What is Privacy Checklist?

A prioritized privacy checklist, from essential basics to advanced protection.

Essential (Do These First)

• Use a password manager (Bitwarden, 1Password, KeePassXC)
• Enable 2FA on email, banking, and social media (TOTP app or hardware key)
• Switch to a privacy browser (Brave or Firefox + uBlock Origin)
• Use a privacy-focused search engine (DuckDuckGo, Brave Search, Kagi)
• Switch to encrypted messaging (Signal)
• Review and tighten social media privacy settings
• Check if your email has been in breaches (Have I Been Pwned)

Important (Do These Next)

• Use a trustworthy VPN (Mullvad, IVPN, Proton VPN)
• Switch to encrypted email (Proton Mail, Tuta)
• Use email aliases for different services (SimpleLogin, addy.io)
• Opt out of data broker sites (or use a removal service)
• Disable advertising ID on your phone
• Switch DNS to a privacy-respecting provider (Quad9, NextDNS)
• Enable full-disk encryption on all devices

Advanced

• Use Tor Browser for sensitive browsing
• Set up compartmentalized identities
• Form an anonymous LLC for business activities
• Use a privacy-focused mobile OS (GrapheneOS, CalyxOS)
• Use hardware security keys for critical accounts
• Self-host services where practical
• Conduct a full privacy audit

Ongoing

• Monitor for new data breaches
• Re-check data broker sites quarterly
• Review app permissions regularly
• Update software promptly
• Strip metadata from files before sharing