Protecting Your Privacy Online: 18 Tips and Resources

In today’s interconnected world, safeguarding your online privacy has become more crucial than ever. This comprehensive guide offers expert-backed strategies to protect your digital identity and personal information. From managing app permissions to encrypting your internet traffic, learn practical steps to enhance your online security and maintain control over your digital footprint.

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  • Remove Personal Data from Internet
  • Limit App Permissions on Your Phone
  • Restrict Location Services on Apps
  • Implement Strong Password Practices
  • Compartmentalize Your Digital Identities
  • Separate Online Profiles for Activities
  • Audit Third-Party App Permissions Regularly
  • Use Unique Email Aliases for Services
  • Intentionally Corrupt Your Digital Profile
  • Practice Browser Compartmentalization
  • Utilize a Password Manager
  • Encrypt Internet Traffic with VPN
  • Clear Cookies and Control Tracking
  • Be Cautious with Smartphone Photos
  • Regularly Audit Your Digital Footprint
  • Block Ads and Trackers with PiHole
  • Use a VPN for Encrypted Connections
  • Review and Delete Old Online Content

Remove Personal Data from Internet

There’s one crucial step you can take to protect your online privacy: removing your information from the internet and data brokers.

Try searching for your name on Google. Any information that appears in the results can potentially compromise your privacy. Therefore, it’s important to remove your information. You can do this by activating private mode for your online accounts.

You can also opt out of data brokers, which are companies that collect, analyze, and share your data with other organizations. An example is Spokeo, which allows other people to access your contact information, address, social accounts, and even dating profiles. Spokeo also lists property records, court records, and business records.

You can manually opt out from companies like Spokeo by visiting their websites, locating opt-out links, and following their procedures. Alternatively, you can expedite this process by using data removal services.

To learn more about privacy, you can visit the FTC’s website. The FTC provides information on children’s privacy, practical security tips, and more. You can also check out our blog, where we post about data brokers, scams, privacy, and personal cybersecurity.

James Wilson, Personal Cybersecurity Expert, My Data Removal

Limit App Permissions on Your Phone

If you want to protect your privacy online, you should also be careful about the apps you download. Many request access to your contacts, location, or camera — even when it doesn’t make sense. I do not give them permissions that they do not need, and I try to check and review my permissions periodically to keep my data safe.

For example, I downloaded a very popular app that was draining my battery much quicker than when I first got my phone. Upon investigating this app, I discovered it was using my location in the background. Since then, I have been cautious about what permissions I give to other apps, and I only pay attention to apps from verified developers.

You could easily take that first step: go into your phone’s settings and look at what apps have access to your data. You will be surprised and will feel more in control after completing this exercise.

Bob Gourley, CTO & Co-Founder, OODA LLC

Restrict Location Services on Apps

The first step that comes to mind as you consider online privacy is usually about taking back control of what you publish. I know how much data we gather on a daily basis, and thus I can assure you that one of the most important steps, but also very simple, is to restrict your location services. There are many apps and companies gathering and keeping records of your real-world location, and you might not even notice it. They are using that information to target advertisements, to create detailed user profiles, and even to sell it to other parties.

A good way of putting a stop to that is by turning off location tracking on apps that do not necessarily require it in their core functionality, such as a weather app. It is a direct means to keep certain elements of your privacy intact, such as your physical location. As we have seen, that small step is enough to significantly reduce the number of targeted ads and to prevent people from having their physical data sold.

When someone is only beginning to take privacy protection seriously, I recommend that he or she check out the “National Cybersecurity Alliance.” Their “Stay Safe Online” resources simplify without being too simplistic. They include all the basics like having a strong password, identifying a phishing scam, and much more, and they do so in a straightforward manner. I have read plenty of guides that are simply too technical or present the problem in an overly simplistic way, and this resource is well-balanced. It is a good read for anyone wishing to learn how to remain safe without being overwhelmed by terminology. I have even suggested it to small business clients where they need to bring their staff up to speed in a short amount of time without necessarily engaging in complete security training.

The more you know about how your data is moving around online, the better equipped you are to close down the things that are tracking you unnecessarily. And it typically begins with the little, silent consents, such as access to location that people forget to monitor. Even those small steps accumulate into far more powerful digital habits.

Kevin Heimlich, Digital Marketing Consultant & Chief Executive Officer, The Ad Firm

Implement Strong Password Practices

Honestly, it doesn’t have to be complicated! Start with having good password hygiene. This means never reusing your password, having long and complex passwords, and not using variations of your birthday or simple words as your password. Passwords get hacked more often than you’d think, and reusing the same one means that if one account gets broken into, you have to worry about the rest of your privacy being breached too — a real nightmare!

