Let’s be honest: data is useful. But we’re constantly told that in order to benefit from modern tech—and the insights that come with it—we have to give up our privacy. That useful data only comes from total access. That once your info is out there, you’ve lost control. That there’s no point in trying to protect it anymore.

These are myths. And they’re holding us back.

The truth is, you can benefit from data-driven tools without giving away everything. You can choose which companies to trust. You can protect one piece of information while sharing another. You can demand smarter systems that deliver insights without exploiting your identity.

Privacy isn’t about opting out of technology—it’s about choosing how you engage with it.

In this issue, we’re busting four of the most common myths about data collection. Because once you understand what’s possible, you’ll see how much power you still have.

Myth #1: “I gave data to one company, so my privacy is already gone”.

This one is everywhere. Once people sign up for a social media account or share info with a fitness app, they often throw up their hands and say, “Well, I guess my privacy’s already gone”.

But that’s not how privacy works.

Privacy is about choice. It’s about context. It’s about setting boundaries that make sense for you.

Just because you’ve shared data with one company doesn’t mean you’re giving blanket permission to every app, government agency, or ad network to track you forever.

You’re allowed to:

• Share one piece of information and protect another.
• Say yes to one service and no to others.
• Change your mind, rotate your identifiers, and reduce future exposure.

Privacy isn’t all or nothing. And it’s never too late to take some power back.

Myth #2: “If I give a company data, they can do whatever they want with it”.

Many businesses are committed to ethical data practices. Some explicitly state in their terms that they’ll never share your data, sell it, or use it outside the scope of the service you signed up for.

Look for platforms that don’t retain unnecessary data. There are more of them out there than you think.

Myth #3: “To get insights, a company needs to see my data”.

This one’s finally starting to crumble—thanks to game-changing tech like homomorphic encryption.

Yes, really: companies can now do compute on encrypted data without ever decrypting it.

It’s already in use in financial services, research, and increasingly, consumer apps. It proves that privacy and data analysis can go hand in hand.

Imagine this: a health app computes your sleep averages, detects issues, and offers recommendations—without ever seeing your raw data. It stays encrypted the whole time.

We need to champion this kind of innovation. More research. More tools. More adoption. And more support for companies already doing it—because our business sends a signal that this investment was worth it for them, and encourages other companies to jump on board.

Myth #4: “To prove who you are, you have to hand over sensitive data.”

You’ve heard this from banks, employers, and government forms: “We need your full ID to verify who you are”.

But here’s the problem: every time we hand over sensitive data, we increase our exposure to breaches and identity theft. It’s a bad system.

There’s a better way.
With zero-knowledge proofs, we can prove things like being over 18, or matching a record—without revealing our address, birthdate, or ID number.

The tech already exists. But companies and institutions are slow to adopt it or even recognize it as legitimate. This won’t change until we demand better.

Let’s push for a world where:

• Our identity isn’t a honeypot for hackers.
• We can verify ourselves without becoming vulnerable.
• Privacy-first systems are the norm—not the exception.

Takeaways

The idea that we have to trade privacy for progress is a myth. You can have both. The tools exist. The choice is ours.

Privacy isn’t about hiding—it’s about control. You can choose to share specific data without giving up your rights or exposing everything.

Keep these in mind:

• Pick tools that respect you. Look for platforms with strong privacy practices and transparent terms.
• Use privacy-preserving tech. Homomorphic encryption and zero-knowledge proofs are real—and growing.
• Don’t give up just because you shared once. Privacy is a spectrum. You can always take back control.
• Talk about it. The more people realize they have options, the faster we change the norm.

Being informed doesn’t have to mean being exploited.
Let’s demand better.

Yours in privacy,
Naomi

We all get a new computer or phone at some point. And when we do, there’s a screen that pops up: “Restore from backup?” One tap, and your whole digital life is right back where you left it. Easy, fast, familiar.

But what most people don’t realize is that restoring from backup doesn’t just bring back your apps. It reactivates years of old permissions, forgotten vulnerabilities, and tracking infrastructure that follows you from one device to the next.

It’s not a fresh start. It’s a rerun of your entire surveillance footprint.

Why you shouldn’t migrate everything

When you restore from a backup, you’re not just getting your apps and data—you’re reintroducing all your digital clutter. Here’s what comes with it:

• App bloat
  Those one-off apps you installed become permanent squatters. Even if you’ve forgotten them, they could still be harvesting all your activities in the background, sending your data out to third parties.
• Attack surface
  Every piece of software has vulnerabilities, and the more apps you install, the higher your security risk. Rather than transferring everything over, use this moment to think carefully about which apps are truly worth the added exposure.
• Accounts and tracking
  Your Apple ID, Google account, or other login credentials build up a massive behavioral profile on you. A new device can also help you sever those old data pipelines. By starting fresh with a new account, you make it far harder for data brokers to link your future activity to the massive profile built under your old ID.
• Ghost data
  Resetting from scratch also clears out “ghost data”: old settings, hidden config files, and leftover profiles you might not even realize you’re lugging around. Restoring from a backup can drag in outdated privacy defaults or security practices that no longer make sense. Plus, even uninstalled apps can leave behind bits of data—like login tokens or lingering preferences. Starting fresh ensures you’re adopting the newest, most secure configurations and leaving all that digital baggage behind.
• Habit traps
  Sometimes we keep using apps just because they auto-restore, not because they actually serve us. Starting fresh is like a mini “reset”—you can ditch old routines and make room for better, more privacy-focused tools. Maybe there’s an app you’ve been curious to try but never got around to because your usual go-tos were already at your fingertips. A clean slate finally gives you that push to explore new options and live intentionally.
• Mental bandwidth
  Clutter weighs us down—physically, mentally, and digitally. Fewer icons, fewer updates, fewer random notifications equals more headspace for the apps and tasks that truly matter.

Instead of dragging all that over, why not start with a clean slate?

7 smart moves when starting fresh

Here are seven clear, privacy-focused steps to help you make the most of your fresh start when setting up a new device:

1. 1. Start with essentials
      Install just the critical apps you truly can’t live without. Leave everything else off until you discover a real need for it.
   2. Use a browser
      Skip invasive native apps where you can. A privacy-friendly browser often demands fewer permissions and leaks less of your data.
   3. Pack light
      Think carefully about what needs to be on your phone 24/7. Not every app has to follow you everywhere—some can stay on a secondary device.
   4. Try privacy-focused alternatives
      While adding new apps, consider switching to more secure, privacy-respecting services. It’s a perfect time to level up your toolkit.
   5. Set up new accounts
      If you’re able, create fresh IDs instead of reusing old ones clogged with data exhaust. This cuts the thread linking your activity to outdated profiles. There might be costs associated with purchasing some new apps again, so decide if this is the right choice for you.
   6. Check permissions
      Pay attention to each permission request—location, contacts, camera—and limit or deny wherever possible. Don’t dish out unnecessary access.
   7. Be selective with backups
      Only migrate the essentials. Export contacts separately, store photos in a secure cloud, and keep old voice memos on a local drive if needed. Bringing less forward keeps your new device clutter-free.

Takeaways

Reclaiming your privacy isn’t about being perfect. It’s about making intentional choices. One of the easiest but most impactful things you can do is say no to restoring from backup.

This single decision sets the tone for your entire digital footprint. It gives you a clean slate. And it lets you rebuild on your terms.

Start with a handful of tools. Skip the bloat. Be picky about what gets installed and who gets your data.

It’s not about inconvenience—it’s about control. The digital world is filled with people trying to make decisions for you. Starting fresh is a way to take that power back.

Yours in privacy,
Naomi