Technology
11 easy ways to protect your online privacy in 2025
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Privacy is getting harder to protect in a world where everything is connected.
Whether you’re chatting with an AI, checking your email or using your smartphone, your personal information is constantly being collected, tracked and sometimes even sold.
But protecting your privacy in 2025 doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With a few practical steps, you can take back control of your data and make your online life safer. This guide walks you through 11 easy ways to get started.
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Scrabble pieces form the word “SCAM.” (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
1. Don’t overshare: Even with AI tools like ChatGPT
AI chatbots like ChatGPT are useful, but they’re not private journals. The platform owners may have privacy policies and use the latest security measures, but that doesn’t mean you should let your guard down. When using these tools, refrain from sharing any personal information, such as your name, address, birthdate, passwords, financial details or sensitive conversations. Remember that AI systems store and process your inputs, and despite security promises, data breaches can occur.
SCAMMERS CAN EXPLOIT YOUR DATA FROM JUST 1 CHATGPT SEARCH
Tip: Treat all online forms of AI interaction like public forums. Keep your examples generic and use caution with anything that could identify you.
If you’re going to input your personal information while using these AI tools, ensure there is an option to prevent them from sharing it. On ChatGPT, for instance, do the following:
- Go to Settings.
- Click Data controls.
- Tap Improve the model for everyone.
Steps to prevent ChatGPT from sharing your personal information (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
- Toggle off Improve the model for everyone.
- Click Done.
Steps to prevent ChatGPT from sharing your personal information (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Why it matters: AI tools may seem personal, but they’re not secure vaults. Guarding what you share helps prevent misuse, identity theft or data leaks from breaches.
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2. Use alias email addresses
Your email is often the key to your online identity and a common target for spam. By creating disposable email aliases that forward messages to your main inbox, you can keep your real address hidden from websites and services. These unique aliases act as shields, so if one starts getting spammed or is involved in a data breach, you can simply deactivate it without affecting your main email account.
My top recommendation to avoid being inundated with spam emails is to use an alias email address. An alias email address is an additional email address that can be used to receive emails in the same mailbox as the primary email address. It acts as a forwarding address, directing emails to the primary email address.
In addition to creating throwaway email accounts for online sign-ups and other circumstances where you would not want to disclose your primary email address, alias email addresses are helpful for handling and organizing incoming communications.
Sometimes, it’s best to create various email aliases so that you don’t have to worry about getting tons of spam mail or having your information taken in a data breach. An alias email address is a great way for you to stop receiving constant spam mail by simply deleting the email alias address. See my review of the best secure and private email services here.
Why it matters: You stay anonymous, avoid data leaks and never have to change your main email address again.
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3. Take advantage of Facebook’s privacy checkup
Meta frequently updates its privacy settings, so it’s best to check regularly to see how you can improve your privacy. Use Facebook’s Privacy Checkup tool to review and adjust crucial settings, including post visibility, app permissions, search visibility and friend-request settings. This comprehensive tool helps ensure your profile remains as private as you want it to be. You can find the tool by following these steps:
- Log in to your Facebook app on your phone.
- Then click the menu icon in the bottom right.
- Tap Settings.
- Click Privacy Checkup.
Once you open the Privacy Checkup, you’ll be guided through several key areas to customize your privacy preferences and better control your information.
- Who can see what you share: Adjust who can view your posts, photos and profile details to limit access to only people you trust.
- How people can find you on Facebook: Manage who can send you friend requests, look you up using your email or phone number, and decide whether your profile appears in search engines.
- Your data settings on Facebook: Review which apps and websites have access to your Facebook data and remove any you no longer use or trust.
- How to keep your account secure: Set up two-factor authentication, update your password and monitor login alerts to protect your account from unauthorized access.
- Your ad preferences on Facebook: Control how Facebook uses your activity to show you personalized ads and opt out of categories that feel too intrusive.
Quick tip: Set a reminder to run a privacy checkup every few months, especially after major Facebook updates. This way, you’ll always be in control of your information.
Why it matters: Social media platforms thrive on your personal data. Adjusting your settings regularly puts you back in control of what others and Facebook can see and use.
