domains, for example? What is a good web host?
I am unsure of proxies for domains but I like your idea on how domain owners can improve their privacy. As far as a good web host, I am told that Bahnhof out of Sweden is considered a private, secure webhost that also specializes in data center construction. Njalla, also out of Sweden is also considered a good choice too (links below).
https://www.bahnhof.net/
https://njal.la/
Hi Sven,
Thank you for your dedication to privacy and for being a communicator on these issues.
A concern I would like to raise for your comment is that of “fingerprinting” or “browser fingerprinting”
Recently I came across a tool called “Grabify” and I viewed an interview with the developer listed here:
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lru-UWQ06I0]
The tool (Grabify) has been useful to me in searching for ways to obscure my fingerprint;
And this appears not to be simple.
For example I am using a VPN, I am in a VM, my browser is FF and I have been through FF privacy settings, I use FF recommended extensions for privacy; And still, Grabify still produces many data points that could demonstrate uniqueness. Additionally, Grabify only records some of the data points that I have heard can be used to demonstrate uniqueness.
I have tried some extensions (only FF recommended) and they appear to do what they say, such as changing the OS and browser via spoofing “user agent” information; but I believe this maybe insufficient to prevent fingerprinting (This is just my belief)
I wish there was a tool which took the attributes that a finger printer may consider and randomly generate new attributes and spoof these.
What is your view on the risk to privacy considering fingerprinting?
Do you consider fingerprint to be a risk that is real?
Is it possible to defeat fingerprinting?
Are there tools?
Please note I am talking of tools and methods available that don’t necessitate the usage of something like “Tails” or “Whonix”; I am talking of tools for ordinary users who believe that tracking companies should “mind there own business” and “bugger off.”
Kind regards,
BoBeX
Hi there, it sounds like you have a pretty good setup, especially when using a VM. Check out the browser fingerprinting article for more info.
I think you should edit this post., starting from point 3. Advertisement, tracker, and malware blocker. Why all the text are bold in the comment section?
Thanks for the heads up. It looks like there was a bug, but I think it’s fixed now. You may need to clear your browser cache and reload the page for everything to appear normal.
Is there any privacy-friendly reminder apps?
P!n app on F-Droid app store.
It helps create and pin messages in notifications on Android. Its FOSS with no trackers.
I am an iPhone user but I will buy Android. Thank you anyway.
Suggest any free privacy friendly antivirus
ClamAV
I think you should update the list of browsers above. On this post, you recommend Iridium. But, on another post, you don’t recommend it. https://restoreprivacy.com/browser/secure/ . That will confuse some users.
Good catch, working on it now…
Cybersecurity and privacy, while two distinct categories, overlap many times and it is important to keep up on both fields since they do affect how you can use your computerized devices and if they are vulnerable. In case anyone is interested and in my view, the two best cybersecurity news sources are:
1) Bleeping Computer – https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/
2) Threat Post – https://threatpost.com/
I also like to read TechXPlore from time to time since it has privacy and cybersecurity articles are posted there occasionally. Ars technica does too though it and TechXPlore have different purposes. It is a good idea to read the above two regularly since things like viruses, malware, and hack or ransomware attacks are or can be threats to your privacy too.
With the vulnerabilities outlined in the manuscript about Alexa, imagine what flaws exist in Siri and Google Assistant. Matter of fact, two years ago Apple had to publicly apologize for a scandal that arose resulting from some of their contractors being able to listen to Siri recordings of their customers.
Bottom line, if you value your privacy, don’t use voice assistants.
https://techxplore.com/news/2021-03-reveals-extent-privacy-vulnerabilities-amazon.html
Hi Sven,
Can you explain this. I am using a VPN and Brave browser but if I use a shortcut to Twitter for an account I want to view it shows for example: “BBC News Follows You”.
I disposed of the Twitter app a long time ago.
What is Twitter logging? It can’t be my IP if I am using a VPN. Where is the leak?
