Welcome to the complete index of my Hitchhiker's Guide to Digital Privacy Series. Chapter 1 — The Privacy Problem: Why Your Data Isn’t Safe Anymore Chapter 2 — How I Protect My Digital Life: My Privacy Setup Chapter 3 — The Privacy Starter Pack: Tools Everyone Should Use Chapter 4 — Antivirus in the Modern Age: What Actually Keeps You Safe Chapter 5 — Password Managers: The Only Password Strategy That Works Chapter 6 — 2FA & Passkeys: Modern Authentication Explained Simply Ch

Absolute privacy is a myth ; in today's digital age, it is impossible to be 100% private. However, we can always increase our privacy level. In this blog, we’ve explored various tools and techniques to enhance your digital privacy, from using secure browsers and encrypted email services to protecting your data with VPNs and secure storage solutions. We also covered the importance of using strong passwords, using Signal for private conversations, enabling 2FA, and understandin

Privacy improvements don’t have to be complicated. Some fixes take minutes, and others can be done over the course of a week. This chapter combines fast wins with a simple seven-day upgrade roadmap. Quick Privacy Wins (for Everyday People): These are small steps most people overlook — but fixing them takes only a few minutes and makes a huge difference in protecting your personal data. No tech skills required. 1. Delete Old Accounts You No Longer Use Old accounts still hold y

Let’s dive into some advanced privacy tips that can significantly enhance your digital security. These tips will cover secure data storage, file and media management, DNS options, alternatives to Google Photos, personal media storage using NAS, the 3-2-1 backup rule, and safeguarding against AI-driven data collection. While these might seem a bit advanced, I’ll explain everything in simple terms so you can easily understand and implement these tips. Secure Data Storage and Fi

Representational Picture: Smart Appliances In our quest for convenience, we often overlook the privacy implications of smart appliances. From Smart TVs to Smart Speakers, Smart Cars, and other IoT devices, these gadgets collect a significant amount of data about us. Let's take a closer look at the privacy issues associated with these devices and what you can do to protect yourself. Smart TVs Smart TVs are designed to connect to the internet to provide streaming services, apps

Representational Picture: Secure OS Choosing the right operating system (OS) is crucial for protecting your privacy. Let’s break down how the major OS options fare when it comes to keeping your data private and secure. Windows Windows 11 has become the most privacy-intrusive OS in 2025. With new AI features rolling out, Microsoft is collecting even more data to power these tools. This includes everything from your search history to your location and even your voice interactio

Representational Picture: Secure Browsing Secure Browsing:  Alternatives to Google Chrome Let’s dive into how to browse the internet securely. Most of us use Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge, but from a privacy perspective, these browsers have significant issues. Both collect a lot of data about your browsing habits, which can then be used to target you with ads and even sold to third parties. Privacy-Friendly Browsers For better privacy, consider switching to browsers like Br

Representational Picture: Secure Email Secure Email:  Talking about Proton and Email Aliases Let’s talk about email security. Many of us use Gmail because it’s free and easy, but have you ever wondered why Google offers such a great service for free? It’s because their business model is built on collecting and analysing your data to serve you targeted ads. Every email you send and receive helps Google build a detailed profile about you, which they can then use to make money.

Representational Picture: Secure Messaging Secure Messaging:  WhatsApp vs. Telegram vs. Signal vs. iMessage WhatsApp is everywhere, right? Most of us use it because it’s easy and everyone else is on it. But when we’re sending messages that we want to keep private, should we just go with the flow? This section is all about having a closer look at what happens to our chats on WhatsApp compared to its alternatives, Telegram, Signal and iMessage. While WhatsApp does its job well,

Representational Picture: VPN Virtual Private Network (VPN): Alright, let's dive into Virtual Private Networks, or VPNs. In simple terms, a VPN is a service that protects your internet connection and privacy online. It does this by creating a secure, encrypted tunnel for your data, hiding your IP address, and making your online actions virtually untraceable. What is an IP Address? Think of your IP address like your home address, but for your internet connection. It’s a unique

Representational Picture: 2FA and Passkeys Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) and Passkeys: Alright, let’s talk about two powerful tools that can seriously boost your online security: Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) and Passkeys. Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) 2FA is like adding an extra lock to your door. Even if someone gets your password, they still need a second piece of information to get into your account. This could be a code sent to your phone, an app on your device, or

Representational Picture: Password Managers Let’s face it—remembering passwords for the countless websites and services we use daily is a nightmare. In a world where the most common password is still "123456,"  it’s clear that many of us aren’t taking password security seriously enough. This is where a Password Manager comes to the rescue. If there’s one tool everyone should use, it’s a Password Manager . A Password Manager helps you generate and store strong, unique password

Representational Picture: Antivirus Let’s talk about why having a good antivirus is crucial . Imagine you're browsing the internet or plugging in a USB drive, and suddenly, a nasty malware slips into your system. This can happen in the blink of an eye, and before you know it, your device is infected with viruses, trojans, ransomware, or even botnets. These threats can steal your data, hold your files hostage, or turn your computer into a zombie, controlled by hackers. Stickin

Now that you know why privacy is important, let's dive into some essential privacy tools that can help keep you safe and secure online. Before we delve into all the tools in detail, I want to summarise all the privacy tools I recommend for a common user. Whether you want to stay private without spending a dime or you're ready to invest in premium tools for more control, I’ve got you covered. The first setup includes trusted, free, and mostly open-source tools that offer stron

As a cybersecurity professional, I've developed a robust privacy setup that balances security and convenience. I believe that while achieving perfect privacy is nearly impossible, we can take meaningful steps to protect our digital lives. Here's a glimpse into my personal privacy setup, which you can replicate to enhance your own online security. Antivirus Protection and OS Selection I use Bitdefender Total Security  on my Windows PC. As a gamer, I find it challenging to swit

We are in the digital age in 2025, or later if you are in the future, a time when majority of our life cannot be imagined without mobile phones and internet (and now AI). But with the new advances in technology, the biggest part of our life that takes a hit is data privacy. Especially if you are from India then bad news, our country's rank in data privacy is among the worst in the world . Every click, every app, and every online interaction leaves a digital footprint that can