YOUR FRIENDS' ACTIVITY

    A User's Guide to Protecting Your Privacy

    By | Work + Money – Mon, Sep 19, 2011 5:05 PM EDT


    By Josh Dzieza    , DETAILS

    Six simple tools that will safeguard your gear and identity from digital intruders.

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    PROTECT YOUR: Phone

    SERVICE: Lookout Mobile Security

    HOW IT WORKS: The app scans for malware and viruses and will track a stolen phone. Subscribers can remotely lock it and purge contacts.

    COST: Free app and basic service; $30/year for a subscription; mylookout.com

    PROTECT YOUR: Home

    SERVICE: Dropcam

    HOW IT WORKS: A camera sends a live, encrypted feed from your living room to a PC or smartphone from which you can zoom, pan, and turn on night vision.

    COST: $279 for camera and $9/month for premium service; dropcam.com

    PROTECT YOUR: Laptop

    SERVICE: Prey

    HOW IT WORKS: It tracks your stolen computer, password-protects it, and erases all your stored passwords. It'll also snap the perp's picture, grab screenshots of his digital doings, and sound an alarm.

    COST: Free account; preyproject.com

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    PROTECT YOUR: Car

    SERVICE: Viper SmartStart GPS

    HOW IT WORKS: Your car's GPS module links to the phone's SmartStart app, letting you know if the car moves without you, monitoring its location, and controlling the locks, engine, and alarm.

    COST: $399 for GPS and $70/year for service; viper.com

    PROTECT YOUR: Web searches

    SERVICE: Cocoon

    HOW IT WORKS: It routes your browsing activity through its server and stores your encrypted cookies. Plus, it creates a temporary e-mail address when you need one to log into a site.

    COST: Free; getcocoon.com

    PROTECT YOUR: Passwords

    SERVICE: LastPass

    FEATURES: It generates impossible-to-guess codes for your online accounts (e-mail, social networks, banking) and saves them on its server. Then when you sign into LastPass, it automatically fills in all your stored passwords.

    COST: Free; $1/month for phone access; lastpass.com

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    Photo: Plamen Petkov