Any advice appreciated.
iOS 12.5.1
What is in this article is a very sobering reminder about the trade-offs involved in using technology. Unfortunately, losing a lot of one’s anonymity is among what is lost. I hope Reason does a follow up report about what more could be done and it would have to involve more than switching off settings in a user’s Android or iPhone settings.
https://reason.com/2021/02/26/so-long-as-you-carry-a-cellphone-the-government-can-track-you/
It is not only important to have these applications and other products in place on and when you use your computerized devices, but users should make it a point to keep up on news related to security and privacy as well.
For those interested, two very good sources of news and information are:
Ars Technica – https://arstechnica.com/
TechXPlore – https://techxplore.com/
https://twitter.com/evacide – Eva Galperin is the Director of Cybersecurity at the Electronic Frontier Foundation. She and her employer have done terrific work for cybersecurity and online privacy.
Hi. Why is Mailfence suggested before Tutanota? Thanks!
The list is not necessarily in rank order, choose the best service based on your own needs. Tutanota is limited on features and has struggled with outages over the past year.
Hey Oleg – You should check out LinkedPhone as well. [https://linkedphone.com] It’s a great service. Designed specifically for small business owners – not sure if that’s what you were looking for.
Hi Sven
Assuming that my concern is Privacy and Security and I follow RestorePrivacy’s “recommendation” and use good
– VPN
– Adblocker
– Enrypted Cloud Storage
– Private Mail
– Password Manager
– Private Search Engine
If i still use Windows 10… How much of it is in vain?
No, it’s definitely not in vain. It’s all a question of what adversaries you are protecting yourself against. Sure, Windows may still be getting some data, but with the privacy tools above, you are still getting a lot of protection against your ISP collecting your browsing activity, ad networks tracking you, Google from monitoring your inbox and could storage and search queries, …
By the way, check out our guide on Windows 10 privacy here.
spyshelte firewall ? block windows
Thank you so much!
hopping for your reviews on decentralized services like [https://sia.tech and [https://storj.io/] etc
I was about to post this 😉
I noticed you included Brave browser as one of better or more private browsers, but the last review of Brave on Spyware Watchdog (updated 12/30/2020) lists its spyware level as extremely high. This would make it a poor choice for a browser from a privacy standpoint.
I have Zorin os (linux based) on my laptop and on my desktop I run Win10 20H2 and also linux Mint on a 128gb flashdrive….been trying to install IceCat for a month or so but can’t make it work correctly so I’m hoping you or another reader could give me some help on this. Another stupid question: why do 128gb drives shrink to 123gb after you format it?
It is great you are reading and following discussions, but I will say that the website you mentioned had been discussed before and has been refuted.
Brave has done some very strong things to put privacy front and center. I would say that what you read here on this site, Brave’s blog, and more predominate writers would be better.
Brave is sleek, fast, secure and private. The things that can break that are opt-in and it is, what I would say, the best browser in existance.
I should say, I believe it has been refuted.
I really, really, dislike clickbait captions, headlines and links especially when they steer me to sites like Youtube which have heavy monetization.
Do you have any recommendations and strategies on what tools I can install or use that will ensure these scumbags don’t get a penny by my actions such as mistakenly visiting their site and then being routed to Youtube?
1. Can you give us a sample URL?
2. Who gets paid on YouTube if you don’t click on anything once you get there?
If you have acquired a certain amount of views, you end up in Google’s elite Youtube club and you get a percentage of the ads that appear in your videos which ALL start automatically once you’re there. The only way to avoid that is don’t visit to any Youtube sites or from users with very few views.
Thanks, Jen. Certainly not realistic, though, to not go to YouTube or to know how many views a video has before going there the first time.
Do you know about fastmail, i know (australia) is part of the 14 eyes, the mailing address is located in australia. Can you do a review or more analysis on it.
Thank You.
Yep, here you go:
Fastmail Review
Hi Sven,
Thanks so much for updating this. Since I found Restore Privacy, it has been my #1 security and privacy reference tool.
While I have made the switch to Signal last year, it has taken a while to transition people from Messenger and WhatsApp over. I have now uninstalled and deleted both apps so the only way to message me is either through Signal or text messaging. As you mentioned, text messaging is not secure or private either but some opted for this option. Is there any way to secure this, however minimally?
Thank-you.
“Is there any way to secure this, however minimally?”
Not that I’m aware of.