World Privacy Day: A Practical Privacy Checklist for Real Life

World Privacy Day is an opportunity to understand how much of your personal information is shared.  You can make intentional choices to reduce unnecessary exposure.

Most people think privacy risks come from hackers or massive data breaches. In reality, everyday habits create just as much risk: oversharing on social media, using apps that quietly collect health data, reusing passwords, or leaving personal details scattered across public databases.

The good news? You don’t need to become a privacy expert to be more protected.

This checklist focuses on practical, real-world privacy habits that anyone can use. No jargon. No fear-mongering. Just simple steps that help you:

• Reduce identity theft and fraud risk
• Protect your home and physical safety
• Limit how your data is bought, sold, and shared
• Keep sensitive health and financial information private

Physical Safety & Oversharing

1. Don’t post about vacations until you’re home.  Real-time travel posts can signal an empty house.
2. Delay posting funeral or memorial details.  Obituaries and service notices are actively scraped for burglary targeting.
3. Turn off location tagging on social posts.  Especially for your home, kids’ schools, gyms, and daily routines.
4. Blur house numbers, street signs, and license plates in photos
5. Check who can see your Instagram and Facebook Stories.  Stories often default to broader audiences than feed posts.

Social Media & Online Identity

1. Audit old social media posts once a year.  Remove posts revealing birthdays, pets’ names, hometowns, or past addresses.
2. Set Venmo, PayPal, and Cash App transactions to private.  Public payment histories reveal routines and relationships  (Venmo privacy settings: https://help.venmo.com)
3. Remove your phone number from Facebook and LinkedIn
4. Hide your full birthdate from public profiles
5. Avoid viral quizzes and face-scanning apps.  Many collect biometric data and security-question answers.  (See app privacy ratings: https://foundation.mozilla.org/en/privacynotincluded)

Passwords, Accounts & Device Security

1. Use a password manager for every account ( an example would be Bitwarden: https://bitwarden.com)
2. Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA).  Especially for email, banking, and cloud storage  (Google Security Checkup: https://myaccount.google.com/security)
3. Protect your email account first.  Email is the master key for password resets.
4. Enable automatic software updates on all devices
5. Review app permissions quarterly.  Remove access to location, microphone, and contacts when not required.

 Browsing, Tracking & Advertising

1. Enable Global Privacy Control (GPC) in your browser.  GPC automatically signals “Do Not Sell or Share My Data” (Learn more: https://globalprivacycontrol.org)
2. Use privacy-focused browsers or extensions.  Brave (https://brave.com) or Firefox (https://www.mozilla.org/firefox)
3. Clear cookies regularly or use automatic deletion
4. Opt out of ad personalization on major platforms
   • Google: https://adssettings.google.com
   • Meta: https://www.facebook.com/adpreferences
   • Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/adprefs

🩺 Health Data, Apps & Wearables

1. Assume most health apps are not HIPAA-protected.  HIPAA applies to providers—not most consumer apps.  (HIPAA overview: https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa)
2. Limit permissions for health and wellness apps.  Many don’t need location, contacts, or microphone access.
3. Delete health apps you no longer use
4. Disable data sharing in wearables and fitness trackers.  Apple Health privacy overview: https://www.apple.com/healthcare/apple-health
5. Avoid linking health apps to Google or Facebook logins
6. Use private browsing for health-related searches
7. Be cautious with online therapy and journaling apps.  Session notes and transcripts may be stored indefinitely.  (FTC guidance: https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/privacy-security/health-data)

Reproductive & Highly Sensitive Health Data

1. Limit cloud-based fertility tracking when possible
2. Disable location tracking in reproductive health apps
3. Avoid sharing reproductive health details via text or DMs
4. Use anonymous or offline tracking options when available
   

Financial & Identity Protection

1. Freeze your credit with all three bureaus (free)
   • Experian: https://www.experian.com/freeze
   • Equifax: https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services
   • TransUnion: https://www.transunion.com/credit-freeze
2. Set up real-time alerts for bank and credit activity
3. Use virtual credit cards for online purchases
4. Avoid storing payment info in retail apps
5. Shred mail containing personal or financial information
6. If identity theft happens, act immediately.  

Data Brokers & Public Records

• Use a data-broker removal service
  • Aura: https://www.aura.com
  • DeleteMe: https://joindeleteme.com
  • Kanary: https://www.kanary.com
• Manually opt out of major people-search sites
  • Whitepages: https://www.whitepages.com/suppression_requests
  • Spokeo: https://www.spokeo.com/opt_out/new
  • BeenVerified: https://www.beenverified.com/app/opt-out/search
• Google yourself regularly.  Know what’s publicly visible about you.

State-Specific Privacy Actions (U.S.)

California (CalPrivacy)

• Exercise “Do Not Sell or Share” rights
• Limit use of sensitive personal information
• Learn more: https://cppa.ca.gov

California – Address & Home Privacy

• Register for address confidentiality programs when eligible
  https://www.sos.ca.gov/registries/safe-home

Colorado Privacy Act

• Opt out of targeted advertising and profiling
  https://coag.gov/resources/colorado-privacy-act

Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act

• Opt out of targeted ads and request data deletion
  https://www.oag.state.va.us/consumer-protection

Texas Data Privacy & Security Act

• Opt out of data sales and targeted advertising
  https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/consumer-protection/privacy

Not sure what applies in your state?
Use the IAPP state privacy tracker:
https://iapp.org/resources/article/us-state-privacy-legislation-tracker

A Final Word on Privacy

Privacy isn’t about disappearing or distrusting every app, platform, or service you use. It’s about control and knowing what you’re sharing, who you’re sharing it with, and when it’s worth the trade-off.  

Many of the risks outlined here aren’t theoretical. They show up as stolen identities, drained accounts, targeted scams, and personal safety issues that could have been avoided with a few small adjustments.

World Privacy Day is a good reminder but privacy works best as a habit, not a one-day event.

Start small:

• Pick 3–5 items from this list to do today
• Revisit the rest once or twice a year
• Use your state privacy rights when they’re available

Your data tells a story about you. Make sure you decide how much of that story is public!