Facebook’s privacy checkup (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
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4. Scrub yourself off the internet automatically
Your name, phone number and home address may already be listed on people-search sites like Spokeo, Whitepages and BeenVerified. These data brokers collect and sell your personal information without you even knowing it. Fortunately, personal data removal services are available to protect your privacy. They automatically send legal removal requests to hundreds of data brokers. They also go above and beyond by continuously monitoring them in case these third parties happen to get your information again.
While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice. They aren’t cheap and neither is your privacy. These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites. It’s what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you. Check out my top picks for data removal services here.
Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web.
Why it matters: The less personal information available about you online, the harder it is for scammers and identity thieves to target you and the more peace of mind you’ll have.
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5. Use a privacy-focused messaging app
If you’re still using standard texting apps or platforms like Facebook Messenger, it’s time to upgrade to a more secure option. Apps like Signal and Session offer end-to-end encryption, no ads and no metadata tracking, meaning they can’t see who you’re talking to or what you’re saying. Both apps support disappearing messages, giving you more control over how long your conversations stick around.
Why it matters: Your messages stay private and can’t be accessed by hackers, advertisers or the app developers themselves.
6. Stop Google from tracking your every move
Google collects a massive amount of data from your searches, YouTube views, Gmail activity and location history, all of which fuels targeted advertising. You can stop much of this tracking by turning off Ad Personalization and deleting your activity history. Here’s what to do:
- Go to Google’s My Ad Center.
- Find the Ad Personalization section.
- Toggle the switch to turn off ad personalization. This stops Google from using your activity to tailor ads.
Manage activity history
- In My Ad Center or via your Google Account, go to Data & Privacy.
- Under History Settings, review and pause or delete: Web & App Activity, YouTube History and Location History (if applicable).
Delete existing activity data
- Select Manage all Web & App Activity, Manage all YouTube History, etc.
- Delete past activity by choosing a time range (e.g., “All time”) and confirming deletion for each category.
Opt out of third-party ad personalization
- Scroll to Ad settings and look for third-party ad personalization options.
- Opt out of partner sites’ ad personalization if available.
- If you have multiple Google accounts, repeat these steps for each account.
Why it matters: Cutting down on ad tracking reduces how much of your online behavior is used to build a profile on you, often without your knowledge.
7. Turn off location tracking on your smartphone
Apps don’t need to know your every move. Disabling or limiting location tracking is one of the simplest ways to protect your physical privacy. Here’s what to do:
iPhone:
- Go to Settings.
- Tap Privacy & Security.
- Click Location Services.
- Scroll down and tap the app you want to manage.
- Choose your preferred setting: Never to block location access completely; Ask Next Time Or When I Share to allow location only with your permission; While Using the App to allow location only when the app is open.
For apps like Maps, toggle Precise Location off to prevent pinpoint tracking.
To disable location tracking entirely, toggle Location Services off at the top of the Location Services page (this will stop all apps from using your location).
Android:
Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer.
- Go to Settings.
- Tap Location.
- Tap App permissions or App location permissions.
- You will see a list of apps grouped by their location access: Allowed all the time; Allowed only while in use; Ask every time; Not allowed.
- Tap any app to change its location permission. Choose from: Allow all the time; Allow only while using the app; Ask every time; Don’t allow.
For apps that have location access, you can also turn Precise location on or off if you want to limit accuracy. Repeat for each app you want to manage.
Tip: If you want to stop all apps from accessing your location, you can turn off Location at the top of the Location settings page.
Why it matters: Prevents apps, advertisers and even your OS from building a detailed map of your daily routines.
Steps to turn off location tracking on your smartphone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
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8. Change the default admin password on your router
Most routers ship with default admin usernames and passwords like “admin” or “1234,” and these are publicly available online. Hackers know this and often scan networks looking for unprotected routers. Here’s what to do:
- Log in to your router’s settings via its IP address (often 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1).
- Change the admin username and password to something strong and unique.
- Consider using a password manager to generate and store complex passwords. Get more details about my best expert-reviewed password managers of 2025 here.
