Here's how I protect myself from hackers and thieves in a simple yet effective way:
I employ three different web browsers for distinct purposes to minimize the risk of mixing data and potential cookies:
1. Firefox - My primary browser for daily browsing.
2. Microsoft Edge or Safari - Used exclusively for logging into social media.
3. Google Chrome - Reserved for all Google-related activities, such as Google Maps, Translate, Flights, Gmail, YouTube, and Google Alerts.
Firefox allows me to create "sandboxes" to isolate activities on different websites from each other, ensuring that one website cannot access information from another. To enhance security, I use the following Firefox plugins:
- Multi Account Container: Separates sensitive sites like banks from others using a sandbox.
- uBlock Origin: Blocks advertisements and many cookies.
- NoMiner: Prevents websites from using your processor for Bitcoin mining.
For online searches, I rely solely on DuckDuckGo.
To further protect my online presence:
- I use a dedicated browser for social media and close it after use.
- I've uninstalled all social media apps from my mobile phone.
- I use Signal for messaging instead of WhatsApp and Messenger.
- My email provider is ProtonMail, known for its encryption.
- I always use a VPN when surfing on public networks, especially in countries with oppressive regimes.
- I store data on external hard drives, which can be disconnected when not in use. Additionally, I encrypt and back up data on two different cloud services, avoiding Microsoft, Google, or Apple's cloud services.
- My passwords are all more than 12 characters long, with a mix of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and special characters.
- I consider using StopService for added security (Danskebank offers this for a fee, although I have no personal experience with it).
- I securely store all my passwords and codes in PDF format on a physically encrypted USB stick, designed with the US military's standards. It is kept in a secret location, ensuring that this sensitive information remains offline and inaccessible to potential threats.
- Do not open emails from unknown people and check the URL if the originating website is the right one.