The second most important thing you can do for your online safety is to use a password manager and two-factor authentication on all platforms and tools that give you that option.

The last thing I want to talk about (and would love for everyone to do) is to write all your passwords down in a file, save it to your desktop, and be sure to name it “My Passwords” for safekeeping. I’m clearly joking, but a lot of people actually do that! We did a study a couple of years ago and proved just that. What hopefully everyone is doing now is using a password management system. There are many free, secure, and built-in options available (e.g., Passwords on iOS or Chrome Password Manager).

I’d recommend checking out CISA, America’s Cyberdefense Agency, for some good tips. Another good one is Privacy Guide’s Knowledge Base for someone just learning about online privacy. They’re a non-profit, volunteer-run website specifically dedicated to helping everyone learn the basics and importance of online privacy.

Aimee Simpson, Director, Product Marketing, Huntress

Compartmentalize Your Digital Identities

One of the best steps I’ve taken to protect my privacy online is compartmentalizing my digital identities. I don’t mean using different passwords.

What I do is maintain completely separate email addresses and phone numbers for personal, business, and public-facing use. For example, my personal email never handles anything work-related, and my business number appears nowhere on public websites. When I sign up for a new tool, newsletter, or online service, I use a third “public” email. This way, if one account gets compromised or flooded with spam, it doesn’t affect the rest of my digital life. It’s a simple change, but it’s prevented more than one major headache when services I used were breached.

For anyone wanting to learn more about online privacy, I’d recommend checking out privacytools.io. While the UI leaves something to be desired, it’s one of the few resources that cuts through marketing noise and provides clear guidance: what tools to use, why they matter, and how to implement them effectively.

Michal Kierul, CEO & Tech Entrepreneur, InTechHouse

Separate Online Profiles for Activities

One step I take to protect my privacy online is to create separate digital identities for different aspects of my life. This goes beyond using different email accounts; I build entire activity “profiles” that never overlap. My personal correspondence, work logins, shopping accounts, and experimental sign-ups all occur within their own isolated ecosystems, often on different browsers or even separate devices. By keeping these worlds separate, I make it more challenging for data trackers to construct a complete picture of me, even if one piece of the puzzle is exposed.

This approach compels me to view my online presence as a set of compartments rather than one continuous trail. If one identity’s information is compromised, it doesn’t automatically lead to the rest of my data, habits, or contacts. It’s akin to a ship with watertight compartments; damage in one doesn’t sink the entire vessel.

For those who wish to delve deeper into online privacy beyond the typical advice, I recommend exploring the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s resources. Their guides don’t merely list tools; they explain how different tracking systems actually function, which helps you understand why certain habits are important. This knowledge makes every privacy decision you make more intentional and far more effective.

Liam Derbyshire, CEO / Founder, Influize

Audit Third-Party App Permissions Regularly

We handle payroll data for teams in over 100 countries, so privacy isn’t an abstract concept for me. It’s something I think about daily since a single lapse can affect thousands of people at once.

One practical step I’d recommend is locking down any third-party app permissions. Most people grant apps ongoing access to email, contacts, or cloud storage without reviewing them again. I like to do quarterly audits, removing anything I don’t actively use. On my last sweep, I found two marketing tools still pulling calendar data from a project I closed over a year ago. That data could have been sitting in their logs indefinitely.

For anyone looking to deepen their understanding, I’d suggest the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s “Surveillance Self-Defense” guide. It’s accessible but thorough, covering tools and decision-making frameworks: how to balance convenience against exposure, and how to add protections without disrupting your workflow. What I like is its scenario-based structure, showing how privacy strategies differ for journalists, small business owners, or international travelers.

Austin Heaton, Head of Content, Rise

Use Unique Email Aliases for Services

If you truly want to protect your privacy online, start by changing how you interact with identity-based services.

Most people don’t realize that your email address is your universal fingerprint — it’s what ties every login, cookie, and marketing tracker back to you. So instead of focusing on security tools, try separating your identity at the source.

For example, I use unique burner email aliases for every SaaS trial, app download, and newsletter sign-up. That way, I can instantly cut off data leaks, spot who’s reselling my information, and prevent a compromise from exposing everything. It also helps me declutter my inbox and makes it easier to manage which services I actually want in my digital life.

For anyone curious about this strategy, I recommend checking out tools like SimpleLogin or Firefox Relay. They make it easy to route multiple private aliases through your real inbox without revealing your primary email.

Jeff Mains, Founder and CEO, Champion Leadership Group

Intentionally Corrupt Your Digital Profile

Thought I’d toss in a perspective on online privacy that most folks don’t talk about, but should.

