Every account, post and app leaks a little information about you, and it adds up into a profile that scammers and data brokers love. You can't be invisible, but you can plug the biggest leaks with a few habits.

Lock down the essentials

  • Strong, unique passwords and a password manager — see safer passwords.
  • Two-factor authentication on email, banking and social accounts.
  • Protect your email above all — it's the reset key to everything else.

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  • Review privacy settings on social media; lock down who sees your posts.
  • Don't post details that answer security questions (birthday, pet's name, hometown).
  • Be wary of oversharing your location in real time — post the holiday photos when you're back.
  • Only give apps the permissions they truly need.

Reduce your footprint

  • Delete old accounts you no longer use.
  • Think before entering your details on unfamiliar sites.
  • Check whether your email has appeared in known data breaches, and change those passwords.
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