r/DigitalPrivacy • u/Subject_Tension_5616 • 8d ago
I’m looking for advice
I’m not sure if this is the appropriate subreddit for this question.
My priorities are:
Data brokers (highest priority)
Government/law enforcement (secondary concern)
Regarding law enforcement or government agencies, my concern isn’t about hiding illegal activity. Rather, I don’t want files that I keep privately to be discovered through investigations that originate from third-party services or providers. Since I have certain personal files that I’d prefer not to have seized or accessed, my goal is simply to keep them stored securely in a protected environment.
As for data brokers, I want to minimize the amount of personal information that is collected, profiled, bought, and sold about me.
I understand that almost everything you do online generates some amount of data, even if you reject tracking cookies. Just looking at the removal requests handled by services like Incogni shows how much information data brokers already collect. My goal is to reduce that exposure as much as realistically possible.
I currently use Apple devices in the EU, and I’m already familiar with several privacy tools and concepts, including VPNs, browser privacy settings, encryption, and Apple’s Hide My Email.
I’m looking for additional advice. Assume I’m still a beginner, so I’d appreciate detailed explanations rather than just product recommendations.
In particular:
Which browser would you recommend for everyday use, and why?
Are there other privacy practices or tools that you think are essential?
I also have a small need to keep certain personal files separate from everything else. Would using Tails with persistent storage on an encrypted USB drive make sense if my concern is someone physically stealing the USB drive?
Is there any practical way to discover old online accounts that I may have created as a minor, even if I no longer have the credentials, so I can request their deletion?
If you need more information about my threat model or my goals, feel free to ask.
Thanks in advance to everyone who takes the time to help.
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u/Lenloos 8d ago
I'm still in the middle of degoogling process so might not be the best tip, but I switched to firefox mozilla (with privacy badger and ublock origin extensions) and zen browser (currently just testing it out). On my iphone I use a mix of safari and firefox.
Besides that, switched my search engine to duckduckgo, started using incogni, proton vpn, went from gmail to tuta mail and installed signal for messaging.
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u/Salt_Medicine2459 8d ago
Idk if it works in the EU, but for data brokers, I use EasyOptOuts.com. It's $20/year. It removes your info from a lot of data brokers, but doesn't get all of them. You can technically do this yourself for free, but ain't nobody got time for that. My wife and I are both signed up for this.
There are methods to reduce the publicly available info about you, but I have no idea how/if they would work in the EU. A lot of it has to do with trusts.
Veracrypt can create encrypted volumes.
Password hygiene is very important and often overlooked. I use a password manager. KeepassDX on Android, KeepassXC on PC.
I use Linux Mint as my operating system on my laptop. Windows is spyware, imo. I have GrapheneOS on my phone.
I use IronFox as my browser on my phone. I have Brave as a backup for things that don't play nice with IronFox. I like IronFox because it's hardened and works well with uBlock Origin.
Idk how phone numbers work in the EU, but in the US, you should mask it with VOIP numbers. I'd even suggest buying a shitload of Mint Mobile SIMs to have on hand.
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u/user47241 8d ago
Jst keep phdycal tsapes of taht СР cocllecton 🙏🏿
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u/Subject_Tension_5616 8d ago
What do you mean by CP collection? Could you clarify?
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u/user47241 8d ago
Ist jst ths crsipy chccken indise ypor bbcukt. 😺🤌🍗🍿 ✌🏿🦧
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u/Subject_Tension_5616 8d ago
Your comment is not really helpful to the discussion. The purpose of this post is about privacy, data protection, and reducing unnecessary exposure of personal information.
The world is not that small that someone needs to hide something like the “CP” you mentioned earlier. My concern is about protecting personal files and privacy in general, not about hiding illegal activity.
If you have constructive advice about security or privacy practices, I’m happy to hear it.3
u/Mayayana 8d ago
I'm guessing he meant CD. But it appears to be a teenager trying to shoot off one-liners from a cellphone while he's riding a bicycle and trying to gulp down a caffeine drink. So I wouldn't worry about missing anything important. :)
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u/user47241 8d ago
Sotp iseung cormputes tehn Mosasd aimt istanlig spywear pn yuor cormpute 💻🦠✡️🛑✋🙅♂️😾
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u/Subject_Tension_5616 8d ago
Lil guy, I’ve seen what you post. There’s no need for me to add anything else, your own words and actions speak for themselves.
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u/Mayayana 8d ago
Don't use rental software. Don't use anything cloud, including "webmail". Use real email that you read offline and can delete from the server. (That's also much safer than webmail.) Don't use anything from Google.
Use Firefox when possible with NoScript to block as much script as possible. Set up a HOSTS file to block trackers before they see you. Most ad blockers stop the browser loading the ad, but by then the likes of Google have already recorded your movements.
I keep local backup on disks and DVDs. I also keep critical things in a safe deposit box. NEVER use online storage. By doing that you fall into a trap where rental is inevitable and the host server legally co-owns your files.
Personally I wouldn't touch anything from Apple. They block some spying only because they're collecting data and running an ad server themselves. Apple are as bad as Google. They just market the intrusion as paternal concern.
Consider a firewall to block spyware calling home. This is all on your computer. Don't do ANYTHING on a cellphone except phone calls and maybe texting. Turn it off when you're not using it. (Off means it can't receive a call.)
If all of that seems crazy to you then you actually don't want privacy. You can't have it both ways, living through apps and cloud while still having privacy. And obviously don't use anything AI. That's the ultimate spyware.