Cybersecurity/Privacy is too broad and complex of a topic to cover effectively here (people spend lifetimes learning those topics). But here are some quick and dirty tips:
- Messaging/Calls: Call and message on Signal. It is an encrypted app which will make your communications more secure. Download here: https://signal.org/download/
- Emails: Use Tuta. It is an encrypted email. So long as you are emailing with a fellow Tuta mail user, your email communication is encrypted and as safe as email can be. You can create a free account and you should encourage anyone you are organizing with to create a Tuta account as well. Get a free Tuta email account here: https://tuta.com/
- Do not use Protonmail. While it is also encrypted, under Swiss law it logs and surrenders IP addresses along with some more technical concerns which make it appear that some government (like the USA’s) may have a backdoor into Proton.
- VPNs: Use Mulvad. Your internet service provider (ISP) responds to a government request to monitor what you do on the internet. You can limit what they could provide by using a VPN (virtual private network). It basically encrypts your requests and sends it through a different server so your ISP has no information on what you did online. Get it here: https://mullvad.net/en
- Do not use any free VPNs. They are free because they are: putting malware on your device and/or sharing your data with the government.
- Browser: Use DuckDuckGo. Your browser monitors everything you do. Chrome knows where you are, where you’re logged in, and absolutely will share everything you’ve ever done on the internet with the government. Everything – even in Incognito Mode. Get it here: https://duckduckgo.com/duckduckgo-help-pages/get-duckduckgo/browser
- Chrome and Edge are the absolute worst at this. And yes I recognize the irony of sharing this as a Googledoc while railing against Google – you have to meet the people where they are and 92% of Americans use Google.
- Apps: Remove as many from your phone as you can. Most are selling your data and cooperating with ICE. The fewer apps on your phone the better.
- Phone: Pixel running GrapheneOS. There are no truly secure phones, but a Pixel running GrapheneOS is the best option available to the general public. At a very high level it replaces the Google operating system on the phone with a security based one that does not leak data or allow apps to talk to one another without your permission. You can learn more here: https://grapheneos.org/
NOTE: The US Government will always be able to monitor you, if your threat level is higher and you need to discuss accessing the internet, how to get a burner phone, or other cybersecurity concerns, either call me: Drew Vaughn at 813-997-2479 or get yourself a copy of The Art of Invisibility by Kevin Mitnick then combine his recommendations in Chapter 16 with the information above and/or your own cybersecurity studies.