@Caleidanna
Caleidanna wrote:what are the other ways you can actually be safe online?
It all depends on what you're doing and how much you're willing to inconvenience yourself. There's no such thing as being truly safe online, but you can take measures to protect yourself.
For general purpose internet browsing, I recommend the following:
- Using a proper adblocker (not one that lies about what it does or gets paid off by companies) such as Ublock Origin (FireFox), Ublock Origin (Chrome). For a network wide adblocker, I'd suggest setting up pi-hole on a raspberrypi. You should still use a browser adblocker though.
- Using a script blocker NoScript (FireFox), NoScript (Chrome).
- Monitoring and managing what cookies are being stored on your device.
- Minimizing "paper" trails by using one or more of the following when registering for websites/services or posting content.
- Fake information (randomly generated).
- Throw away services like temporary emails, etc.
- Using unique information per domains/services (email, password, username, etc..) so no 2 accounts can be linked together
- Separating your data across domains/services. This could be as simple as not linking your YouTube/Twitch/whatever to your Discord or vice versa or adding your alt account as a friend to your main account.
- Not using IoT (internet of things) devices such as Fridges, thermostats, Amazon Echo & Alexa
- Securing your wifi network and using lan where possible
- Securing any devices connected to your network (or better yet not connecting them in the first place if not necessary or in use)
- Not storing your data in the cloud (the cloud is literally just data center somewhere which is the same as putting your data on someone elses computer). Cimpanies like Apple actively scan files you upload to the cloud under the guise of "safety" but will happy ban you or report you to authorities if they find something they don't like.
- Wiping your devices/hardware before giving it to someone. There's been a few cases where Apple employees have stolen nudes off peoples devices when brought in for repair
Also, assuming you're using Windows, There's also a lot of forensics countermeasures you'd want to employ. I won't go into detail here as that could be it's own topic but I have touched on the subject previously here:
viewtopic.php?f=29&t=7372.
This isn't an exhaustive list or guide and for more specific online activity or other environments you may have to take more precautions.
As you can tell, this is something I have a strong interest in and believe strongly in. I could go on and on but this post is already long enough.
Caleidanna wrote:why is it a bad idea?
For the reasons I listed above. It gives you a false sense of security which makes it more likely that you will do something you shouldn't.
and when it comes to listin' out very useful info, no post is too long to me so if you or anyone else would like to add on i would be in much favor of that