The Beginner’s Guide to
Data Privacy & Cybersecurity
How would you like to feel - and more importantly, be - safe online again? Most of us know that we could be doing better when it comes to our online habits: we reuse bad passwords, overshare personal information, and leave ourselves exposed to all kinds of risks all over the internet. But it doesn’t have to be that way and it doesn’t have to be hard, either.
Welcome to The New Oil. This site is designed to help readers take back control of their data and regain their privacy online. Are you a programmer, sysadmin, networking expert, or hacker? If you answered “no,” you’re in the right place! This site is not aimed at tech experts. If you know how to download an app on your phone, how to sign up for an email account, or what a password is, you’ve got the qualifications to tackle the advice and content on this site.
Whether you’re looking to keep yourself safe from identity theft and common hacks, whether you simply object to mass surveillance, or anything in between, this site will help you learn the basics about protecting your identity, your safety, and your data in a way that’s accessible and achievable. Welcome to privacy made easy.
Sections
Guides that cover security, privacy, and anonymity grouped by their importance.
Getting Started
New here? Not sure why privacy matters, how to build a threat model, or the difference between security and privacy? Start here!
Read moreMost Important
Are you ready to patch up the most important holes in your security? Looking for the easiest steps to take with the maximum impact? Read this section!
Read moreModerately Important
Already got the basics covered but ready to take your privacy and security to the next step? Read this section!
Read moreLess Important
Ready for more advanced topics? Ready to start working on those last few tiny leaks you have left in your digital life? This section is for you!
Read moreQuickStart Guides
Guides that are frequently shared in response to popular questions.
Identity Theft
These pages will teach you how to protect against the most common techniques used to impersonate you and steal your identity.
Learn moreMobile Devices
Got a new phone and looking to get as much privacy and security out of it as possible? Start here.
Learn moreDesktop & Laptop Computers
Want to protect your Mac or PC as much as possible? This guide is for you!
Learn moreHome Network
If you just got a new router, are thinking about getting a new router, or simply want to know the best way to protect your home network from threats, this guide a must-read starting point.
Learn moreContent Creators
If you want to be an influencer, streamer, or other type of content creator, this guide will help protect you from doxxers, stalkers, and data leaks.
Learn more