Why it matters: Prevents intruders from hijacking your home network and spying on your devices.
9. Enable WPA3 encryption on your Wi-Fi router
WPA3 is the newest wireless encryption protocol and offers much stronger protection than WPA2. If your router supports WPA3, enabling it is a no-brainer. How to check:
- Log into your router settings and look under Wireless Security.
- If WPA3 is available, enable it.
- If not, consider upgrading to a newer, security-focused router. Check out our top routers for best security 2025.
Why it matters: Stronger encryption means hackers can’t easily intercept or crack your Wi-Fi traffic.
10. Set up a guest network for visitors and smart devices
Your friends don’t need access to your entire home network and neither do your smart lights and doorbells. Creating a guest network adds a safety barrier between your personal devices and less trustworthy ones. Steps to take:
- Log into your router settings.
- Create a separate guest network with its own password.
- Connect smart devices, TVs and guests to this network only.
- Keep your main network just for personal computers and phones.
Why it matters: Even if a smart device gets compromised, the attacker won’t have access to your main network or sensitive devices.
11. Use a secure, private browser for sensitive browsing
Not all browsers treat your privacy equally. Switching to a browser designed for privacy like Brave, Firefox or DuckDuckGo’s browser can drastically cut down on the amount of data collected about you while you browse. Also, use incognito/private mode for sensitive searches.
Why it matters: Reduces digital fingerprints and helps stop advertisers and data brokers from building a profile on you based on your browsing behavior.
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Kurt’s key takeaways
Staying private online isn’t about being paranoid; it’s about making smart, intentional choices. With the right tools and a few small changes, you can take back control of your data in 2025. Digital privacy is always changing, so it’s a good idea to check your settings and habits every so often. The upside is that for every new privacy challenge, there’s usually a way to push back and keep your information safe.
If you’d like a printable checklist or want this content turned into a shareable infographic, just let me know.
What privacy tools and methods do you use to protect your data online? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
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Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
If you’re looking for a relatively affordable way to cut down on cooling costs, Google’s Nest Thermostat can help. It’s packed with smart controls and energy-saving features, and right now it’s on sale in white for $79 ($50 off), which is its best price of the year, at Amazon.
The smart thermostat is quick to install and makes it easy to adjust your home’s temperature whether you’re relaxing in bed or on your way home thanks to the Google Home app. You can also create schedules and control it with your voice using Google Assistant, Alexa, or another Matter-compatible voice assistant.
Once it’s set up, the Nest Thermostat can automatically turn the temperature down when you’re away to help reduce unnecessary energy use, while Google’s Savings Finder feature suggests additional ways to save over time. It also monitors your HVAC system and can alert you if something doesn’t seem right, making it easier to stay on top of maintenance before small issues become bigger, more expensive ones. If you’re eligible, Nest Renew can also automatically shift some of your heating and cooling to times when electricity is cleaner or cheaper.
That said, this is Google’s entry-level model from 2020, so you do miss out on some of the premium features found on the latest Nest Learning Thermostat. Unlike the flagship version, it won’t learn your schedule automatically over time, for example, and lacks support for Nest Temperature Sensors that let you prioritize the temperature in a specific room. Even so, if all you want is an easy way to adjust your home’s temperature remotely and potentially lower your energy bills, the Nest Thermostat is still a solid investment at this price.
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The Justice Department recently charged 455 people in its annual National Health Care Fraud Takedown. The cases involve more than $6.5 billion in alleged false claims. More state Medicaid units took part than in any prior year. Ninety of the accused are doctors or other licensed medical professionals. The DOJ says prosecutors still must prove the charges in court.
Many schemes used other people’s medical identities. Prosecutors also added aggravated identity theft charges in cases across dozens of states. In one case, the co-owner of a Virginia mental health company allegedly paid homeless people with hotel stays. Prosecutors say the company used their Medicaid numbers, then billed Medicaid for crisis services the patients never got.
For the people whose numbers got used, the case file may eventually close. Their medical records may not be so easy to fix. Once someone else’s treatment shows up under your name, it can add wrong information to your chart. It can also use up insurance benefits you may need later. That is harder to undo than canceling a credit card.
