Yael Grauer‪

I was recently asked for a breakdown of my daily device hygiene, communication stack, and physical safety boundaries, so I wrote about it. These are not my recommendations or options for others, but what I actually do myself.

https://blog.yaelwrites.com/what-my-privacy-and-security-stack-actually-looks-like/

What My Privacy and Security Stack Actually Looks Like

This is what I actually use, as opposed to what I recommend (which usually involves a lot of "it depends").

String Literal
May 27 at 4:04pmWeb
Show threadYael Grauer‪6d ago
The steps I take change depending on my situation, but my goal is always the same: to reduce unnecessary exposure without making my life unworkable. And the most important thing I do isn't technical at all: I pay close attention when something feels urgent, which in itself is a red flag.
Show threadYael Grauer‪6d ago
I don't want to minimize the fact that we're living in a digital world that sets us up for failure. If you've been scammed or hacked, know that you're in the majority. There are systemic issues at play outside of our control. At best, these tips minimize risk, but can never completely prevent it.
Show threadKevin Ashworth4d ago
@yaelwrites
To continue the conversation, please sign up! It’s free to sign up! Simply give us private data about yourself that we do not need and that we will pass along to other entities that do not have your best interests in mind!
Show threadYael Grauer‪4d ago
@kevinashworth huh
Show threadMatt Panaro6d ago
@yaelwrites just real quick, I love the name of your blog 😁
Show threadfoolman5d ago
@yaelwrites I am very similar. There is one exception. I use cash. When I am at a place I do not know I only use cash.
Show threadRuth [☕️ 👩🏻‍💻📚✍🏻🧵🪡🍵]4d ago

@yaelwrites That urgency thing is real though my one near-miss recently was a problem from multi-tasking, which is a bit more embarrassing. But also my antenna hadn't gone up the way they might with urgency.

I was in a meeting, a paperless post invitation came in from someone I know for a party at her house. She's really social, so while we're not close I've been a guest in her house before.

Clicked it, tried to login with google, got google auth form... nearly authed... saw URL was wrong.

Show threadRuth [☕️ 👩🏻‍💻📚✍🏻🧵🪡🍵]4d ago
@yaelwrites the meeting was just boring enough that I was happily banging out other stuff but not paying it that real attention I should when logging into things, especially if not prompted through my own initiative.
Show threadPoindex763d ago

@yaelwrites

Thanks for sharing. What confounds me is when a paid data removal service requires me to upload more private information, like my DL. They say some data collection sites need it to verify that I am, indeed, the owner of the data. So far, I have resisted. Does EasyOptOuts ask for that, too?

Show threadYael Grauer‪3d ago

@Poindex76 There are two options: 1) don't give people data unless you know they already have it. 2) give them data in order to remove what they have, even if they may not have it. they are not supposed to store it but might bc of poor data hygiene

in BADBOOL, I recommend 1, but I also pay for EasyOptOuts, which does 2

Show threadBen Evans2d ago
@yaelwrites This is a superb piece - thank you!