Simple online privacy guide
Tags: howto, tracking, privacy
Published: 2021-02-11 07:42:47

# 1. Situation
 
You need to read about the world every day to know stuff. Sometimes, newspaper in 'paper' don't available at the moment. So, you need to read online. 

News outlet, big-tech (Google, Facebook), Government (ISP, government-backed new outlet) want to gather as much data about you. 

# 2. The risk

can ranging from You can be shown with 'best ads for you, bank rate your 'credit score' based on browsing history, or government rate you as 'not reliable' because you keep reading gossip news rather than science article.

So, you need to prevent that before real consequence hit you.

# 3. My guide on anti-track

I have sort in order from riskiest (DNS).

## 3.1 Set Domain Name System (DNS) with 1.1.1.1

**Risk** DNS help your PC convert domain name (example: facebook.com) to ip address (like 69.171.250.35). By default, DNS traffic over internet is not encrypted, anyone who see the traffic can read the content. Now your Internet Service Provider (ISP) know that you are browsing Facebook. Government-backed ISP may rate you as 'lazy, unreliable' because you are browsing Facebook all day instead of working. It will be worst if they know to get into some anti-government websites, not serious to get you jailed, but serious enough to prevent you from get into important government jobs, should you apply in the future. 

**Solution:** Install [1.1.1.1](https://1.1.1.1/). Yes the address is 1.1.1.1. Install and it just works, as simple as turn on the switch. No config need on Windows/Mac/Android/iOS. 

## 3.2 Dedicate browser for reading/browsing news

Chrome is on with built-in spyware. Use [Firefox](https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/), [Vivaldi](https://vivaldi.com/), [Brave](https://brave.com/)

Do not login anything, no Gmail, Facebook in this dedicate browser so you do not associate your reading habit (in case browser failed to prevent tracking) to your profile. 

Factory reset the browser after each reading session. If you are not lazy, reset every you change to new outlet (after read NYTime, reset, then read The Guardian).
 
## 3.3 Anti-tracking plugin

Install anti-tracking plugin. This is my choice [uBlock](https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock), [Ghostery](https://www.ghostery.com/), [DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials](https://github.com/duckduckgo/duckduckgo-privacy-extension)

## 3.4 Privacy search engine

If you use Google, and also login Google, you can access your search history in your Google Account. History also show up in your Android Phone. Quite convenient until someone else have it.

I suggest [DuckDuckGo](https://duckduckgo.com/), they are a new search engine by themselves. I like DuckDuckGo a lot. They are as fast as Google. Results are good enough for my developing need.  

If you still want power of Google, use [Startpage](https://www.startpage.com/). StartPage outsource result from Google. They have servers in US/EU, so you may experience slow load speed from Asia.

[Ecosia](https://www.ecosia.org/) outsource result from Bing. 

## 3.5 VPN 

VPN help you hide all your activity from your ISP. It is costly ... as much as < 10$ per month. Do not use free VPN. Always choice VPN provider that do not have Free Plan. 

I suggest Mullvad (I put no referee URL here, use DuckDuckGo for URL please).

You don't need VPN unless you are reading sensitive news (politic, human right ...). If you are not sure, then use VPN.