You are the product
When a service is free — Facebook, Google, TikTok — you are not the customer. You are the product. Your attention and data are being sold to advertisers. This does not mean you should not use these services. It means you should use them with your eyes open.
What Data Are You Sharing Right Now?
Most people do not realise how much information they share just by using the internet. Here is what companies typically collect:
- Your location — from your phone's GPS, Wi-Fi connections, and IP address.
- Your browsing history — every site you visit, every search you make.
- Your contacts — uploaded when you install messaging apps.
- Your photos and files — stored in the cloud, scanned for content.
- Your behaviour — how long you look at a post, what you scroll past, what you buy.
- Your voice — recorded by voice assistants and smart devices.
Browser Privacy: Your First Line of Defence
Use a Privacy-Respecting Browser
- Firefox — the best balance of privacy and usability. Made by a non-profit.
- Brave — blocks ads and trackers by default. Built on the same engine as Chrome.
- Chrome — the most popular browser, but made by Google, the world's largest advertising company. Use it if you must, but adjust the settings below.
Settings to Change in Any Browser
- Turn off third-party cookies. These are the trackers that follow you across websites. Chrome: Settings → Privacy and Security → Third-party cookies → Block third-party cookies.
- Enable "Do Not Track." It is a signal to websites that you do not want to be tracked. Not all sites honour it, but many do.
- Use private/incognito mode for sensitive searches. It does not make you invisible, but it prevents the search from being saved to your history.
- Clear your browsing data regularly. Settings → Clear Browsing Data → Cookies, Cache, and History.
Search Engines That Do Not Track You
- DuckDuckGo — does not track your searches or build a profile on you. Set it as your default search engine.
- Brave Search — independent search index, no tracking.
App Permissions: Stop Granting Access Without Thinking
When you install an app and it asks for permission to access your contacts, camera, microphone, or location — stop and ask: does this app actually need this?
- Does a torch app need access to your contacts? No. Uninstall it.
- Does a photo editor need your location? No. Deny the permission.
- Does WhatsApp need your microphone? Yes — for voice notes and calls. Grant it.
Check your app permissions now (Android: Settings → Apps → Permissions. iPhone: Settings → Privacy & Security). Revoke anything an app does not genuinely need.
Public Wi-Fi: Convenient but Dangerous
Public Wi-Fi — at cafés, airports, hotels — is rarely encrypted. Anyone on the same network can potentially see what you are doing. Follow these rules:
- Never access banking, email, or any account that requires a password on public Wi-Fi without a VPN.
- Use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) when on public networks. A VPN encrypts your connection. ProtonVPN and Windscribe have good free tiers.
- Use your phone's hotspot instead of public Wi-Fi when doing anything sensitive.
- Turn off "auto-connect to Wi-Fi" on your phone. Your device will join open networks without asking you.
Data Breaches: Check If You Have Been Exposed
Websites get hacked, and user data leaks. Visit haveibeenpwned.com and enter your email address. It will tell you which breaches included your data — and therefore which passwords you need to change immediately.
The Privacy Check-Up (15 Minutes)
- Review your Google/Facebook privacy settings. Both have a "Privacy Checkup" tool.
- Check app permissions on your phone. Revoke anything unnecessary.
- Check haveibeenpwned.com. Change passwords for any accounts that appeared in breaches.
- Install a privacy-respecting browser (Firefox or Brave) and set DuckDuckGo as your default search engine.
- Turn off ad personalisation in Google: Google Account → Data & Privacy → Ad Settings → Turn off "Ad Personalisation."