Comprehensive Guide to Maintaining Advanced Privacy and Security:
General Behavior and Information Sharing:
• Blend In: Avoid drawing attention to yourself while keeping your data private.
• Use Cash: Prefer cash transactions over digital payments to minimize traceable activity.
• Minimize Information Sharing: Assume that any information you share can be traced back to you. Only share impersonal details that apply to a broad audience.
• Need-to-Know Basis: Keep most information on a need-to-know basis. Most people do not need to know your personal details.
Device Usage and Security:
• Separate Device Usage:
◦ Avoid using a single device for all activities.
◦ Use virtual machines (VMs) to isolate different tasks.
◦ Example: Never log into major accounts from your primary laptop; use separate devices for different purposes. Once you login to an account data is tied to that device from all over the internet forever.
• Security Practices:
◦ Implement above-average security measures without becoming obsessive.
◦ Balance security with practicality to avoid making life unnecessarily complicated.
Public Computers and WiFi:
• Avoid Public Computers: Unless you are certain of their safety and will not be using personal accounts.
• Avoid Public WiFi Networks: Be cautious when connecting to public WiFi, as it can expose your data.
• Disable Bluetooth and WiFi in public: Bluetooth and Wifi Beacons expose data.
Major Services and Data Storage:
• Avoid Major Services:
◦ Prefer alternatives to major email, cloud, and other service providers.
◦ Example: Use encrypted email services like Hushmail or tutanota, instead of Gmail or Outlook.
• Sensitive Data Storage:
◦ Do not store sensitive personal data on devices.
◦ Use encrypted drives and plug them into offline devices only when necessary.
Network and Data Management:
• Minimize Software Internet Connections: Only allow software to connect to the internet when required.
• Firewall Solutions:
◦ Use firewall solutions like pfSense / OPNsense, Pi-hole, Simplewall, OpenSnitch, Little Snitch, etc.
◦ Disable data sharing / collection / telemetry, only share data on a need-to-know basis. 99.999% of companies do NOT need to know anything. Reject all cookies.
Access Control and Encryption:
• Access Control: Research methods for maintaining strict access control.
• Network Segmentation: Implement network segmentation to isolate sensitive data.
• Data Encryption:
◦ Use encryption tools like LUKS, ZFS, VeraCrypt, etc.
◦ Example: Encrypt sensitive files and only decrypt them when necessary.
Password Management:
• Strong Passwords:
◦ Use unique passwords that are at least 15 characters long.
◦ For very important accounts, use passwords that are 21+ characters long.
◦ Consider using a password vault, KeePass/KeypassXC are the only trustworthy options i know of, memorize your most critical passwords. Brain hack: type them a few times, go do something else and come back to it in 10-30 min after focusing on something else and type it again without looking. Repeat as many times as needed. This moves the memory into long term memory from short term in the brain.
Smart Devices and IoT:
• Avoid "Smart" Devices:
◦ Minimize the use of smart devices like doorbell cameras, which can be exploited by law enforcement and corporations.
◦ Example: Amazon's Ring doorbell cameras collaborate with law enforcement to pressure users into granting access. Amazon even offers courses for law enforcement on how to pressure individuals into granting access in order to avoid legal processes.
• Avoid Unnecessary Tech: Ditch any technology that is more advanced than necessary for the function at hand. Example: you don’t need a smart toaster.
