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What every browser knows about you

I forget if I've posted this before and I can't be bothered to double check at the moment -- but if I have, it's a good reminder now anyway to protect your privacy online with simple tweaks to your browser and browsing habits. For those working at public wifi spots (like a hotel lobby or a cafe), a VPN is always a good first line of defense but even then sometimes you are left open to insecure networks and protocols. On top of that, phishing and click jacking is still a big problem and your browser basically can help make those situations much worse by essentially giving away your information.

Here's a site that tells you everything your browser reveals about you to the internet.

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How to Get Past Customs Without Giving Up Your Digital Privacy | WIRED

If customs officials do take your devices, don’t make their intrusion easy. Encrypt your hard drive with tools like BitLocker, TrueCrypt, or Apple’s Filevault, and choose a strong passphrase. On your phone—preferably an iPhone, given Apple’s track record of foiling federal cracking—set a strong PIN and disable Siri from the lockscreen by switching off “Access When Locked” under the Siri menu in Settings.

Remember also to turn your devices off before entering customs: Hard drive encryption tools only offer full protection when a computer is fully powered down. If you use TouchID, your iPhone is safest when it’s turned off, too, since it requires a PIN rather than a fingerprint when first booted, resolving any ambiguity about whether border officials can compel you to unlock the device with a finger instead of a PIN—a real concern given that green card holders are required to offer their fingerprints with every border crossing.

 

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