Email addresses, phone numbers, and credit card numbers are common items companies use to track your data across websites. Those connections expand what they know about you and increase your total data exposure.
Here are a few ways to make tracking you with this information more difficult.
Better email privacy
Consider using temporary/throw-away emails for services where you don’t need long-term access. These emails will last long enough for you to confirm registration, but won’t be a connection to your other accounts.
If you are using GMail or any of the major free email service providers, you’re likely being tracked by that company and anyone they allow to access data about you (Check out their terms of service.). Consider paying for an email provider that doesn’t generate revenue from ads. Many of these companies also provide additional security and privacy features (like permanent alias emails).
- Duck Duck Go mail – remove multiple types of hidden email trackers and lets you create unlimited unique private email addresses on the fly
- Proton Mail – encrypted email based in Switzerland
- Secure my email – keep your current email address, but encrypt the content
- Explore more options
Alias phone numbers
Phone numbers are increasingly being required when creating accounts. Temporary phone number services exist, but might not work if the service requires that number for two-factor authentication on each login. You can also always sign up again with your real number if you find it’s worth it.
Consider using temporary/throw-away emails for services where you have alternate two-factor login options or where you don’t need long-term access.
You might consider longer-term services which can provide multiple numbers and additional security options.
Virtual credit card numbers
Some services require credit cards even if you’re just using the free tier of services. Virtual credit cards are becoming increasingly popular, providing both privacy and security. Many popular credit card providers and major banks provide this service. CNET reviews virtual credit card offerings here.
Virtual Private Network
Your internet service provider has access to your online actions (More about that here from the FTC.) and normal internet browsing will expose your IP address in a way that helps track your actions. A virtual private network (VPN) helps prevent both of those privacy exposures. A VPN doesn’t result in perfect anonymity, but it’s a major step up in terms of privacy. Get a more in depth explanation of the benefits of VPNs at PC Mag.
Run Your Own LLM
You can also choose to install your own LLM. A number of the choices can be used without access to the Internet. That should help confirm that none of the data you enter is being sent out to any third-parties.
The easiest option that we’ve found has been GPT4All (“a free-to-use, locally running, privacy-aware chatbot”). GPT4All provides a chat interface rather than requiring you to use the terminal like many other open source options.
Once GPT4All is installed, you can easily download and switch between different LLM models. This can help give you a sense for how that impacts the speed and quality of responses for different types of interactions. .While you can use OpenAI and other paid models (with an API key), there are a variety of open source models available that you can use for free.
