We share a lot online, sometimes without realizing it! Taking a few minutes to review your privacy settings can make a big difference in controlling who sees your information and how your data is used. Tooly's here to guide you through a quick privacy checkup!

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Protecting your digital space is important! Let's peek at those settings and make sure they're working for you, not against you.

Key Areas for Your Privacy Checkup:

1. Social Media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.)

  • Audience Settings for Posts: Who can see what you post? Review if your default setting is 'Public', 'Friends', or 'Friends of Friends'. Adjust per platform to your comfort level. Consider making most posts 'Friends' only.
  • Profile Information Visibility: Check who can see your birthday, email, phone number, location, friend list, etc. Limit this to 'Friends' or 'Only Me' where possible.
  • Tagging Permissions: Control who can tag you in photos and posts, and whether you need to approve tags before they appear on your profile. Learn more about Instagram tagging settings.
  • App Permissions: Review which third-party apps have access to your account. Remove any you no longer use or trust. Check out how to manage Facebook app permissions.
  • Location Sharing: Turn off precise location sharing for posts unless absolutely necessary.

2. Your Google Account

Google offers a Privacy Checkup tool, which is fantastic! But key areas include:

  • Web & App Activity: Decide if you want Google to save your search history, Chrome browsing history, and activity from sites/apps that use Google services. You can pause or auto-delete this data. Here’s a guide on managing your data.
  • Location History: Choose whether Google saves a timeline of places you go with your devices. You can pause or auto-delete this.
  • YouTube History: Manage your watch and search history. Read more about managing your YouTube history.
  • Ad Personalization: Control whether Google uses your activity to show you personalized ads. You can turn this off, though you'll still see ads (they just won't be based on your interests). Adjust your ad settings here.
  • Third-Party Access: See which apps and services you've granted access to your Google account data and revoke access if needed.

3. Your Web Browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari)

  • Cookie Settings: Decide how your browser handles cookies. You can block third-party cookies (often used for tracking across sites) or clear cookies regularly. Be aware that blocking all cookies can break some websites. Here's a useful cookie management guide.
  • Tracking Protection: Most browsers now offer built-in tracking protection. Ensure it's enabled (Standard or Strict levels). Learn about Firefox’s Enhanced Tracking Protection.
  • Permissions (Location, Camera, Microphone): Review which websites you've allowed access to your location, camera, or microphone. Revoke permissions for sites you don't trust or use often.
  • Saved Passwords: While convenient, browser password managers are generally less secure than dedicated password managers. Consider migrating if you store many passwords here.
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Just a few clicks can make a big difference! Make it a habit to review these settings every few months. And remember, strong, unique passwords generated with my help are your first line of defense!

Taking control of your privacy settings empowers you to navigate the digital world more safely and confidently. Stay aware, stay safe!