5 Privacy Steps Everyone Should Take Right Now

Online privacy isn't just for tech experts. These five steps protect your most sensitive data from the most common threats — data breaches, phishing, and account takeovers.

1. Use a Password Manager

The most important step. Use unique, strong passwords for every account. A password manager (Bitwarden is free, 1Password is excellent) generates and stores them. You remember one master password.

2. Enable Two-Factor Authentication Everywhere

Email, banking, social media, shopping accounts. An authentication app (Google Authenticator, Authy) is more secure than SMS codes.

3. Check If Your Email Was Breached

Go to haveibeenpwned.com. Enter your email. If it shows up in breaches, change that password immediately on every site where you used it.

4. Use a VPN on Public Wi-Fi

Coffee shops, hotels, airports — public Wi-Fi is unencrypted. A VPN encrypts your traffic. Mullvad and ProtonVPN are privacy-first options.

5. Review App Permissions Quarterly

Go through your phone's privacy settings. Revoke location, microphone, and camera access from any app that doesn't genuinely need it.

Bonus: Use Private Browsing for Sensitive Searches

Medical symptoms, financial planning, legal questions. Private browsing doesn't make you anonymous, but it keeps searches out of your local history.