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Go to Preferences, scroll to the bottom of the page, select Network Settings, scroll down, and select Enable DNS over HTTPS and Use Default. If you use Firefox, use DNS over HTTPS (DoH) this protects your privacy relating to which websites your browser is requesting from some third parties while also improving performance.Note that you can manually turn off these extensions for websites with features that work only with ad tracking allowed, a feature generally not available with VPN apps.
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We have some favorites, including the EFF’s Privacy Badger and uBlock Origin, both of which minimize tracking from websites and online ad networks as well as security vulnerabilities. If you are choosing to use a VPN to avoid being tracked online across various ad networks, some browser extensions can be helpful.(iOS and newer Android devices are automatically encrypted, if you have an effective passcode.) Encrypt your laptop, in case you lose it or someone steals it.It’s preferable to use an app or a security key, rather than SMS (plain text messages), as your second factor.
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We got answers from Joseph Jerome, then the policy counsel for the Center for Democracy & Technology’s privacy and data project, about how accountable VPNs were for their business models, privacy practices, security protocols, and protections, and how that related to trustworthiness.
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We spoke with Trail of Bits co-founder and CEO Dan Guido about the security challenges inherent in VPNs and the limitations of security audits and reports. We interviewed Eva Galperin, Electronic Frontier Foundation’s director of cybersecurity, about the limitations of VPNs and tips for selecting the appropriate VPN based on individual circumstances.
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