The Essential Guide to Online Privacy & Security in 2023

​​In a world with increasing tracking and surveillance, online freedom and privacy might seem out of reach.

But, going online doesn’t have to mean being exposed.

Protect Yourself Online and Make Smarter Decisions About the Personal Data You Share

• Encrypt data in motion; stay safe on public and home Wi-Fi
• Secure your online accounts with strong passwords
• Store, share, and delete your files securely and privately
• Protect your smartphone from malware and threats
• Hide your personal and browsing data from snoops and third parties
• Discover best practices for safe social media use

We’re here to help you secure your digital life so you can go online with confidence. Without any prior knowledge or technical background required, this completely free course covers beginner-to-intermediate concepts and solutions for achieving greater online privacy, security, and anonymity.

Privacy habits to keep in public

Learn how to protect your personal data from bluetooth beacons and ultrasonic trackers when you’re out in public. Always on public Wi-Fi? We’ll share tips for preventing third parties from snooping in on your online activity.

Secure your entire home

Understand how a VPN on your home router secures all your internet-connected devices, including smart home appliances.

Own your data

Learn how to protect your data across all your devices with encryption, from file level encryption to full disk encryption methods. Securely store, share, and delete your files—learn how to use OnionShare to share files securely and anonymously.

Protect your online accounts

Understand the importance of setting strong, unique passwords and using multi-factor authentication. We’ll also cover some tips for securing all access points to your online banking and protecting your online accounts after death.

Mobile security

Explore tips and tricks for a safe and private smartphone experience: setting strong authentication methods, avoiding fake apps, understanding app permissions, avoiding spam, identifying signs of malware, and securing your mobile hotspot.

Safer social media usage

Strike a balance between sharing your life and securing it. This final section will help you take back control over your social media accounts. Manage how you share your data and permissions and learn the ways you could be identified through the image metadata of the photos you post online or even through QR codes and vaccine cards.