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DR OZ WARNS MEDICARE SCAMMERS ARE STEALING BILLIONS — AND YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION COULD BE NEXT
Medical identity theft can put someone else’s claims, prescriptions or diagnoses into your health records, creating problems that can follow you into a doctor’s office. (iStock)
The identity thief’s treatment gets written into your file
Medical identity theft happens when someone uses your name, Social Security number (SSN), health insurance account number, or Medicare number to see a doctor, fill a prescription, buy medical equipment, or submit a claim, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
When care is billed under your name, the thief’s health information can blend into yours. The FTC warns that mixed records can affect the care you’re able to get and the benefits you are able to use. A blood type, a drug allergy, a diagnosis, or a prescription that belongs to a stranger can sit in the file a physician reads before treating you.
Data breaches can feed the market for medical identity theft
Hospitals and insurers hold the exact records that make the fraud work, and those records are stolen often. This does not mean every healthcare breach leads to fraud. However, it explains why your insurance number, Medicare number, SSN and medical records can become valuable long after a breach notice arrives.
This spring, NYC Health + Hospitals reported that an intruder had copied files that may have included health insurance information, medical information, biometric data, billing data and other personal information. The breach was later reported to affect roughly 1.8 million current and former patients and employees.
Once a name, SSN, insurance number, Medicare number or medical record reaches a criminal marketplace, it can be resold to operators who bill under someone else’s identity.
Treat your insurance card like a credit card
Your health insurance and Medicare numbers are what these operations need, so the FTC recommends guarding them the way you would a payment card.
- Keep enrollment forms, benefit statements, and prescription labels somewhere secure, and shred them before throwing them out.
- When a doctor’s office asks for your SSN, ask whether it can use another identifier or the last four digits instead.
- Be wary of anyone who calls, texts, or emails offering free braces, genetic tests, or medical supplies in exchange for your Medicare number; several of the schemes in the June takedown billed Medicare for exactly those items.
- If you are on Medicare, create or log in to your secure Medicare account and review your claims. You can also check your Medicare Summary Notice for services, supplies or equipment you do not recognize. If something looks wrong, call 1-800-MEDICARE.
HOSPICE FRAUD USES STOLEN IDENTITIES FOR FAKE PATIENTS
Experts urge patients to treat insurance cards like credit cards and quickly challenge unfamiliar medical bills, claims or benefits notices. (iStock)
Your credit report may never flag this fraud
Because a fraudulent medical claim runs through insurance and provider systems instead of a credit check, it skips the alerts most people rely on.
Here’s what the FTC says you should look out for:
- A bill or an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) statement for care you never received
- A call from a debt collector about a medical debt you do not owe
- A medical collection you do not recognize on your credit report
- A notice from your insurer that you have reached your benefit limit
- A Medicare Summary Notice that lists services, supplies or equipment you never received
What to do first if a medical claim looks wrong
If a bill, EOB or Medicare notice shows care you never received, move quickly and keep everything in writing.
1) Call your insurer or Medicare directly
Call your insurer or Medicare using the number on your card, not a number from a random text, email or voicemail.
2) Get the claim details
Ask for the provider name, date of service, claim number and service details.
3) Request the records in writing
Contact the provider in writing and request the medical or billing records tied to that claim.
4) Report the error
Report the error to your insurer’s fraud department.
5) File an identity theft report
File a report at IdentityTheft.gov if your medical identity was used. That gives you a recovery plan and documentation you may need if fraudulent bills or collections show up later.
6) Save every document
Keep copies of every bill, EOB, letter, portal message, police report and case number.
Correcting a medical file is slower than disputing a charge
Request your records from every provider, clinic, pharmacy, lab and insurer the thief may have used, then report each error in writing. Under HIPAA, a provider generally has 30 days to give you access to your records after a written request, with a possible 30-day extension.
Fixing the record itself can take longer. HHS says a covered provider or health plan usually has up to 60 days to act on a request to amend a medical record, with a possible 30-day extension in certain cases. If the provider or plan created the wrong information, it must amend inaccurate or incomplete information.
