Privacy › Module 5 › Lesson 2
Phone & Device Privacy Checklist
A practical checklist for phone, laptop, and tablet privacy settings
Opening
Your devices know where you sleep
Phones and laptops collect location, contacts, microphones, and usage analytics. Manufacturers and apps request broad permissions by default. This checklist walks through the highest-impact settings on any modern device.
1. Mobile — iOS and Android
App tracking and ads
Disable cross-app tracking (iOS ATT prompt: Deny). Limit ad personalization in Google account settings.
Location
Use While Using the App only. Review which apps accessed location recently and revoke abusers.
Microphone and camera
Check indicators after calls. Remove unused apps with those permissions.
Lock screen
Strong PIN or passphrase. Hide notification contents on lock screen for OTP codes and messages.
2. Laptop — Windows, macOS, Linux
Disk encryption
Enable BitLocker, FileVault, or LUKS so stolen drives are not readable.
Firewall
Keep the OS firewall enabled. Block incoming connections you do not need.
Updates
Automatic security updates patch leaks brokers and criminals exploit.
Screen lock
Short timeout plus password. Require password on wake from sleep.
3. Accounts and Backups
Sign out of shared computers. Encrypt cloud backups with a strong account password and 2FA. Review which devices are signed into Apple ID, Google, or Microsoft and remove old hardware you sold or recycled.
Visual · illustration
Work through mobile, laptop, and account sections once per quarter—privacy settings drift after OS updates.
Permissions audit in under five minutes
Open Settings → Privacy on your phone and sort apps by last access. Revoke anything that should not have touched location or photos this month.
Knowledge Check
Disk encryption on a laptop protects data if:
Multiple choice
Knowledge Check
Hiding notification contents on the lock screen helps prevent:
Multiple choice
Knowledge Check
True or False: You should review and remove old devices signed into your cloud accounts.
True or False