Context: my gf mentioned getting a vpn for privacy, and I tried to explain that it “does” help, but it’s more like type of windows on a house. It certainly can be part of the package, but it’s no where near the foundation.
So i tried to explain the best that i could That if she was worried about online privacy the first step wasn’t to mask traffic, but to not submit personal data to anything online like FB, not use Google services that package everything on you together to sell to advertisers, and to limit phone apps to essentials.
But I’m curious on what other steps you guys would consider the “foundation” of online privacy that should be prioritized before a vpn. Any thoughts? Or am I way off base?
Note: this is in context of vpn for privacy. Using vpn to avoid Geo blocking and censorship I see as incredibly valid for those that need it.
Just my two cents here to mention that it’s necessary to see this as a journey and a mindset, not a single-step or one-size-fits-all panacea.
If she’s annoyed of advertisements creeping up, introduce her to adblockers and slowly make her get used to it. If she has shared concerns after seeing her friends or colleagues receive abusive comments on their social media accounts, comment on the dangers of oversharing one’s private life and its potential consequences and tangible threats, like medical insurance companies abusing the info, and so on.