- Avoid all Windows operating systems, because they are difficult or even impossible to secure.
- Use Libre Office instead of Microsoft Office or Google Docs.
- Use Thunderbird instead of Microsoft Outlook.
- Avoid third-party cloud services such as Google Drive, Microsoft Azure, DropBox, Apple iCloud, and the like. Using these services means that your personal and private data is on a remote server beyond your direct control. Use a local backup solution instead.
- Apple macOS is highly recommended, or load a good Linux desktop distribution like Ubuntu Desktop or Mint on your existing PC hardware.
- If you’re using macOS, make sure your firewall is enabled and you know how to configure it.
- Avoid Android-based phones. Use properly configured Apple iPhones (iOS) only.
- Avoid any Internet browser that uses Google Chromium at their core. This includes Chrome, Microsoft Edge, DuckDuckGo, Opera and Brave. We’ve found that Chromium is not secure and tends to watch you. FireFox is our browser of choice. Safari is also highly recommended.
- The Brave browser isn’t as secure as their marketing suggests. Please see this link for more information. Brave also attempts to replace the pop-ups on our home page with curated advertisements, effectively blocking the login process.
- Serious security flaws have been documented with Arris, Asus, AVM, Edimax, D-Link, Linksys, Netgear, Synology, and TP-Link Internet routers. Make sure your router has all the latest updates. Contact the router’s manufacturer or your Internet service provider for help. You may need an up-to-date router to be as secure as possible.
- The DuckDuckGo and Brave search engines aren’t any more private than other popular search engines, despite their marketing claims. We’re currently researching viable alternatives. Startpage is showing promise.
- Avoid using VPN services because they are often not secure. A Proxy service might be a better choice if anonymity is desired.
- Use ClamXAV Anti-Virus.
- Avoid visiting questionable websites to avoid possible viruses and trojans.
- Use secure email service from StartMail. Free email services from Google, Microsoft, Google, Yahoo, AOL, and the like are not secure. We have been or are being actively blocked by Microsoft, AT&T, Comcast, Reagan.com, and many others. We suggest you use different domains to sign up for our subscriptions and updates that do not censor or block the content you wish to receive.
- Avoid unsecured public Wi-Fi.
- Always keep your computer and mobile phone operating systems and applications up-to-date.
