People across the globe are experiencing a relentless barrage of attacks impacting their personal privacy and security. If you have never received a notice in the mail stating that your personal information has been compromised, consider yourself one of the lucky few. Protecting against data breaches, identity theft, and even physical threats against you or your family should be a top priority for everyone. While no one can completely escape these threats, this web site puts forth steps you can take to reduce the likelihood of them happening to you. Sorted by category, the content below is routinely updated so check back often. It's a dangerous world out there, follow these steps and don't become the next victim!

 

Web Browser Settings

 

Computer Browsers

Firefox

Install These Extensions: uBlock Origin, Privacy Badger

Disable Password Saving: Settings > Privacy and Security -> Logins and Passwords -> uncheck all boxes

Block Third-party Cookies: Settings -> Privacy and Security -> Enhanced Tracking Protection -> select Standard

Disable Data Collection: Settings -> Privacy and Security -> Firefox Data Collection and Use -> uncheck all boxes

Set DuckDuckGo as Default Search Engine: Settings -> Search -> Change Default Search Engine to DuckDuckGo

Clear Browsing History: Settings -> Privacy and Security -> History -> select Clear History

Always Use Secure Connections: Settings -> Privacy and Security -> HTTPS-Only Mode -> check Enable HTTPS-Only Mode in all windows

 

Chrome

Install These Extensions: Privacy Badger

Disable Password Saving: Settings -> Autofill -> Password Manager -> toggle off Offer to save passwords

Block Third-party Cookies: Settings -> Privacy and security -> Cookies and other site data -> select Block third-party cookies.

Disable Data Collection: Settings -> Privacy and security -> Security -> toggle off Help improve security on the web for everyone

Clear Browsing History: Settings -> Privacy and security -> Clear browsing data -> select a time range and hit Clear data.

Always Use Secure Connections: Settings -> Privacy and security -> Security -> toggle on Always use secure connections

 

Safari

Advanced Tracking Protection: Settings -> Advanced -> Privacy -> change dropdown to "in all browsing"

Set DuckDuckGo as Default Search Engine: Settings -> Search -> Search engine -> DuckDuckGo

Clear Browsing History: Settings -> General -> Remove history items

 

Edge

Install These Extensions: uBlock Origin, Privacy Badger

Disable Password Saving: Settings -> Profiles -> Passwords -> toggle off Offer to save passwords

Block Third-party Cookies: Settings -> Privacy, search, and services -> Tracking prevention -> Strict

Disable Data Collection: Settings -> Privacy, search, and services -> toggle off "Required diagnostic data", "Optional diagnostic data", and "Personalization & advertising"

Clear Browsing History: Settings -> Privacy, search, and services -> Clear browsing data -> Clear browsing data now -> Choose what to clear

 

iPhone Browsers

Firefox

Disable Password Saving: Menu button -> Settings -> Passwords -> uncheck Save Passwords
Block Third-party Cookies: Menu button -> Settings -> Tracking Protection -> Strict
Disable Data Collection: Menu button -> Settings -> uncheck Send Usage Data
Set DuckDuckGo as Default Search Engine: Menu button -> Settings -> Search -> DuckDuckGo
Clear Browsing History: Menu button -> History -> tap Delete icon

 

Safari

Set DuckDuckGo as Default Search Engine: iPhone Settings -> Safari -> Search Engine -> DuckDuckGo
Clear Browsing History: iPhone Settings -> Safari -> Clear History and Website Data

 

Chrome

Disable Password Saving: Settings -> Password Manager -> Settings -> toggle off Offer to Save Passwords
Enhanced Protection: Settings -> Privacy and Security -> Safe Browsing -> Enhanced Protection 
Set DuckDuckGo as Default Search Engine: Settings -> Search Engine -> DuckDuckGo
Clear Browsing History: Settings -> Clear Browsing Data

Always Use Secure Connections: Settings -> Privacy and Security -> toggle on Always Use Secure Connections