Skip to content
The Data Trail

Privacy kitThe tools our guides point to, grouped by what each one protects.

Updated

About our links: We earn a commission from some services we link to. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Most of what keeps your data out of strangers' hands costs nothing: opt-out forms, freezes, settings. The items below cover the gaps those leave, such as a phished password, a statement in the recycling or a camera left uncovered. We chose them from specifications, published policies and reviews, kept only items rated above four stars by a large number of buyers, and we have not tested them ourselves. Prices change, so check them on the seller's page.

Sign-in and passwords

A security key stops a fake login page from using your password, and a password manager gives every account its own. Buy keys in pairs: one on your keyring, one at home as the backup.

  • YubiKey 5 NFC (USB-A)Stops phished passwords from opening your email and bank accounts.On Amazon
  • YubiKey 5C NFC (USB-C)Two-step sign-in that a fake login page cannot copy.On Amazon
  • Yubico Security Key NFC (USB-A)Phishing-resistant sign-in at a lower cost than the full YubiKey.On Amazon
  • Yubico Security Key C NFC (USB-C)Phishing-resistant sign-in for USB-C laptops and phones.On Amazon
  • NordPassCreates and stores a unique password for every account.Start with NordPass

Read first: Password managers, passkeys and two-step codes, in plain terms · Your phone number links more of your life than you think · Password strength check · Passphrase generator

Data removal services

Paid services file broker opt-outs for you and re-check on a schedule. Everything they do can be done by hand for free; the opt-out guide shows how, and the comparison pieces show what the subscription adds.

None of the removal services has a link here yet. The opt-out guide walks through the free route, one site at a time.

Read first: Why people-search listings come back after you opt out · Data broker opt-out checklist

Your connection

A VPN hides your browsing from the network you are on and your IP address from the sites you visit. A data blocker lets you charge at a public USB port without a data connection.

  • NordVPNEncrypts your connection on public Wi-Fi and hides your IP address from sites you visit.Start with NordVPN
  • USB data blockers, charge-only (4 pack)Lets you charge from public USB ports without opening a data connection to your phone.On Amazon

Read first: Personal data exposure quiz

Camera, screen and phone

Small physical fixes for the moments software settings miss: a camera you forgot was on, a screen read over your shoulder, a phone you want silent for an hour.

  • Thin sliding webcam cover (2 pack)Keeps the camera covered when you are not on a call.On Amazon
  • Magnetic privacy screen for 14-inch 16:10 laptopsKeeps account numbers and messages away from shoulder-surfers on trains and in cafes.On Amazon
  • Signal-blocking phone pouch (2 pack)Stops location pings and wireless connections when you want the phone fully offline.On Amazon

Paper and mail

Much identity theft still starts with paper: a statement in the recycling, a new card taken from the mailbox, a label with your name and address on a box.

  • 12-sheet cross-cut paper shredderOld statements, pre-approved credit offers and medical bills stop being readable trash.On Amazon
  • Identity-blocking roller stamp (3 pack)Hides your name and address on labels and letters before they go in the bin.On Amazon
  • Wall-mount locking mailboxKeeps bank letters, new cards and tax forms out of reach of mail thieves.On Amazon

Read first: Why your home address is public record, and what you can do about it · Data breach checklist

Cards and documents

Keep the papers you would need after a breach or a fire in one place, and keep contactless cards from being read in passing.

  • Fire-resistant document bag (two pockets)Keeps the documents you need after identity theft together and away from casual view.On Amazon
  • RFID-blocking card sleevesBlocks casual scans of contactless cards and passport chips.On Amazon

Read first: The first hour after a data breach letter: what to do, in order · Data breach checklist

Reading

One readable book on how tracking works, for the evening you want the bigger picture rather than the next opt-out form.

  • The Art of Invisibility (Kevin Mitnick)A readable overview of tracking and how to limit it.On Amazon

Read first: What a data broker knows about you, and where it got it