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Privacy Hardening

Information

Spy Pixels

Passwords

  • never write down your passwords or share it with others!
  • use different passwords for websites and logins
  • change passwords regularly. Always change your password or remove your account if it compromised
  • preferably use passphrases instead of passwords with upper- and lowercase characters, numbers and special characters. Passphrases consist of more than one words and typically compromise 12 or more characters. Any 8 character password can be cracked within seconds!
  • some browsers suggest difficult-to-guess passwords uniquely for a website during the creation of accounts via this website. Use this feature as in most cases the browser will also safely store this password for future use
  • you can check if your password has been compromised with the following website:
  • if you use Safari to store your passwords it will automatically show you which passwords have been compromised. You can check your passwords via the following instructions:
    1. start Safari and select the menu item Safari→Preferences
    2. select the Passwords tab and unlock this windows with your password
    3. check all saved passwords with a yellow warning sign

Browser

  • be very careful enabling cookies! Preferably do not allow the installation of cookies in your browser
  • do not allow websites access to your location, local storage or any devices (camera, microphone)

Disable cross site tracking in Safari:

  1. start Safari app and select the menu item Safari→Preferences
  2. select the Privacy and enable Prevent cross-site tracking
  3. close the preferences window

Block unwanted adds in your browser:

E-mail

  • You can check if e-mail is compromised using this website:
  • Spy pixels can also be used inside e-mails! If your e-mail client allows for automatic loading of remote content these spy pixels are able to report your handling of the e-mail to other parties. In most clients you can turn this feature of remote content off
  • Never click on links inside e-mails. Although the links looks legitimate it could very well lead you to a different Phishing website or plant viruses on your computer

macOS Apple Mail

In Apple Mail you can turn of the automatic loading of remote content via these instructions:

  1. start Mail and select the menu item Mail→Preferences
  2. select the Viewing tab and deselect Load remote content in messages
  3. close the preferences window

If you would like to keep this feature showing you “nicer” looking emails with graphics but still would like to block spy pixels, use the following tool:

Data

  • Always backup your data! You are always responsible for the safety of your data. Store the backup always on a different location then the source data. Also do not blindly trust your companies safety and keep a local copy of your data at home (if permissable).
Last update: 2021-03-02