Digital privacy basics

Landwolf Research Group, Inc. · Education material · Free to read, print, and share

A short checklist of habits that help you keep more control over your information online. None of this is a guarantee; it’s about reducing risk and making deliberate choices.

Passwords and accounts

• Use a different password for each important account. A password manager makes this practical.
• Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever it’s offered, especially for email and banking.
• If a service says your data was exposed, change that password and any reuse of it right away.

What you share

• Assume anything you post or send can be copied or stored. Don’t put sensitive details (SSN, health, finances) in chat or email unless you know it’s protected.
• Check privacy settings on social and cloud accounts. Limit who can see your stuff and what apps can access.
• When an app or site asks for permissions (camera, contacts, location), ask why it needs them. Say no when it’s not necessary.

Browsing and devices

• Use HTTPS (the lock icon) when you’re logging in or entering information. Avoid doing sensitive things on public Wi‑Fi if you can.
• Keep your devices and apps updated. Updates often fix security holes.
• If you share a device, use separate accounts or a guest profile so others don’t see your data.

When something feels off

Phishing is when someone tries to get your password or details by pretending to be a company or person you trust. Be suspicious of urgent or threatening messages, odd links, and requests to log in or pay. When in doubt, open the real site or app yourself instead of clicking the link.

Landwolf Research Group, Inc. · landwolfresearchgroup.org · For educational use only.