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Privacy

Articles and tutorials about protecting your privacy. How to share less personal data, how to protect vital information about yourself and the devices you’re using.

tutorial How to allow or stop apps from accessing the microphone in Windows

How to allow or stop apps from accessing the microphone in Windows

Are you using a Windows 10 or Windows 11 computer and want to manage which apps can access your microphone? If that’s the case, this tutorial is for you. I’ll guide you through accessing your computer’s microphone privacy settings and show you how to allow or block apps from using your mic. Whether you want to ensure certain apps aren’t listening in or need
tutorial How to change or remove the SIM PIN code on Android

How to change or remove the SIM PIN code on Android

The SIM card PIN code is meant to protect your data against unauthorized access. Each SIM you insert into a smartphone has a PIN code that you need to enter in order to activate the card. Some mobile providers use standard PIN codes, like 0000 or 1234, for all their SIM cards, while others generate unique PIN codes for each SIM. Whatever the case,
tutorial How to protect your files with Secure Folder on a Samsung Galaxy

How to protect your files with Secure Folder on a Samsung Galaxy

Did you know that Samsung Galaxy smartphones come with a built-in feature called Secure Folder? It’s a neat tool that does a great job at safeguarding your sensitive files and apps, keeping them away from prying eyes. Even if someone gets your smartphone, they won’t be able to see any of the data that’s stored inside your Secure Folder. So, if privacy is something
tutorial How to protect your files with Safe folder on Android

How to protect your files with Safe folder on Android

Are you aware of the Safe folder feature on Android? It’s a powerful tool designed to safeguard your sensitive files from unauthorized access. Imagine lending your phone to someone and not worrying about them stumbling upon your private data. That’s the peace of mind the Safe folder provides. In this guide, I’ll detail how to configure and use Android’s Safe folder. Read on and
tutorial How to lock Incognito tabs in Chrome on Android and iPhone

How to lock Incognito tabs in Chrome on Android and iPhone

If you use the Incognito mode on your Android or iPhone smartphone to browse the web privately, you probably have things in there that you don’t want others to see. In that case, you’ll likely want to protect your Incognito tabs. Fortunately, the Google Chrome app for mobile devices bundles a feature that lets you do exactly that. Here’s how to lock your Incognito
tutorial What is and how to use Personal Vault in OneDrive

What is and how to use Personal Vault in OneDrive

OneDrive is a cloud storage service that lets you store and access your files from any device. One of its best features is the Personal Vault, a secure folder that requires additional authentication to access your most sensitive and important files. In this tutorial post, I’m going to show you how to enable and use OneDrive’s Personal Vault to secure your data, no matter
article 4 tools to lock and password-protect folders in Windows

4 tools to lock and password-protect folders in Windows

It would be great to see Microsoft release a Windows version that allows users to password-protect specific folders that contain sensitive data. However, until that happens, if you want to protect your folders, you must use software created by other companies. Although there are many such apps, they aren’t all friendly to use, and most are also dodgy. I did some research and tested
tutorial How to set a browser proxy server in Windows

How to set a browser proxy server in Windows

Proxy servers are intermediaries between your PC and the internet. When your browser uses a proxy server, the websites you access see the proxy as the actual visitor instead of your computer. This can improve your online privacy and security while also helping you bypass content restrictions on the internet. Enterprises also use proxies in order to monitor, filter, and secure what their employees
tutorial How to set the proxy settings in Windows 11

How to set the proxy settings in Windows 11

Depending on your network, you may need to use a proxy server to browse the web. When you go online, your traffic goes through the proxy server. This allows you to protect your privacy by covering some of your tracks when surfing the web. That’s because the proxy server, which acts as an intermediary between your Windows 11 device and the internet, is used
article What is a VPN? What do VPNs do?

What is a VPN? What do VPNs do?

You’ve probably heard about VPNs, but do you know what a VPN is and what VPNs do? If you’re not already using a VPN service, maybe you should start doing so as soon as possible. You might not see its real value right now, but over time, you will likely acknowledge that VPNs are just as important as your internet connection. In this article,
article What is a proxy server? What are its benefits & drawbacks?

What is a proxy server? What are its benefits & drawbacks?

If you have worked in a corporate network, you’ve probably encountered the term proxy server, and you know that without one, you cannot access websites and services outside the company’s network. However, what exactly are these proxy servers? Should you use one at home? Read this guide to learn why proxy servers are necessary and when you should use a proxy: NOTE: There
tutorial How to allow BitLocker without a compatible TPM chip on Windows

How to allow BitLocker without a compatible TPM chip on Windows

BitLocker is an encryption tool included in Windows that you can use to secure your data on any drive. Although by default, BitLocker requires the presence of a TPM chip in your computer to be able to encrypt the system drive, you can still use it without one. However, for that, you need to explicitly set Windows to allow BitLocker without TPM. In this
tutorial How to disable ads in Windows 11

How to disable ads in Windows 11

Does Windows 11 have ads? Unfortunately, yes, it does: Windows 11, just like Windows 10, is a victim of Microsoft’s quest for pushing ads directly into the core of the operating system. Like it wasn’t enough that we see ads everywhere on the internet, sometimes to the brink of making websites unreadable, or in apps that cover their interface with huge banners that make
tutorial How to add and use a VPN in Windows 11

How to add and use a VPN in Windows 11

Windows 11 has a built-in VPN feature that allows you to add as many VPNs as you wish and connect to them. In this guide, you’ll learn what you need in order to add a VPN connection to Windows 11, how to create a VPN connection, use it, change its settings, and delete it when you no longer want to use it. There’s plenty
tutorial How to use Tracking prevention in Microsoft Edge

How to use Tracking prevention in Microsoft Edge

Have you ever searched for a product online, only to have advertisements for similar products follow you around on completely unrelated sites? This happens because websites track your internet activity through advertising cookies and other means. If you are concerned about privacy, tracking prevention can protect you from websites that collect your data. In this article, we explain what Tracking prevention is in Microsoft
tutorial How to set and configure Location Services in Windows 11

How to set and configure Location Services in Windows 11

Location Services allow for a more personalized experience in Windows 11 by enabling location-based information to be displayed. Precise location means better weather reporting, more relevant local news, and overall greater functionality for apps and Windows. The downside is that by turning on Location Services, you are being tracked, which might be a privacy issue for you. This article teaches you how to enable,
tutorial How to go incognito in Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Opera

How to go incognito in Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Opera

Are you wondering how to go incognito in your web browser and what that means? Incognito Mode is a useful tool that prevents your browser from saving data about you and the websites you visit. While every major browser offers private browsing, the feature comes under different names. It’s named Incognito Mode in Chrome, Microsoft Edge calls it InPrivate, while Opera and Firefox use
tutorial How to configure proxy server settings in Windows 10

How to configure proxy server settings in Windows 10

Windows 10 offers the ability to set a proxy server from its Settings app without the need for third-party software. This feature allows you to protect your online privacy by covering some of your tracks when surfing the web. Furthermore, using a proxy server might be the only way to access the internet in schools or enterprise environments. The proxy server, which acts as