New Year’s cleaning also means getting your personal cybersecurity in check. We asked our web developer some of our top cybersecurity questions to help us safely and virtually navigate 2021:

What type of search engine should we be using? (So, you know, we don’t get *completely* followed around the web?)
Try a search engine that prioritizes user privacy. DuckDuckGo is a pretty good option for this. It doesn’t profile its users, so there are no personalized search results.

What types of software are best for those strengthen their personal cybersecurity?
Use free (as in libre), open-source software and open, standard formats. This will help you avoid adware, shareware, crippleware, and more. 

What about that pesky hard drive? How can we protect that?
Encrypt your hard drive. Use the GNU Privacy Guard (GnuPG), which allows you to encrypt and sign your data and communications.

There was also an increased focus on messaging safety this year. Can you recommend a messaging app with an emphasis on privacy?
Signal. It’s an open-source messaging and phone platform that uses end-to-end encryption to secure users’ conversations.

What’s your main takeaway for the average person looking to lighten their digital footprint?
If you don’t know what tool to use or want to check up on the privacy of tools you’re already using, check PrivacyTools. You can search web browsers, software, operating systems, and more, and cross-check to see which private or state-sponsored organizations might be using them to monitor and record online activities. Overall, it’s about protecting your privacy against global mass surveillance. If you care about such things.