Essentials — Do These First
Note: It is recommended to visit the startup guide found HERE before reviewing the checklist so a sufficient foundation has already been established and put in place.
- Use a password manager – strong, unique passwords for everyone (Proton Pass)
- Turn on 2FA – email, banking, school accounts (Proton Authenticator)
- Use email aliases – separate school, games, and parent accounts (Proton’s Hide My Email aliases / SimpleLogin)
- Pause before clicking – stop and think before opening links, downloads, or attachments, even if they appear from friends, school, or familiar companies. Check for signs of phishing, unexpected files, or unusual requests, and when in doubt, ask a parent or verify the sender.
- Update devices – phones, tablets, computers, smart devices
- Use a VPN – encrypt connections at home & on public Wi‑Fi (Proton VPN)
- Network-level protection (for advanced users) – block ads, trackers, malicious sites (NextDNS)
- Use a privacy-focused browser – install Brave or DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser to block trackers, fingerprinting, and invasive ads by default. Enable built-in HTTPS upgrades and shields (these features can be found under the browser’s settings menu) for safer browsing.
Note: Running NextDNS-which is an advanced tool- + Proton VPN together requires adjustments to avoid conflicts and overlap for successful combining. Oftentimes, users will just choose one or the other based on intended goals or preferences
Additional Protections — Layer On Next
- Back up important files – save photos, schoolwork, and documents in Proton Drive, an encrypted cloud storage, so your family’s data stays safe even if a device is lost, broken, or compromised.
- Review privacy settings – limit location sharing, app permissions, ad tracking
- Run anti-malware scans – Malwarebytes, or if using Bitdefender, its native scanner
- Unlink unnecessary accounts – remove connections between apps or sites to reduce tracking and data exposure (e.g., Don’t choose to log in to TikTok using your Google account)
- Safe browsing extensions – uBlock Origin or Bitdefender’s anti tracker extension
- Talk about online safety – make it normal to ask for help if something feels off
- Teach kids safe habits – don’t reuse passwords, question strange links/messages
How to Use This Checklist
Check items off together to build family-wide privacy habits.
Start with essentials — these block most common risks immediately.
Add additional protections as devices or time allow.