How to Disappear: The Advanced Privacy Guide
For those who've mastered the basics: encrypted email, phone privacy, data removal, and advanced tactics.
⚠️ Prerequisites: This guide assumes you've already mastered the basics. If you haven't set up a password manager, enabled 2FA, and configured browser privacy, start with Privacy Fundamentals first.
VPN Services & Encrypted Communication
Advanced tools for protecting your online communications and internet traffic.
VPNs (For Travel & Public WiFi)
Use a VPN when you're on public WiFi, traveling internationally, or accessing your bank from a coffee shop. It encrypts your traffic and hides your IP address.
Top 3 VPN Picks
No email required, proven no-logs policy in court
Swiss privacy laws, free tier available
Strong privacy, good performance
Avoid: Free VPNs (except ProtonVPN), NordVPN, ExpressVPN (misleading marketing)
Mobile Privacy Setup
Your phone tracks more than you think. Spend 15 minutes tightening these settings.
iOS Privacy Setup Checklist
- □ Tracking: Disable "Allow Apps to Request to Track" (Settings → Privacy & Security)
- □ Location Services: Set most apps to "While Using" or "Never"
- □ Location Services → System Services: Disable most (especially "Significant Locations")
- □ App Privacy Report: Enable it to see what apps are doing
- □ Apple Advertising: Turn off Personalized Ads
- □ Safari: Enable "Prevent Cross-Site Tracking" and "Hide IP Address"
Android Privacy Setup Checklist
- □ Privacy Dashboard: Review regularly (Settings → Privacy)
- □ Permission Manager: Revoke unnecessary permissions
- □ Ad ID: Reset or delete advertising ID
- □ Network & Internet: Set Private DNS to dns.quad9.net
- □ Advanced (for tech-savvy): Consider GrapheneOS (most private Android OS)
- Disable app tracking: Open Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking. Turn off "Allow Apps to Request to Track." This prevents apps from tracking your activity across other companies' apps and websites.
- Review location permissions: Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services. Tap each app and change to "While Using the App" or "Never" for apps that don't need location (like games, shopping apps, social media).
- Disable significant locations: Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → System Services → Significant Locations. Turn this off to prevent Apple from tracking where you go regularly.
- Turn off personalized ads: Settings → Privacy & Security → Apple Advertising. Turn off "Personalized Ads."
- Safari privacy settings: Settings → Safari. Enable "Prevent Cross-Site Tracking" and "Hide IP Address" (choose "Trackers and Websites").
- Review app permissions: Settings → Privacy & Security. Go through each category (Photos, Contacts, Microphone, Camera) and revoke access for apps that don't need it.
- Enable App Privacy Report: Settings → Privacy & Security → App Privacy Report. Turn it on and check back in a week to see which apps are accessing your data most frequently.
- Check Privacy Dashboard: Settings → Privacy → Privacy Dashboard. This shows which apps accessed your location, camera, and microphone in the last 24 hours.
- Review permissions: Settings → Privacy → Permission Manager. Go through each permission type (Location, Camera, Microphone, Contacts) and revoke access for apps that don't need it.
- Reset advertising ID: Settings → Privacy → Ads. Tap "Reset advertising ID" or "Delete advertising ID" to prevent targeted ads based on your activity.
- Enable Private DNS: Settings → Network & Internet → Private DNS → Private DNS provider hostname. Enter "dns.quad9.net" or "dns.google" for encrypted DNS queries.
- Review app permissions individually: Settings → Apps. Tap each frequently used app and review what permissions it has. Remove any that seem excessive.
- Disable unused system features: Settings → Location → Location Services. Disable "Google Location Accuracy" and "Wi-Fi scanning" if you don't need precise location.
Financial Privacy
Virtual Credit Cards
Use virtual credit cards to create unique card numbers for every merchant. Set spending limits, pause, or close cards at any time, preventing overcharging and limiting damage from data breaches.
Remove Your Info from Data Brokers
Your personal info is being sold by hundreds of data broker websites. You can remove it yourself for free, or use paid services to automate the process.
DIY Opt-Out (Free, ~10 hours)
Optery maintains a free, open-source directory of 646 data brokers with direct opt-out links and step-by-step guides. Do it yourself and save $100-200/year.
Includes: Whitepages, Spokeo, BeenVerified, TruePeopleSearch, and 642 more
Time investment: 2-3 hours for top 20 brokers, 10+ hours for comprehensive removal. Set reminders to re-check every 6 months.
- Start with the big ones: Open the Optery Data Broker Directory. Focus on these high-priority sites first: Whitepages, Spokeo, BeenVerified, TruePeopleSearch, Intelius, PeopleFinders, Instant Checkmate, MyLife, Radaris, and FastPeopleSearch.
- Search for yourself: Go to each broker's website and search for your name, city, and state. Take screenshots of any listings you find (you'll need proof for some opt-out forms).
- Follow the opt-out process: Each broker has a different opt-out process (some are hidden on purpose). The Optery directory provides direct links to opt-out pages and step-by-step instructions for each broker.
- Verify your identity: Most brokers require you to verify your identity via email or phone. Use your real info—they already have it. This isn't giving them new data, it's proving you have the right to remove it.
- Keep records: Create a spreadsheet tracking which sites you've requested removal from, the date, and confirmation numbers. Many brokers take 7-30 days to process removals.
- Follow up: Check back in 30 days to confirm your info was removed. If not, submit another request and escalate if needed.
- Set quarterly reminders: Data brokers re-scrape public records. Set calendar reminders every 3-6 months to re-check and remove your info again. This is why paid services exist—they automate this tedious cycle.
- Consider paid services after initial cleanup: If you successfully remove yourself from the top 20 brokers but don't want to maintain it manually, sign up for DeleteMe or Optery. They'll handle the ongoing monitoring and removal.
Paid services automate the process and monitor for reappearance:
💡 Recommendation: Start with the free DIY approach for the top 20 brokers (3 hours). If you value your time more than $50/hour, consider a paid service.
Cryptocurrency Privacy
Bitcoin is not anonymous; it is pseudonymous and traceable. For real privacy, use privacy coins like Monero (XMR). Always use a VPN when transacting.
Privacy Maintenance Checklist
Regular maintenance keeps your privacy protections effective. Bookmark this checklist.
Monthly Tasks (15 minutes)
- □ Check haveibeenpwned.com for new breaches involving your email
- □ Update 3-5 passwords for less critical services
- □ Review credit card and bank statements for unusual activity
Quarterly Tasks (1 hour)
- □ Do a full privacy settings review on your main social media accounts
- □ Review all app permissions on your phone
- □ Delete 2-3 unused online accounts using JustDeleteMe.me
- □ Check your credit report
Annual Tasks (2-3 hours)
- □ Conduct a full security audit of all important accounts
- □ Review and update 2FA backup codes
- □ Delete 10+ unused accounts
- □ Review your digital estate plan (what happens to your accounts when you die)
📄 Privacy Quick-Reference Card
Bookmark this for easy reference.
📚 Related Privacy Guides
← Privacy Fundamentals - Master the basics: password managers, 2FA, and browser privacy
🚨 Privacy Emergency Guide - Immediate actions if you've been hacked or doxxed