There’s one catch, though: a provider may refuse to release records that now contain a stranger’s information, citing that person’s privacy. If that happens, ask for the provider’s privacy officer or patient advocate. You can also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights if you do not get your records or an explanation within the required window.
TEXAS DATA BREACH HITS 3M LICENSE CUSTOMERS
Stolen Medicare, Medicaid or insurance numbers can be used to bill for care, medical equipment or prescriptions patients never received. (kali9/Getty Images)
A credit freeze alone won’t stop a claim under your insurance
A freeze blocks new accounts, but it does nothing about a claim filed with your insurance number. Because medical identity theft can move without touching your credit file, monitoring where your personal information appears is the earliest way to act on it.
An identity theft protection service can monitor the dark web, data broker sites and people-search sites for exposed SSNs, driver’s license numbers, medical ID numbers and email addresses. It can also track all three credit bureaus for medical collections that may follow and flag public-record changes tied to your name.
If misuse happens, some services include fraud resolution support to help you request records, dispute fraudulent claims and work with providers, insurers and credit bureaus. Some plans also include identity theft insurance for eligible recovery costs.
No service can prevent every misuse of your medical identity. However, ongoing monitoring may flag exposed information before another person’s treatment reaches your records and your insurance.
See my tips and best picks on Best Identity Theft Protection at CyberGuy.com.
Kurt’s key takeaways
Medical identity theft hits in a place most of us rarely check: our health records. A stolen credit card can usually be canceled quickly. A stolen Medicare or insurance number can create fake claims, wrong diagnoses and benefit headaches that follow you long after the fraud case ends. I would not wait for a credit alert here. Check your EOBs, Medicare Summary Notices and insurer portals for visits, prescriptions or equipment you never received. Also, treat your insurance card like a payment card. Do not give the number to anyone who calls, texts or emails out of nowhere with a free offer. The most important thing is to act fast. Call your insurer or Medicare, ask for the claim details and request your medical records in writing. Then file at IdentityTheft.gov, so you have the paperwork you need if fraudulent bills or collections show up later.
Have you ever spotted a medical bill, insurance claim or EOB for care you never received? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.
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Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Meta might be the next company to make an always-on AI wearable. The company is working on prototype “super sensing” always-aware smart glasses that could continuously record audio and snap photos “every few seconds,” according to the Financial Times. The wearer could then ask Meta AI about the captured audio and images.
However, the images and audio might not be directly available to the user. Here’s how the FT describes one way the glasses could use the data:
In one proposed system, raw footage and audio would not be stored by Meta or made available to the user, several people said. Instead, the metadata from that audio and images would be extracted and uploaded to the server for Meta’s AI to query, which proponents argue would have fewer privacy implications.
But currently, Meta is planning for the LED recording indicator to remain off in “super sensing” mode, the FT reports. In a July 2025 whitepaper, the company said that it would reserve the LED indicator for “active capture” scenarios where the user is saving photos or videos, and leave it off during “AI Feature” use — such as scanning a menu — to avoid users becoming too used to the indicator. (If the indicator was on during the “super sensing” mode, it might also be harder to know when the glasses are actually recording video.)
Meta is also discussing if it would use the captured data for training its AI models. It may also bring the “super sensing” features to glasses it has already released, the FT says.
“While we don’t comment on internal prototypes, we’re committed to getting our glasses right because they need to be loved by both people wearing them and those around them,” Meta spokesperson Dave Arnold says in a statement to The Verge. Arnold also notes that “Our approach has been to develop new technologies that will help people throughout their day, with privacy built in from the ground up.”
Meta hasn’t been shy about some type of always-aware glasses being a possibility. CEO Mark Zuckerberg, in the company’s Q1 2026 earnings call, said that he was “really excited to see the glasses evolve from being able to answer questions to being able to be a personal agent that’s with you all day long, helping you remember things and achieve your goals.” In a March blog post about new Ray-Ban Meta glasses, the company wrote that “with ongoing software updates, Meta AI on glasses will transition from something you have to prompt with a question each time, to a more continuous, in-the-moment assistant that can help throughout the day.”
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