Online Privacy & Security

As you research, create accounts, and participate online, two best practices to observe are detailed below: how to search the web (somewhat) privately and how to create secure passwords.  For a comprehensive, plain-language more guide to actions you can take, go to the Consumer Reports Security Planner.  This is a free resource  from a trustworthy organization that can be customized to your specific concerns and devices.  See also our section on Avoiding Scams

SEARCH THE WEB PRIVATELY

The major web browsers and search engines track your search activity by default.  You may want to use the “private browsing” or “incognito” feature of your browser to reduce some of that tracking, or you may chose to use a browser that does not collect any personally identifying information.  These actions have limits: Your activity is still visible to your ISP, network administrator or law enforcement (with a warrant).  Also, if you login to an account while in private browsing mode, that site will be able to track your activity.

Many browsers provide the option to open a private/incognito window.  For example:

• Chrome “Incognito” window – Go to: File | New Incognito Window
• Safari – Go to: File | New Private Window
• Microsoft Edge – select the Settings and More icon, and then New InPrivate window.

Browsers that do not collect personal information:

• Duck Duck Go
• TOR (requires a download)
• Firefox (doesn’t collect the data unless you ask it to)

At a minimum, install the free browser extension from the Electronic Frontier Fondation –  Privacy Badger.  It works to block trackers; but note, it is not an ad blocker. Available for Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Opera.  Their explanation of how it works (click the links for the deeper dive): “Privacy Badger sends the Global Privacy Control signal, to opt you out of data sharing and selling, and the Do Not Track signal to tell companies not to track you.  If they ignore these signals, Privacy Badger will learn to block them—whether they are advertisers or trackers of other kinds.”

CREATE AND MANAGE SECURE PASSWORDS

Creating secure passwords and managing them is a reality of our digitial lives.  Below is guidance from the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Consumer Reports Security Planner, and a reent article from Wired magazine on how you can accomplish both actions.

• Use a passphrase. This brief video (Electronic Frontier Foundation) explains how, as well as demonstrates why breaking a simpler password is so easy.
• Use two-factor authentication (source: Consumer Reports) to further secure your passwords.
• Use a passkey (source: Wired magazine). Considered to be more secure that two-factor authentication, it has become more widely adopted since it launched several years ago.
• Use a password manager.  Encrypt and store your passwords using a single master password, which makes it practical to use many different passwords on different sites and services without having to memorize them.  Consumer Reports gave a top rating to 1Password.  Tech publications do regular reviews of these products.