"Privacy is a human right." - Edward Snowden. In an age of surveillance capitalism, your data is the product. Corporations track your location, health, and thoughts to modify your behavior. Here is how to fight back.
1. The Browser (The First Line)
Chrome is spyware. Period. It logs every keystroke to build an ad profile.
Solution: Use Firefox Hardened or Brave.
Must-Have Extensions:
- uBlock Origin: Not just an ad-blocker. A wide-spectrum CPU saver.
- Privacy Badger: Blocks invisible trackers.
- Bitwarden: Never reuse passwords. Store them here.
2. Messaging (Signal vs Telegram)
Telegram is NOT encrypted by default (only in "Secret Chats"). The server can read your messages.
Use Signal:
- End-to-End Encrypted (E2EE) by default.
- Code is Open Source.
- Metadata is minimized (Signal only knows when you registered, not who you talk to).
3. Search Engines
Google remembers your search history forever.
Use DuckDuckGo or Startpage:
They act as a proxy. You get Google results, but Google sees "Startpage" as the searcher, not you. They don't store your IP.
4. Email (De-Googling)
Gmail reads your receipts to see what you buy.
Use ProtonMail or Tutanota:
Encrypted email providers based in Switzerland/Germany. They cannot read your inbox even if forced by court order (due to zero-access encryption).
5. OSINT (Clean Yourself Up)
Search for yourself.
Data Brokers (Whitepages, Spokeo) sell your home address for $5.
Use Opt-Out services (like DeleteMe or manual removal guides) to purge your physical address from the web.