Essential Guide to Digital Hygiene

Mar 20, 2025

Digital Hygiene

Date: 17 Mar, 2025

A guide on maintaining digital hygiene to protect privacy and enhance security amidst the prevalent digital fraud and data breaches.

Key Concepts

  • Digital Fraud & Privacy Concerns:
    • Major tech companies collect data for advertising and broker sales.
    • Data breaches result in info leakage to dark web, leading to scams.

Basic Digital Hygiene Tips

Password Management

  • Password Manager:
    • Use a password manager like 1Password to create unique and complex passwords for different sites.
    • Ensures passwords are not easily crackable and prevents widespread access if one password is leaked.

Two-Factor Authentication

  • Hardware Security Key:
    • Use hardware security keys like YubiKey for an additional layer of security (2nd factor).
    • Avoid using phone numbers for 2FA due to SIM swap attacks.
    • YubiKeys support U2F and TOTP methods for secure logins.

Biometrics

  • Biometrics:
    • Use FaceID or similar technologies as a third authentication factor for convenience and security.

Security Questions

  • Security Questions:
    • Treat them like passwords by using generated answers stored securely.
    • Avoid sharing real answers that are easy to find online.

Disk Encryption

  • Disk Encryption:
    • Use features like "File Vault" on Macs to protect data in case of device theft.

Internet of Things (IoT)

  • IoT Risks:
    • Avoid smart devices that gather data and pose privacy risks due to constant connectivity and potential for hacking.

Secure Messaging

  • Messaging Apps:
    • Use Signal for encrypted communication and enable disappearing messages for added security.

Privacy-Focused Browsing

  • Browser:
    • Use Brave browser for a privacy-first experience without Google's surveillance.

Search Engine

  • Search Engine:
    • Use Brave search for privacy, fallback to Google with "!g" if needed.

Financial Security

  • Credit Cards:
    • Generate unique credit cards per merchant via services like privacy.com to avoid fraud and linkage.

Protecting Personal Information

  • Address Privacy:
    • Use virtual mail services to avoid giving out physical addresses.
    • Example services include Earth Class Mail and Virtual Post Mail.
  • Email Security:
    • Consider Proton Mail for privacy.
    • Avoid clicking links in emails and disable image loading to prevent tracking.

Additional Tools and Practices

  • VPN Use:
    • Use VPN like Mullvad for IP and location privacy.
  • DNS-Based Blocker:
    • Use NextDNS or pi-hole for ad and tracker blocking.
  • Network Monitoring:
    • Use Little Snitch to monitor app data communication.
  • Work-Life Separation:
    • Avoid using personal services on work devices to prevent employer surveillance.

Conclusion

  • Aim for secure digital life with privacy-conscious services.
  • Pay for software to ensure aligned incentives.
  • Continuous journey with room for improvement in digital habits.