Basic security

OK, here are some quick notes about things you should do to get a basic level of privacy:

  • Signal. This is a smart phone application that let’s you encrypt your calls and text messages. Its on IOS and Android and super easy. If you are a geek, then you can also try ChatSecure, the same idea, but uses an open source library called OTR and routes through the TOR network. Whew. Of course I don’t have anyone who I can actually chat with.
  • Hard disk encryption. Turn on FileVault on your Mac, BitKeeper (I think on Windows) or Ubuntu disk protection (you need to reinstall though for that).

  • Password Manager. KeePassX is free open source, but I like 1Password even though it is closed source because it works well with browsers.

  • Two Factor authentication. This is a pain to setup, but it makes it very hard to crack since the attacker needs your cell phone. Google, Amazon and Dropbox all have it.

  • Tor Browser. A complete pain to use and slow, but it is safer. 

  • Ad Blockers. Mainly so folks can’t track you.

  • VPNs. PrivateInternetAccess works well for me. 

 
Then there are some experimental ideas:

  • Qubes. It uses Xen to be a security oriented hypervisor

I’m Rich & Co.

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