With companies losing customer credit card data on what seems like an almost daily basis and social network websites that are compromising our private information with no remorse. I thought it was time to put some basic safety tips up to help others. You don’t have to be a criminal to have privacy; it is your right as a human being. I realize many won’t like this list, because habits are hard to break. So here’s the list of the top 8 (Actually 10) things to do immediately to protect your identity online.

#1 Don’t Use Social Networking.

Don’t use any social networking avoid it at any cost, the NSA is collecting your private information, and has access to the networks whenever they want, this will never change. The NSA and other Departments don’t require a court order to access all your information (thanks to the Patriot Act.) Even if you are not a criminal, do you really want some nerd from the NSA stalking you? Companies (or Partners) are also being sold/given your information to profile you for advertising.

This profiling will be used to give you a higher or lower price, it can be used to discriminate based on race and gender as well. Major supermarket chains are using pictures for facial recognition linked to your social network profile which brings us to (#2)

#2 Never Upload Photos.

Don’t upload photos or any pictures of yourself or your family to any website or application that transmits photos. They sell and exploit your pictures, the pictures are not secure. Leaks like the Fappening (iCloud) and the Snappening (Snapchat) have leaked thousands of private photos some are even nude and underage.

The big companies don’t care about your data, so don’t let them have it. Also request that friends and family don’t upload your image as well, hopefully they will respect your request.

#3 Avoid using online payments, Apple Pay or Google Wallet.

Credit card payment systems and sites like Paypal are hacked by amateur criminals on a regular basis if you can find a price locally at a store that is similar to online that is better. Pay with cash when possible. Resist using payment systems like Apple Pay or Google Wallet, this is just another way to be tracked, tagged and put in the system.

#4 Never Use Online Storage Systems.

Never ever use Dropbox, Skydrive or Google for storage this is probably one of the most dangerous fads that’s going out of control at the moment, you will be hacked. Go to an electronics store and pick up a 4 Terabyte hard drive they are so cheap they are nearly giving them away. There is far less chance of someone breaking into your house than your online storage. Never store online.

#5 Don’t use Google, Bing or Yahoo for personal searches.

If you are going to use a search engine for personal information related to anything like health, looking for a lover and anything that you wouldn’t like everyone to know then don’t use a search engine like Google, Bing or Yahoo this information collected and is used to profile you. There are search engines that are powered by these search engines that apparently don’t track your usage.

(Bing) Duck Duck Go http://www.duckduckgo.com/

(Google) Start Page http://www.startpage.com/

Use these as a last resort; you can also use all search engines through an anonymous proxy for best results (see #6)

#6 Use the Internet Through An Anonymous Proxy.

Another way to keep safe from the NSA and corporations is to use an anonymous proxy. An anonymous proxy is used to route your traffic to another location making websites think you’re in another location.

TOR is a good Internet browser for no fuss anonymous access to random proxies that will hide your identity from sinister types and the good news is that you can get it for Apple, Windows, Linux and other platforms for free. (Always have the latest version of TOR, as NSA can crack encryption of older versions)

Also there are some good hardware options that will hide your traffic too for a more permanent setup for your household.

#7 Always have Anti-virus and Firewall Software Up-to-Date.

You don’t even have to pay for this software; there are free versions of the software that will do the job like AVG Free, and Zonealarm Basic. Much like the last 25 years of computing virus activity has been running rampant, so you would be crazy to not install an AV. In addition after installing anti-virus software make sure that reporting is switched off in the AV's settings, this will prevent any private information being returned to the company.

Many operating systems have holes that allow hackers to get into your network and devices attached, use a firewall to block criminals that want access. After revelations that many of the back doors are being exploited by NSA, there is no better time than now to take action.

#8 Use Encryption.

Always use encryption, encrypt your emails, files and other communications. There is lots of open source software out there that you can use to encrypt your files. Never place passwords in an excel spreadsheets and use trusted software such as Keepass to encrypt your passwords.

#9 Put Tape Over the Camera.

The camera and microphone in your laptop, tablet or smart phone may be compromised in the name of national security, keep an open mind to this we are not completely sure what has been programmed into the chips and software of some computers and phones.

#10 Stay Calm.

Do these actions, and you've won half the battle, you will be ahead of the rest!

Additional Information:

Facebook is using you. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/05/opinion/sunday/facebook-is-using-you.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/05/opinion/sunday/facebook-is-using-you.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 Leaked Documents Expose Secret Contracts Between NSA and Tech Companies http://www.globalresearch.ca/leaked-documents-expose-secret-contracts-between-nsa-and-tech-companies/5408929

http://www.globalresearch.ca/leaked-documents-expose-secret-contracts-between-nsa-and-tech-companies/5408929 Forbes - How Facebook Secretly Aids Government Searches http://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2011/07/12/how-facebook-secretly-aids-government-searches/

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2011/07/12/how-facebook-secretly-aids-government-searches/ Abine - Google handed over 11,385 people’s personal info to the government in the past 6 months http://www.abine.com/blog/2012/google-gives-user-information-to-the-government/

http://www.abine.com/blog/2012/google-gives-user-information-to-the-government/ Publica - Yes, Companies Are Harvesting – and Selling – Your Facebook Profile https://www.propublica.org/article/yes-companies-are-harvesting-and-selling-your-social-media-profiles

https://www.propublica.org/article/yes-companies-are-harvesting-and-selling-your-social-media-profiles Walmart and Facebook facial recognition http://wontek.com/news/walmart-and-facebook-facial-recognition

http://wontek.com/news/walmart-and-facebook-facial-recognition Snowden files : NSA can crack almost any Encryption including Tor anonymity network http://thehackernews.com/2013/09/NSA-can-crack-TOR-Encryptio-Snowden-files-.html

http://thehackernews.com/2013/09/NSA-can-crack-TOR-Encryptio-Snowden-files-.html Wontek - What is TOR browser? http://wontek.com/what-is-tor-browser.html

http://wontek.com/what-is-tor-browser.html The NSA Probably Has Installed a Virus on Your Computer — and Everyone Else's http://mic.com/articles/74845/the-nsa-probably-has-installed-a-virus-on-your-computer-and-everyone-else-s

http://mic.com/articles/74845/the-nsa-probably-has-installed-a-virus-on-your-computer-and-everyone-else-s Wontek -689,003 People turned into lab rats on Facebook without consent http://wontek.com/news/689003-people-turned-lab-rats-facebook-without-consent.html

http://wontek.com/news/689003-people-turned-lab-rats-facebook-without-consent.html Wontek - DuckDuckGo: an Amazing Search Engine with Real Results http://wontek.com/duckduckgo-amazing-search-engine-real-results.html

http://wontek.com/duckduckgo-amazing-search-engine-real-results.html ZDNET - If you have something to hide from the government, don't use Dropbox http://www.zdnet.com/blog/government/if-you-have-something-to-hide-from-the-government-dont-use-dropbox/10283

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/government/if-you-have-something-to-hide-from-the-government-dont-use-dropbox/10283 Business Insider - Edward Snowden, Days Ago: 'Get Rid Of Dropbox http://www.businessinsider.com/edward-snowden-warned-of-dropbox-hack-2014-10

Downloads and tools:

Duck Duck Go - http://www.duckduckgo.com/

Start Page - http://www.startpage.com/

Tor Browser - https://www.torproject.org/

AVG Free - http://free.avg.com/us-en/homepage