There are some very simple steps that everyone should be doing to protect their privacy. No one should be able to pickup your phone or any other device without at least having to jump through a password hoop. You phone does more than just makes calls. It now has all your personal messages, photos, emails and other sensitive information. That said, here are some steps to protect yourself from the big bad wolf and yourself as well.
1. Sign out
Take that extra half second it takes to hit sign out web sites. It is well worth it. The amount of drama people have gotten into for forgetting to sign out of all your social networks and email.
II. Lockdown
Password protect all your devices. Your smartphone, your iPad, your computer, your tablet.. everything! Think about it. Would you leave your home unlocked? The last thing you want is to have someone start a conversation about you with “I know I shouldn’t have, but I read my girl(boy)friend’s text messages”
III. You already paid so its ok to say no
When you go to the store they sometimes ask you for your email address or phone number. Don’t give out your email address or your phone number. They will just use this information to profile you and your purchase. You can say no. If you feel badly about it, just remember you made a purchase and that is good enough.
IV. Put a Google Alert on your name
You should put a Google Alert on your name. You will know just what is being you online. Just go to Google.com/Alerts Once there enter your name, variations of your name and any nick names you go by on live. Make sure you put quotation marks around the name. Boom.
V. 2 Chainz…Sorry, I mean 2-step verification
IF you use Gmail and lets me honest. Even if it’s not our main email, most of use use it daily anyway. You MUST TURN ON 2-step verification in Gmail. The 2-step verification turns your phone into a RSA like security token. To enter Gmail from a new device you will need a code that’s sent to your phone. So even if your crazy ex cracks your password which happens to be her mom’s name; they still won’t be able to use it to sign into your account.