Welcome to Opt Out October: It’s Time to Ditch Unwanted Subscriptions and AI Spies

Ready to get rid of companies watching your every move? We found the right guide.

Tired of companies constantly updating their terms and conditions to

? On Thursday, the Electronic Frontier Foundation launched

, urging people to retake control of their data and devices.

If you’ve been wanting to change your privacy settings, stop social media from looking over your shoulder and

, this is the guide to start with. The EFF guide walks through all the toggles to flip and the platforms or services you should outright avoid, suggesting better alternatives where available.

The EFF notes on its blog that it will update the guide’s instructions and details if anything changes.

A representative from the EFF didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Find privacy suggestions and alternatives to common choices.

EFF’s Opt Out October focuses on services that have been shown to treat your personal data poorly, and there are a lot of options.

, which teaches you how to stop chatbots and platforms like Twitch and Snapchat from training on your data.

If you’re frustrated with social media’s use of your personal data, its obnoxious ads or its

. If you want to move away from Chrome’s activity tracking or find a free, user-friendly design tool beyond Adobe,

. And if you’ve finally had it with Windows cramming ads and AI into everything,

Ring offers a lot of AI options, including some you’re going to want to turn off.

Your social media and AI tools are good places to start, but there’s much more you can do for your personal privacy.

, which offers plenty of options to encrypt your internet data, hide what country you’re connecting from and more.

If you have smart devices or just want to improve your home’s privacy and safety, I’ve also got tips

You may also appreciate guides for the best privacy settings for specific devices you use. Here are

here are settings for Ring security devices you may want to turn off

Best Wi-Fi Routers for 2026: TP-Link Dominated Our Latest Round of Lab Testing

Best Mobile VPN of 2026: Enjoy Privacy Protection on the Go

Best DIY Home Security Systems of 2026: Install Them Yourself

Tyler has worked on, lived with and tested all types of smart home and security technology for over a dozen years, explaining the latest features, privacy tricks and top recommendations.

With degrees in business management, literature and technical writing, Tyler takes every opportunity to play with the latest AI technology, push smart devices to their limits and occasionally throw cameras off his roof, all to find the best devices to trust in your life. He always checks with the renters (and pets) in his life to see what smart products can work for everyone, in every living situation.

Living in beautiful Bend, Oregon, gives Tyler plenty of opportunities to test the latest tech in every kind of weather and temperature. But when not at work, he can be found hiking the trails, trying out a new food recipe for his loved ones, keeping up on his favorite reading or gaming with good friends.

Welcome to Opt Out October: It’s Time to Ditch Unwanted Subscriptions and AI Spies

I Tested the Three Big Voice Assistants to See Who’s Best at Predicting Weather

WhatsApp Unveils Strict Parental Controls to Head Off Looming Age Laws

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top