Most people obsess over incognito mode or VPNs, but honestly? One of the smartest and least-discussed ways to protect your online privacy is to mess with the algorithm on purpose.

Every platform — from Amazon to Google to Instagram — builds a behavioral profile based on your browsing patterns. What you click, how long you pause to read something, even the speed at which you scroll — it’s all fair game. So one step I recommend: intentionally corrupt your digital profile. Click on stuff you don’t care about. Search for things that have nothing to do with your real interests. Watch a bunch of videos in another language. Act unpredictable. The less coherent your profile, the less useful (and profitable) it is to ad networks and data brokers.

Think of it like digital camouflage. You’re not hiding in the woods — you’re throwing bright paint all over the forest so they can’t tell where the trees even start.

As for a resource, I always recommend PrivacyGuides.org. It’s not fear-mongering, it’s practical. They break down tools for everything — secure browsers, email providers, metadata-free messaging. It’s curated by people who really care about this stuff and aren’t trying to sell you anything.

Derek Pankaew, CEO & Founder, Listening.com

Practice Browser Compartmentalization

Switch to browser compartmentalization. Most people focus on blocking trackers or using incognito mode, but the more strategic move is to compartmentalize your online behavior across different browsers or browser profiles.

For example, you can choose to use one browser only for banking and sensitive logins, another for day-to-day browsing, and a third for social media or research. This isolates cookies, login states, and browser fingerprints, making it far harder for advertisers, data brokers, or even malicious actors to stitch together your digital footprint.

I’ve personally tested this method across dozens of configurations, and the privacy gains are real. It’s like giving each “version” of you its own sandbox. If one gets compromised, it doesn’t spill into the rest.

One resource I’d recommend is Privacy Guides (privacyguides.org). It is a non-commercial, community-driven site that goes beyond generic advice. It offers up-to-date, vetted tools and clear explanations for people at all levels, including developers and business owners who want to harden their online practices without falling into the “tin foil hat” trap.

Mitchell Cookson, Co-Founder, AI Tools

Utilize a Password Manager

I would always suggest beginning with something practical, like using a password manager to generate and save unique passwords for each account. One of the most common errors is using the same password on numerous websites, often tens or dozens of them. When a single site is hacked, all accounts using the same password are at risk. With a password manager, you create random strings that no one can guess, and you never have to remember them yourself. It eliminates the habit of recycling passwords and lowers the risks of mass identity theft.

I would recommend reading the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s Surveillance Self-Defense guide to those who would like to learn more about the bigger picture of online privacy. It takes the reader through the steps to achieve secure communication, setting up devices, and addressing the not-so-obvious risks that most professionals ignore. It is formulated in simple terms yet provides insight into the way various tools interact, thus it is a very good starting point for creating safer digital habits.

Yad Senapathy, Founder & CEO, Project Management Training Institute (PMTI)

Encrypt Internet Traffic with VPN

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is one foolproof measure that can be taken to safeguard your privacy over the internet on a regular basis. A VPN encrypts your connection to the internet to hide your activity from third parties such as hackers or ISPs. It is particularly necessary when using public Wi-Fi, as these networks are usually targeted by cybercriminals.

That being said, I can suggest visiting the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) webpage. The EFF offers extensive handbooks and resources devoted to web privacy, including all the essentials of online privacy, such as encryption and secure browsing. I would highly recommend their guide on Surveillance Self-Defense as a starting point for learning about privacy risks and how to reduce those risks. I have used their recommendations over the years and have found them immensely helpful in allowing me to practice privacy as I navigate the digital world.

Mircea Dima, CTO / Software Engineer, AlgoCademy

Clear Cookies and Control Tracking

I suggest you begin with your web browser, as it gathers and disseminates much more information than the average person suspects. Switching to a search engine that does not log or track your searches, like DuckDuckGo, is an instant improvement in reducing the volume of data associated with your profile. Combine that with privacy-oriented browser extensions such as uBlock Origin or Privacy Badger to ensure that invisible trackers do not follow your steps across websites. Such minor adjustments minimize what advertisers and data brokers can create about you, thus decreasing the likelihood of its sale, leakage, and/or misuse.

To learn more, I would refer you to the blog of Proton called Privacy Decrypted. They are a firm that specializes in encrypted email and VPN services, and the site maintains a blog that describes complex topics in simple terms, such as why metadata is important and how governments and corporations collect and utilize browsing information. It is one of the few resources that bridges the gap between daily routines, such as using public Wi-Fi or cloud storage, and the grander schemes of surveillance and data mining. The step-by-step guides they provide help you understand how changes in each of their settings actually protect you, so you are not simply taking advice blindly but are actually seeing how it works to keep you safe.

