Online Privacy Archives

In Pro-Privacy Tools to Use When You Are Planning to Work from Home (Part 1), I talked about few tools on video conferencing and other related devices on promoting privacy when communicating with teammates. Now, I will discuss options related to web browsers, email apps, chat apps, and many others. Let’s get right into it!

Web Browsers:

Well, for browsers, there are a number of pro-privacy tools you can use like Vivaldi, Brave, or Firefox. Plus, whatever browse you end up choosing, you can still add the DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials extension on your desktop browser.
Not only that, if you are more of a mobile user than a desktop users, there’s also the DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser, which is downloadable on both Google Play and AppStore. The great thing about this mobile browser is that it has a “fire” button that will instantly clear all logs, history, and activities on the browser.

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)

To be honest, this is kinda tricky. VPN is used to secure your internet traffic by masking your IP address. However, it does not mean that you are invisible to everyone. Remember, with or without VPN, your internet service providers can still see your traffic. Personally, I would NOT want to recommend a free VPN service. The same is stated on a CNET article right here.
Just to make it clear: VPN is not all you need to remain private or anonymous on the web. For an expert advice regarding Cybersecurity and anything related to IT Consulting, I suggest you contact Omnipotech’s Support Center or call 281-768-4800. Again, your Internet Service Provider can still monitor your internet activity and your IP address. I have made a separate post on the factors in choosing the right VPN for you so be sure to check that out!

Email Service Providers:

You are not stuck with Gmail and Yahoo! Mail. In fact, there are far more options for you because there are truly pro-privacy email apps out there. Let’s start with ProtonMail and TutaNota. Both are paid versions, but you can use their free account with limited features. Moreover, both offer end-to-end encryption and the only difference? TutaNota servers are based in Germany while ProtonMail is based in Switzerland. For a US alternative, Fastmail is an option to explore. They have data centers in Manhattan, New York and Bridgewater, New Jersey.

Chat Apps:

When you want to keep in touch with family and friends, Signal is the ideal tool for private messages and calls. Every message and every call is secured by an end-to-end encryption. Signal is recommended by the one and only Edward Snowden. If Edward Snowden is NOT enough to convince you, I don’t know what will.
If you want a business alternative, maybe you would want to check out MatterMost. For starters, it has layered security options and TLS encryption. Multi-factor authentication is also added for more security.

Conclusion

Google is not only the search engine out there. In these difficult times, you should not compromise your privacy and security just because of newly discovered disease. Things, like COVID-19, are beyond one’s control, and to be honest, all we can do is trust our medical experts and stop the spread of fake news. Help protect yourself – and your family as well – by following these 4 Tips in Protecting Yourself from Coronavirus Phishing Sites

If you are working from home since the COVID-19 outbreak, this new work arrangement may seem unfamiliar to you. Don’t worry, I will share to you some helpful tools during this coronavirus pandemic. You can still collaborate with your staff while working far from each other. Thankfully, platforms like – DuckDuckGo – are advocates of privacy so let’s get into some serious business without exactly exposing your identity online. The tools listed below will help you protect your privacy during these difficult times.

Video Calls

First on the list are video conferencing recommendations. Of course, team collaboration won’t happen if you don’t talk to your team. Nowadays, Zoom.us has been a popular choice, but is it safe? On March 30, 2020, the FBI reported about that users complained about being hijacked during their Zoom teleconference. A high school based in Massachusetts stated that an unknown person joined in an online class. Thus, the term “zoom-bombing” was coined. So, what are the alternatives for this?

Facetime
- This ain’t something foreign to you, but Facetime offeres end-to-end encryption as stated on Apple’s list of privacy features. On all devices, Apples ensures end-to-end encryption on the messages and calls on iMessage and FaceTime. Additionally, Apple stayed that FaceTime and Group FaceTime calls are NOT stored on their servers.
Microsoft Teams
- If there’s Apple, Microsoft also has an entry with the help of Microsoft Teams. On April 6, 2020, Microsoft reiterated its privacy and security features. According to the said blog post, Microsoft Teams “encrypts data in transit and at rest.”
Jami
- Jami is a cross platform alternative, making it available to Windows, MacOS, Android, and even Linux users. In their website, Jami is direct in saying that it is private and anonymous. Communications made within Jami are end-to-end encrypted. Moreover, they do NOT require any personal information from anyone when signing up for an account.
PRO-TIP: Just because these tools say that it is protects your provacy and offers strong encryption, it doesn’t mean you won’t apply your own precautionary measures. Please do mute or turn off any smart devices during your company calls. For sure, you wouldn’t want Alexa, Cortana, or any smart assistant eavesdroping while you make calls.

Webcam Covers

Video conference won’t be complete without webcams. Sadly, hackers can get into your computers and spy through the webcam on your computer. They send seemingly harmless emails your way when, in fact, these are attempts to install malware on your email. Read more on Beware of Coronavirus Scams and Other Related Malicious Sites

To avoid any malicious programs entering your computer, a webcam cover can help with this ordeal. You can opt use a sticker laying around your desk, a stocky note you have, or a masking tape, or any tape really. These are your FREE options.

But of course, if you want a sturdy and reliable cover, there are webcam sliders or sliders you can easily buy online. Lastly, thanks to DuckDuckGo for providing a list of pro-privacy tools for everyone to use.

Next? Pro-Privacy Tools to Use When You Are Planning to Work from Home (Part 2)

Posts