The Online Safety Act is Propagandised Garbage that Doesn't Actually Protect Me. How Can I Protect Myself from Real Threats (And It) Online?

With that start, I've made my stance very, very clear. I have also never written a blog before, but I am of the opinion that sharing this information is a moral duty, and everyone from all political spectrums can agree that this is not about protecting children and that it's utterly useless for anything other than surveillence and control.

So, what can you do to evade giving your information to the government, random corporations that aren't even from the UK, and whoever the hell they're selling their data to?

 This will be split into three parts, with absolutely no BS:

    1. Home Network Configuration

    2. Browser Configuration

    3. Removing The Data They Already Have 

This guide will also only focus on Windows 11, as the current most common Operating System in the UK that isn't for a phone. 

A lot of these settings can also be done on Android devices, though iOS has limited functionality in some cases, for example only allowing you to use Safari or reskinned versions of it.

Home Network Configuration 

First of all, while a VPN will hide your location, you do not need one as your first and only step against OSA, especially if you subscribe to something. I mean, yeah, they're useful, but anyone who's making you pay for one probably sucks, you're better off taking THESE measures first.

Turn off ALL location services. 

 

On Windows 11, this is extremely easy. Make sure all of these are disabled. 

 

You will also want all of this crap turned off. You will find these by searching "telemetry" so there is no need to fart about in the settings if you aren't super tech literate (no shame, everyone deserves to be protected online.)

The more intermediate step you need to take is making sure your computer's IP address is not static, as this makes it slightly less trackable, though IP is still somewhat indicative of your location.

 

You will find this option in your network settings, exactly where you connect to new Wi-Fi networks.

This is sufficient, though you can do a little more if you're willing to reconfigure your router and use a VPN/proxy - you can create your own VPN if you're willing to put in the time and research, though I'm not sure I'd recommend it.

As the name suggests, a proxy is a forwarding service, in this case for web traffic, which will hide all your details from whoever you're sending the request to, for example Google.

Most VPN users interested because of the Online Safety Act could get away with just using a proxy service, and I'd strongly recommend doing so. Proxy services are cheap! I'm going to take the lazy way out and say look it up yourself, though r/PrivacyGuides and their helpful little website are great resources I'd recommend parcing through.

Browser Configuration.

Your browser configuration isn't just the settings you use, but the browser and search engine you use. Your choice for this will be personalised, though most people will recommend DuckDuckGo, Brave, or Tor for privacy. Personally, I use FireFox and still haven't made the switch.

Search Engines are important as well, as many are built with privacy (and security) in mind. 

I use StartPage, which allows great customisation with both where your searches registered as being sent from (including totally anonymously) but also which country of origin the sites you're looking for are. StartPage also doesn't do sponsored posts, which alongside AI is absolutely what ruined google. 

StartPage is user friendly enough that I'd recommend it to people who aren't super into computing. You can find a few other recommendations here including Ecosia and Mojeek, of which I have both tried and generally enjoyed.

Whatever you pick, you want location data removed via your browser & search engine settings. 

Is this a good time to shill de-googling? Probably, but thats for another day.

Removing The Data They Already Have.

Already, you have a decent setup, and will find using the internet a little less revolting, however, you've been using google or some other data-hoarding BS for as long as you've been online, right? 

Just because it's already out there doesn't mean you've already lost. Your final step to being just a little better with your online privacy is sending a strongly worded e-mail to every company that has your data. No, I'm not kidding. 

Do a clean out. Every service that made you sign up to use once and you just shrugged and went 'eh, fuck it?' Trash 'em.

Fortunately, you don't have to write the e-mails yourself, and no, you don't have to pay either.

yourdigitalrights.org is a non profit which supplies a drafted, complete with legal-ese, data deletion request for you to copy in and send. Your e-mail request is generated for you and the company you send it to is required by law to fulfil said request within 30 days. 

If they do not, you are allowed to complain. Your digital rights has more details if you need them, and its a valuable read regardless.

Good luck!
 

Note that this is the bare minimum, and you can absolutely do more, but my goal is as many people as possible being able to use this to be safer online.