Mobile Wireless

For the U.S., Mint Mobile is our choice. You can get a plan for $15/month for a 5GB plan (that’s usually plenty for us). It uses the T-Mobile network, so coverage is usually not a problem. If you want to be on the Verizon network, then Visible has an unlimited plan for $30/month.

For outside the U.S., we use a combination of the fllowing:

• Data: We’ve had great success with Airalo (Use code MICHAE4369).
• Voice/Text: We use Mint’s international wallet.

If you didn’t want to use the combination above, another option for data and text/voice outside the U.S. is Orange.

Digital Life

Here are some things we do to optimize our life using technology.

• Use the 3-2-1 rule to backup your data. This includes documents (ex: taxes), photos, important emails, etc. Here’s a nice article which explains it in more detail.
  • Have 3 copies of your data.
  • Have 2 of those copies onsite (different media). Ex: on your computer and on an external hard drive.
  • Have 1 copy offsite. Use a service like iCloud or Backblaze.

Security

• Security related settings in red below. Privacy settings are in purple.

Online Cleanses

Every now and then, perform an online cleanse. We do it every month-ish.

1. Ensure you’re using a VPN. We use ProtonVPN (paid) and have used NordVPN in the past. We currently use proton because we also use their mail service.
2. Use anything other than Google for your web searching. Use something that doesn’t track your searches and doesn’t display ads. ex: DuckDuckGo
3. Avoid using mobile apps that show ads.
4. Use the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s Cover Your Tracks.
5. Reset your banks’s trusted devices. i.e. places you’re logged into. This is our list.
   1. Schwab
   2. Chase -> Security & Privacy (on top menu)
   3. Citi -> Profile -> More Settings -> Apps with Account Access & Manage Desktop Apps & Trusted identity
   4. Amex
   5. Plaid - disconnect and delete any accounts you’re no longer using.
6. Remove all cookies and website data on all devices
   1. iPhone/iPad Safari: Settings -> Safari -> Advanced -> Wesite Data
   2. Mac Brave: Preferences -> Privacy and security -> clear browsing data, cookies & other
   3. Mac Safari: Preferences -> Privacy -> Manage Website Data -> Remove All