Marta Pawlik, Creative Director, Interior Designer, Co-Founder & Director, Laik

Be Cautious with Smartphone Photos

One simple but powerful step to protect your privacy online is to regularly clear cookies and browsing data and control your tracking settings. Cookies can store information about your browsing habits, and many websites use them to track your activity across the web without you realizing it. By clearing them frequently and adjusting your browser’s tracking settings, you reduce the amount of personal data that’s collected and limit targeted advertising or profiling. From a web strategy perspective, this also helps you understand how companies can handle user data responsibly.

For anyone looking to dive deeper into online privacy, I recommend Mozilla’s Privacy & Security resources as they offer clear, practical guidance on protecting your data online. Taking these steps gives you more control over your digital footprint and helps keep your information safer from unwanted tracking or misuse.

Sara Cooper, Director of Web Strategy, BigChange

Regularly Audit Your Digital Footprint

Every photo you take is location and time-stamped. Most people don’t realize this creates serious privacy and security risks. That’s only one reason why I refuse to use smartphones.

If you insist on using a smartphone, consider a Pixel running GrapheneOS or a de-Googled phone. The Rob Braxman Tech YouTube channel has many videos about online privacy for all levels of expertise.

During home appraisals for refinancing, appraisers should use cameras rather than smartphones. Mortgage companies are targets for hackers. If geotagged smartphone photos of your belongings end up in a data breach, thieves can see exactly where items are located.

These devices can analyze your facial expressions and tone of voice to determine your mood. They also record everything you do and everywhere you go. This creates significant potential for invasive surveillance, emotional manipulation, and data exploitation.

Many people download apps without researching the creators. At minimum, limit what you permit apps to access. Most of them want data they don’t need to provide the services you want. That data is valuable if they sell it!

For those not already online, consider not using your real name and birth date. And most of all, remember that anything you put online can live there forever — even if you deleted it. Deletion only removes it from your view. You never know what the site it was on retains or sells.

I feel sorry for young people who publish what they shouldn’t. It could cost them opportunities for the rest of their lives. Help them understand why sharing everything they do is a bad idea, especially if they’re admitting to illegal activities. And we never know what might be illegal in the future.

Gail Gardner, Small Business Marketing Strategist, GrowMap

Block Ads and Trackers with PiHole

One essential step to protect your privacy online is to use a reputable Virtual Private Network (VPN) whenever you access the internet, especially on public or unsecured networks. A VPN encrypts your internet traffic, masking your IP address and shielding your online activity from hackers, advertisers, and even your internet service provider. It adds a critical layer of protection that prevents your data from being tracked, intercepted, or exploited.

Craig Bird, Managing Director, CloudTech24

Use a VPN for Encrypted Connections

The average person’s online presence consists of social media accounts, content, and public traces — news clippings, employer sites, and public records on people search/white pages websites, for example.

These data sources make up a person’s digital footprint — records and identities on the internet associated with a specific person. The larger your digital footprint, the more public information about you is available.

In almost all cases, if your privacy is invaded, your digital footprint is probably involved. For example:

  • Your house is robbed while you’re posting about your overseas holiday
  • Your email address is listed on a public directory, flooding your inbox with spam
  • Your family, friends, or employer are identified publicly and subsequently targeted by people impersonating you by leveraging your digital footprint
  • In the event your account is breached, your private digital footprint can be used to extort you, impersonate you, or target your friends and family with scams

Beyond this, big tech companies, governments, and data brokers all have well-documented histories of implementing, building, or running surveillance systems.

People need to thoroughly audit and review their digital footprint on a regular basis. If a piece of content (or even messages) is older than a few months, it’s unlikely anyone will see it unless they have a motive for doing so. More often than not, that motive will not be in your best interests.

This is why we built the only platform that lets you scan, review, and bulk delete content and messages on your social media platforms.

Additionally, people should consider implementing the following to keep their digital footprint and privacy as secure as possible:

  • Always use 2-factor authentication
  • Use pseudonyms where possible
  • Use multiple email inboxes for accounts (the more the merrier)
  • If you need to send something sensitive, use a platform with E2E encryption and ideally self-destructing messages (e.g., Signal)
  • Avoid publicly sharing personal info — especially details about your location or travel plans

Daniel Saltman, Founder & CEO, Redact.dev

Review and Delete Old Online Content

Use a PiHole DNS server to block ads and trackers. This protects privacy for devices on your local network.

If you want to learn more about online privacy, don’t trust commercial and biased security providers but learn from experts on forums like Reddit.

Kristian Van Tuil, Freelance Content Specialist, KCPY