Protecting Online Privacy: Tools and Alternatives

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The chapter explores various tools for safeguarding online privacy, emphasizing VPNs, masked credit card platforms, and alternative search engines. The speaker discusses their shift to subscription-based search engines like Brave Search and DuckDuckGo due to privacy concerns with Google, recommending browsers like Brave and Start Page for enhanced privacy features. Additionally, privacy issues related to Google, GDPR, and email services are discussed, with a focus on the importance of choosing companies that prioritize user privacy, like ProtonMail.

Technology journalist and data privacy expert Naomi Brockwell explains the complexities of online privacy and the ever-expanding reach of both government and corporate surveillance. The “if you've got nothing to hide, you've got nothing to fear” mindset accepted by much of the American public is, best-case scenario, a sign a great privilege and comfort and, worst-case scenario, full-blown head-in-the-sand denial of reality. Almost every device, app, and wifi network you use sends out an unimaginable amount of data all the time. Data brokers sell your information to whoever is willing to pay, and you can be sure that governments are some of their most reliable customers. Naomi shares tons of practical strategies that almost anyone can implement to protect their privacy, money, and freedom while online.

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Check out Naomi’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NaomiBrockwellTV

Naomi’s video on reverse firewalls: https://youtu.be/_0EiqiPuR4Q?si=s71q45bLXTiUj4co

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Outline:

[0:00] Is privacy possible anymore?

[3:55] History of American privacy rights

[13:39] The “I have nothing to hide” fallacy

[21:49] Google gives away your data for free

[29:45] Resist anti-privacy fear-mongering

[34:22] Not all VPNs are created equal

[39:59] How to make secure credit card payments