Online Privacy and Security

Featured Image: “Cyber Security Red” by Richard Patterson, CC BY 2.0

Introduction

Now that I have some time, I’m gonna go back to my first assignment this semester. The article I read this time is Online Privacy Guide: Tips and Tools for Better Privacy and Security in 2026 by Wisdom Sablah. In this article, Sablah gives 10 tips to help protect your information online from hackers, scammers and other malicious people. I’m gonna go through each of them and give my thoughts. My thoughts will be whether I’m already doing that, and how soon should we implement this idea.

Wisdom Sablah’s Tips

1. Use a Private Browser: Rather than using a mainstream browser like Chrome or Firefox, Sablah recommends a less popular alternative like Brave. Brave is a more privacy-focused alternative to Chrome. It has built-in features to block ads, cross-site trackers, cookie banners, faster speeds, and a private search engine.
   1. My thoughts: Now most people I know like to use Chrome and while I don’t use it regularly, I’m not gonna act so above all I use private browsers. I’m a Firefox guy. It’s more for me because I started using Firefox before Chrome really exploded in popularity. Should we seriously move away from Chrome and Firefox to a more private browser? Probably. Maybe not in the near future but likely down the line as with concerns about Google, Meta, and OpenAI taking our information to build their HAL 9000s, we’re likely gonna jump off the train eventually.
2. Use a Data Removal Tool: It’s likely that data brokers already have information about you to sell to various third parties. These brokers usually acquire your information from your social media accounts and other various websites you visit. To counter this, Sablah recommends using data removal services like Incogni. Incogni will actually send removal requests to the data brokers and said brokers will honor those requests.
   1. Thoughts: Now I never used data removal tools, primarily because I never knew stuff like this existed before I read this article. Should we use these tools to protect our data? Like with the browsers, maybe not ASAP but probably down the line. The biggest problem I, and probably many others, have with Incogni is that while they’re trustworthy, they of course want us to pay for their services. Not just a one time payment, they want you to pay a monthly subscription. While for some people, paying a subscription for this is nothing, but for others, this isn’t exactly most viable action. I’ll see after I post this if there are free AND trustworthy data removal services. If you can afford this, then I say go right ahead.
3. Use an Ad Blocker: It might be surprising to read that there are many ads have malware in them. That’s so they can install adware on your computer to display those annoying pop up ads. The solution, install an ad blocker. Sablah recommends uBlock Origin but there so many other ad blockers out there.
   1. Thoughts: Now I what ad blockers are, and honestly, I really have to get one. Many people I know use ad blockers but it’s less to protect their computer and to more to avoid looking at ads in general. Even the safe ones. The main reason I haven’t got one yet is because some sites actually block you from using them if they detect you have an ad blocker. Still I should try and see how that it works and maybe I can find ways around those sites.
4. Be Mindful of What You Post Online: Sablah doesn’t have any tools to recommend to download this time but he advises you to avoid posting sensitive information. Your location or your financial information are the most at risk. If a website you don’t trust asks for your email address, you should a throwaway address so it doesn’t affect your main one. When it comes to online stalkers and predators on social media, the best thing to do well, block them.
   1. Thoughts: I think for most people, this is a no brainer, but sometimes people don’t realize that they might be giving any more personal information then they realize. In fact, after reading that section, I actually went back and edited a section of this post as I thought it might’ve been too personal. But yeah, basic first grade lessons but it’s still important to keep it in your head because you never know.
5. Use a VPN: VPNs encrypt your internet traffic so it makes it unreadable to anyone looking through your search history. Sablah recommends NordVPN as it’s fast to use. It’s even free but there are many other VPNs that you can use.
   1. Thoughts: I don’t use a VPN but I know what they are beforehead and I’m sure many others have. If you watch enough YouTube videos, chances are your favorite YouTuber has been sponsored by a VPN at some point. Usually NordVPN or ExpressVPN. Like most people, I didn’t care much about it and just went on with the right of the video. Now after reading this section, I can see why YouTubers take deals (besides being paid a lot for them). Like the first two, I would say we should eventually get a VPN to protect ourselves, but I don’t we have to do it at this very moment. Of course though, NordVPN is free so maybe it is something we should do sooner rather than later.
6. Use a Password Manager: Data breaches most often happen due to stolen, weak, or compromised passwords. To counter this, you should get a password manager. Not only do they savesyour passwords, but also generate complex passwords that heavily lowers your chances of getting compromised. Sablah personally recommends 1Password but there are many managers you can work with.
   1. Thoughts: Now I think this is something that everyone should get. Even if it doesn’t generate complex passwords, everyone should get something that helps keep track of their passwords. Me, I have own way of storing my passwords. I’m not gonna say it because saying how I do it is just gonna get that comprise. Get a password manager and keep that protected as best as you can.
7. Use an Antivirus: There are thousands of new viruses being added to the internet everyday. There’s bound to be a point where one of them enters successfully. The simple solution is to get an antivirus that can detect and remove those pesky viruses. There are many antivirus software like Norton and McAfee but Sablah’s personal recommendation is Bitdefender.
   1. Thoughts: I think this goes without saying since most people have an antivirus, even I do. If for some reason you don’t have an antivirus, get one. You’ll be thankful that you don’t have to wipe your computer or worse, buy a new one.
8. Update Your Software and Devices: Devices that aren’t up to date are more likely to get compromised. Make sure to always update just your computer. You should also update your browsers, your data removal tools, your ad blockers, your VPNs, and your password managers. All of it.
   1. Thoughts: Like the last one, I think it goes without saying. You ever play a video game, and it needs to update to fix bugs or add new feature? Basically like that. I always update my software and you should too.
9. Back Up Your Data: If your software gets compromised, you’re likely gonna have to do a factory reset, but that means you’ll lose all of your data in the process. In these situations, you have to make sure your data in saved in the cloud before you go wiping anything. In addition, having data in the cloud can help prevent ransomware, so if your data in one computer gets stolen, there’s always another place to reacquire without paying a ransom. Sablah recommends iDrive as it works on most operating systems and you don’t need any knowledge on encryption to make it work.
   1. Thoughts: Saving information to the cloud is important but unlike the last few, I wouldn’t say it needs to be done now. Especially with all the data you likely have and oh so much the cloud can store, you’ll probably having to look through your files to see which one you want to keep and which you’re willing to sacrifice. I’ll also add that saving to cloud helps transfer information between devices to continue working on them like Google Drive.
10. Use a Secure Email Service: Traditional email services like Gmail and Yahoo don’t have a lot of privacy focused features like encrypted emails so they can send your information to advertisers or power their AI services. The solution? Just use a less common but more secure email service like Proton Mail, the Sablah recommendation.
    1. Thoughts: Most people I know use Gmail and for me, I’ve been on Outlook as far back as when it called Hotmail. Heck, even my college uses Outlook. I think we’re all gonna have to eventually move to other services in the future, but I don’t think we have to do it now. But you never know because only recently did these services start adding AI features.

Conclusion

So I think I made it clear that all 10 of these tips are useful information. Some should be done sooner if not now, like password managers and antivirus software to more bucket list items that we’re gonna have to change like private browsers and VPNs. After reading this whole article, this did give a lot of insight and once I published this, I’m gonna look more into these recommended services and other ways I can better protect my computer.