Your Privacy Exposure

• If you have a Facebook or Google account, then you have signed all your privacy away to corporations in the surveillance business who tell you what to read and sell you stuff you don't need, and graciously share it with the FBI, CIA and NSA (without need for court warrants). They also reserve to right to sell it indiscriminately
• If you do not subscribe to any of the above, but still use Android phones, use Google or Bing for your web searches, etc. then you may not have signed away your privacy, but it is in effect gone
• Apple retain user data (particularly if one is subscribed to iCloud services). Though they refuse to share this data with third parties, Apple (like Google, Facebook, ISPs, and others) are required under the USAPATRIOT Act to turn it over to law enforcement when asked. Further they may be forbidden to reveal that they have
• If you use unencrypted wireless connections (no VPN service) and you use your ISP's DNS your are a known quantity to your ISP and all who purchase that information from your ISP
• If you've never owned and never used a computer (and are new to electricity), then you've a fighting chance of still having your privacy somewhat intact
• If you are but a twinkle in your mother's eye (and she's told no one), then you are probably good. For at least the next 9 months

Tips for Protecting your Privacy on the Internet

• Avoid Facebook products. Alternatives abound, many of which are free and open source and developed with user privacy in mind
• Avoid Google products. Alternatives abound, many of which are free and open source and developed with user privacy in mind
• Always use a search engine respectful of your privacy such as Ecosia, DuckDuckGo, StartPage etc. Alternatives to Google etc. abound, many of which are free and open source and developed with user privacy in mind
• Always use a trusted VPN such as ProtonVPN (or for the time you are at MIT, MIT's Global Protect VPN)
• Always use a trusted DNS service such as 1.1.1.1 (or for the time you are at MIT, 18.0.70.160)
• Always use a trusted Mail client/service which does not read your email nor surreptitiously sell it to Google. We recommend ProtonMail (and for the time you are at MIT, MIT's email service)
• If the software is free, you are likely the product. READ PRIVACY POLICY ON ALL SOFTWARE BEFORE USE!
• Consult Electronic Frontier Foundation and the American Civil Liberties Union for important tips, resources and information regarding your privacy and your rights
• Consult these resources: www.privacytools.io, restoreprivacy.com/google-alternatives/