![]() Internet Accounts > iCloud: I strongly discourage the use of iCloud as I believe most of its benefits can be replicated in a more privacy-respecting way using other services listed on this site.Touch ID & Password: Use of a fingerprint is personal preference, so long as a strong password or passphrase is also in use.Lock Screen > Require password after screen saver begins or display is turned off: Immediately.Desktop & Dock > Default web browser: Brave/Firefox.Privacy & Security > Lockdown Mode: On (This will disable a significant number of features, however if you are able to live without them, it will help protect other users who need this feature from being easily identified.).Privacy & Security > FileVault: Turn On FileVault (or use Veracrypt).Privacy & Security > Allow accessories to connect: Ask for new.Privacy & Securityy > Security > Allow apps downloaded from: App Store and identified developers.Privacy & Security > Apple Advertising > Personalized Ads: Disable.Privacy & Security > Analytics & Improvements: Disable all.Privacy & Security: Examine all other apps to ensure they only have the necessary permissions.Privacy & Security > Location Services: Disable anything you don’t need.General > Time Machine > Options: Back up frequency: Set to your desired frequency.General > Time Machine: Select Backup Disk.General > AirDrop & Handoff: Disable all.Notifications > Allow notifications when mirroring or sharing: Off.Notifications > Allow notifications when the screen is locked: Off.Notifications > Allow notifications when the display is sleeping: Off.Bluetooth: Turn off whenever not in use.Wi-Fi > Details (next to your current network) > DNS: Set a privacy-respecting DNS (ignore this if you plan to use a VPN).Wi-Fi > Details (next to your current network) > Limit IP address tracking: enable.Note that your apps will not auto-update, however (the system will if you apply the appropriate setting below). You can get all of the programs I recommend without using the App Store, and major system updates will still be applied even without signing in. If you are setting up a new device from scratch, please note that you should be able to continue through setup without entering an Apple ID.You can see my criteria for this page and why I recommended these settings here. For those situations, I have listed a set of recommend settings for both Mac and Windows that I encourage you to change (if you can) to make your device a little more private and secure. Not everybody has the luxury of switching to Linux for any number of reasons, such as needing a a specialized program that only runs on Mac/Windows or being in possession of a device that is technically not yours and therefore you can’t make such changes to. However, as with web browsers, I believe that this tradeoff is insignificant for most users, provided that you use good online habits and are reasonably cautious. Whatever distro you choose, please note that while Linux is usually significantly better for privacy, it is not necessarily a huge improvement in security and in some cases can actually be worse. It is based on Ubuntu, so you’ll find the most abundant and easy-to-understand support from a plethora of online resources, and it has a very user-friendly interface that most users will easily adjust to while learning more advanced skills like the terminal. (This is an oversimplification, but should give you a general idea of how Flatpaks and Snaps works.)įor those who wish to someday become Linux experts or move on to things like self-hosting, I recommend starting with Pop! OS. Users can find most common programs as a Flatpak or Snap package, which basically installs programs as self-contained, sandboxed “apps” which improves security without sacrificing stability or usability. Silverblue is an official variant of Fedora that offers an “immutable” base operating system, making it quite resilient (though not impervious) against malware and other unwanted changes. If you want something that “just works” out of the box and you have no desire to really master the command line, become a Linux expert, or advance on to further Linux-based subjects (such as self-hosting), then I strongly recommend Fedora Silverblue. My recommended distro depends on your plans. Most linux distros are considerably more private compared to Windows and Mac, though some place additional emphasis on privacy or security. Linux is an open-source operating system with dozens of variants (called “distros,” short for “distributions”), each offering their own unique set of features and target audience. In a perfect world, the best option is Linux. Windows 10 is by far the worst offender, however Mac also has their share of telemetry. Just like cell phones, desktop operating systems like Windows and Mac track their users to an excessive degree.
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