Checklist: Keep Your Data Private

For many of us, a checklist is a great way to ensure things get done. It’s especially good when you feel like there’s a lot to tackle and you need to get everything accomplished, like with making sure your security settings are up-to-date. With that in mind, here’s a handy guide and downloadable checklist you can use to reduce the vulnerability of your personal info.

• Audit your app permissions. Periodically review the settings on your smartphone. Revoke access to your location, microphone, and camera for apps that don’t strictly need them to function. If you haven’t used an app in months, delete it to shrink your digital footprint.
• Strengthen your credentials. Move beyond simple passwords. Use a password manager to generate and store complex, unique phrases for every account. Aim for at least 12 characters, mixing upper- and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
• Deploy multifactor authentication. Enable MFA on all sensitive accounts, especially banking and email. Opt for an authenticator app rather than text message based codes, as these are more resistant to certain attacks.
• Sanitize your social media. Check your privacy settings to ensure only friends can see your posts. Avoid sharing info that hackers love, such as your hometown, pet names, or birth year—all of which are commonly used to guess answers to security questions.
• Beware of AI phishing. Scammers are successfully using AI to mimic the writing style of legitimate companies or even friends. Never click links in unsolicited emails or texts; instead, go directly to the official website to verify the request.
• Use a universal opt-out. Many browsers now support Global Privacy Control signals. Enabling this feature tells websites automatically that you don’t want your data sold or shared, saving you from having to find the opt-out button on individual sites.
• Secure your connection. Avoid accessing financial accounts on public wifi. If you must work on the go, use a reputable virtual private network to encrypt your traffic and keep prying eyes away from your data.