The majority of technology is simple enough to set up and use. The information that major IT corporations want you to keep quiet? For them, certain conditions work perfectly, but not for you. To alter the privacy defaults, tap or click.

It's never too late to go back and make adjustments or perform minor maintenance to extend the lifespan of even an older device. If your smartphone is older than three months, tap or click to learn what cleanup you need to perform.

If you got a new computer:
Microsoft inserts advertisements and suggested apps in the Start menu if you just bought a new computer. It's unpleasant, but you can easily disable them:
Open Settings after clicking the Start button.

• Select Customization.

• From the left pane, choose Start.

• Occasionally deactivate Show suggestions in Start.

This short privacy measure prevents businesses from monitoring you across websites to advertise goods and services on a Mac.

Activate the Safari web browser. Select Privacy under Preferences in Safari.

• Select the Prevent cross-site tracking checkbox next to Website tracking.

• For more privacy, you can decide to mask your IP address.

If you own an Amazon Echo:
Amazon Sidewalk essentially functions as a mesh network that increases the range of your Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections by up to a mile by converting some Echo speakers and Ring devices into bridge devices.

That provides a significant boost to internet-connected devices far from your router, such as lights at the end of your driveway. The Sidewalk network, according to Amazon, has three levels of encryption so that your neighbours cannot access your data.

Although they may claim otherwise, many individual smart devices lack adequate cybersecurity. A hacker only needs one infected device to gain access to your network.

In the end, your technology will be connected to a network that is beyond your control. I advise you to decline.
• In the Alexa app, select More and then Settings.

• Select Amazon Sidewalk from the Account Settings menu.

•If you do not want to participate, turn off Amazon Sidewalk.
It's a good idea to explore your settings if you have a smartphone or tablet. This gives you a complete understanding of what you're dealing with. Initially, consider the location settings. It probably keeps track of everything you do so it can sell ads on the information they learn about you.
To disable location services on Apple devices, follow these steps:

• Click Settings, then choose Privacy.

• Tap System Services, then scroll down and choose Location Services.

• Toggle off the logged record of your travels by tapping Significant Locations. By selecting Clear History, you can also erase your history.

These settings on Android devices can be modified as follows: (Note: Depending on your Android model, the steps may change.)
• Click Location by opening Settings and scrolling down.

• Deactivate Use location at the top.

• Click Delete Location History next to Location History at the bottom of the screen to clear your device's cache.

If you have an iPad-

Security is important, but you shouldn't ignore the value of turning off obtrusive notifications. If your exciting new toy dinges all day, it will drive you crazy.
Each app's notifications can be changed. You can select to have a sound or not, turn them on or off, and specify where you want notifications to show.

My recommendation is to completely disable the notifications if you use other devices to send and receive emails and texts. Just more digital noise, really.

• Select Notifications under Settings.

• Click an app under Notification Style, then turn off Allow Notifications.