Kids first phone checklist
This checklist covers everything you need to do for kids first phone checklist. Each item is prioritized by importance so you can tackle the most critical steps first. Whether you have fifteen minutes or an hour, work through as many items as you can. The must-do items alone will significantly improve your privacy and security posture. Save this page and return to it as you complete each step.
Your Checklist
Update all software to latest versions
must-doWhy: Software updates contain critical security patches that fix known vulnerabilities. Running outdated software is one of the most common ways attackers gain access to devices and accounts.
How: Check your device settings for system updates, then update all installed apps through your app store. Enable automatic updates where possible.
Change passwords for important accounts
must-doWhy: If your passwords were exposed in a data breach or if you reuse passwords across sites, changing them prevents unauthorized access to your accounts.
How: Use Bitwarden password manager to generate strong unique passwords for email, banking, and social media accounts first. Then work through remaining accounts.
Enable two-factor authentication
must-doWhy: Two-factor authentication blocks over 99% of automated account takeover attacks. Even if someone has your password, they cannot access your account without the second factor.
How: Go to the security settings of each important account and enable 2FA. Use an authenticator app like Authy rather than SMS when possible.
Review app permissions
must-doWhy: Many apps request access to your camera, microphone, location, and contacts but do not actually need them. Excessive permissions allow apps to collect data unnecessarily.
How: Go to your device privacy settings and review each app permission category. Revoke access for any app that does not need that specific permission to function.
Install a privacy-focused browser
must-doWhy: Standard browsers like Chrome track your browsing activity for advertising purposes. Privacy browsers block trackers and ads by default, giving you a cleaner and more private experience.
How: Download Brave browser from brave.com and set it as your default browser. It imports your bookmarks and passwords from your current browser automatically.
Review social media privacy settings
should-doWhy: Default social media settings typically maximize your public exposure and data sharing. Adjusting these settings limits who can see your information and how it is used for advertising.
How: Go to the privacy settings of each social media platform you use. Set your profile to private, limit who can find you by email or phone, and disable ad personalization.
Set up a VPN
should-doWhy: A VPN encrypts your internet connection, preventing your ISP, public WiFi operators, and network observers from seeing your browsing activity.
How: Sign up for ProtonVPN (free plan available) or Mullvad VPN. Install the app on all your devices and enable it, especially when using public WiFi.
Check for data breaches
should-doWhy: Your email or passwords may have been exposed in past data breaches without your knowledge. Knowing which accounts are compromised lets you prioritize password changes.
How: Visit haveibeenpwned.com and enter your email addresses. Review the list of breaches and change passwords for all affected accounts immediately.
Set up email aliases
should-doWhy: Using your real email address everywhere makes it easy for companies to track you across services and for your email to end up on spam lists or in data breaches.
How: Sign up for SimpleLogin or use Apple Hide My Email to create unique email aliases for different services. Use these aliases instead of your real email when signing up.
Review connected apps and services
should-doWhy: Over time, you grant access to many third-party apps through social login or API connections. These connections can persist long after you stop using the app, creating unnecessary exposure.
How: Go to the security settings of Google, Apple, Facebook, and other accounts to review connected apps. Revoke access for anything you no longer use or recognize.
Back up important data securely
nice-to-haveWhy: Having secure backups protects you from ransomware, device theft, and accidental data loss. Without backups, a single incident could mean losing years of photos, documents, and important files.
How: Set up encrypted backups to a cloud service you trust or to a local external drive. For phones, use the built-in encrypted backup feature. Verify backups work by doing a test restore.
Clean up old accounts
nice-to-haveWhy: Old accounts you no longer use still hold your personal data and could be compromised in future breaches. Deleting unused accounts reduces your overall data exposure.
How: Make a list of services you no longer use and delete your accounts. Use justdelete.me to find deletion instructions for common services. Start with accounts that have sensitive data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to complete every item on this checklist?
Focus on the must-do items first as they provide the most significant privacy and security improvements. The should-do items add extra layers of protection. Nice-to-have items are for thorough privacy maintenance. Even completing just the must-do items will put you ahead of the majority of users in terms of digital privacy.
How often should I run through this checklist?
We recommend doing a full privacy audit annually and a quick check of the must-do items quarterly. Life events like getting a new device, changing jobs, or a data breach notification should trigger an immediate review. Set calendar reminders to keep yourself on track.
Can I do this checklist on behalf of a family member?
Yes, this checklist works well for helping family members improve their privacy. For elderly relatives or children, you may want to sit with them and walk through each step together. For teens, use it as an opportunity to discuss digital privacy and let them complete the steps with your guidance.