Getting Started

Switch your browser. Takes 5 minutes, imports your bookmarks, immediately stops tons of tracking.

Three more easy wins:

• Password manager — makes life easier, not harder
• Private search engine — same results, no tracking
• Secure messenger — same experience, actually private

Don’t try to change everything at once. Small steps add up.

The 80/20 rule: Basic tools (browser, password manager, search) give you 80% of the privacy benefit with 20% of the effort.

See: Getting Started guide

No. If you can install an app, you have all the skills you need.

Modern privacy tools are easy:

• Password managers work like any app
• Privacy browsers look like Chrome
• VPNs are one click to connect

What you need to know:

• How to download apps
• How to change settings
• Why privacy matters (you’re already here)

The learning curve:

• Password manager: 15 minutes
• New browser: 5 minutes
• VPN: 2 minutes

You don’t need to understand encryption to use it, just like you don’t need to understand engines to drive.

See: Resources

Not really. Modern tools are designed to be invisible.

What actually changes:

• Privacy browser: Nothing noticeable
• Password manager: Remember ONE password instead of dozens
• VPN: One click to connect
• Private messenger: Same experience, different app

What gets EASIER:

• No more “forgot password” emails
• Faster browsing (ad blockers speed things up)
• Fewer annoying pop-ups

Minor trade-offs:

• Some sites work slightly differently
• VPNs can slow video calls slightly
• Free secure email has storage limits

Most people say: “I wish I’d done this sooner.”

See: Tool recommendations

It can be completely free, or you can pay for premium features.

Free options:

• Privacy browsers (all free)
• Password managers (free tiers available)
• Private search engines (free)
• Secure messengers (free)

Paid options (optional):

• VPNs ($3-10/month for good ones)
• Secure email (free tier, paid for more storage)
• Password manager premium (usually $10-40/year)

Is paid worth it?

For VPNs, yes — free VPNs often sell your data. For other tools, free tiers are usually enough to start.

Start free, upgrade later if you want more features. Good privacy doesn’t require spending money.

Yes. Here’s why:

What you gain:

• Less targeted manipulation
• Fewer data breaches affecting you
• More control over your digital life
• Better security for important accounts
• Peace of mind

What it prevents:

• Stalkers, exes, or bad actors finding info about you
• Identity theft
• Price discrimination based on your profile
• Your data being sold hundreds of times
• Embarrassing info surfacing later

The effort is minimal:

Most changes take minutes and then work automatically. You’re not constantly “doing privacy” — you set it up once.

The alternative:

Doing nothing means companies profit from your data forever, and you have no control over who sees what about you.

Even small improvements make you a harder target. You don’t need to be perfect — just better than doing nothing.