One of the biggest online privacy mistakes people tend to make is, well, not doing anything at all. In this case, we’re talking about not updating the default privacy settings on new devices. Considering the fact that not all device settings come pre-configured with privacy in mind, this is a crucial step in securing your gadgets from any potential vulnerabilities. Not to mention, it’s an easy precaution that will only take a few minutes (and could save you from a potential data security disaster down the line). In this guide, we’re going to cover the Firestick privacy settings you should update on your Amazon Fire TV Stick.
Update these Firestick privacy settings for better security
One of the biggest online privacy mistakes people tend to make is, well, not doing anything at all. In this case, we’re talking about not updating the default privacy settings on new devices. Considering the fact that not all device settings come pre-configured with privacy in mind, this is a crucial step in securing your gadgets from any potential vulnerabilities. Not to mention, it’s an easy precaution that will only take a few minutes (and could save you from a potential data security disaster down the line). In this guide, we’re going to cover the Firestick privacy settings you should update on your Amazon Fire TV Stick.
1. Disable Data Monitoring
One of Amazon’s default settings – and biggest privacy threats – is its data monitoring feature. This lets Amazon collect user data pertaining to app and device usage, and comes automatically switched to ‘ON’ when you first purchase your device. While this feature was designed to give users a better idea of how much bandwidth they’re using, it’s clearly not the best for privacy. If you don’t want Amazon to be able to access your app and device data, follow these steps to disable this setting:
1. From the home screen on your Amazon Fire TV Stick, navigate to Settings.
2. Open Preferences.
3. Select ‘Privacy Settings’ from the list of options.
4. Select ‘OFF’ for both ‘Device Usage Data’ and ‘Collect App Usage Data.’
5. Return to the Preferences menu
6. Click Data Monitoring and toggle to ‘OFF.’
2. Disable interest-based ads
Similarly, Amazon also serves up ads based on your interests – aka your usage and app data. If this feels like an infringement on your privacy, you can easily disable this setting. You can also delete all data that advertisers have about you. Here’s how:
- Go to Settings > Preferences > Privacy Settings.
- Reset your advertising ID (this will delete the information advertisers have on you) by highlighting the ‘Your Advertising ID’ setting and pressing Select on your Fire TV remote
- Then, turn off tracking by highlighting the ‘Interest-Based Ads’ setting.
- Press the Select button to toggle this setting to OFF.’
3. Add two-factor authentication
Relying on only a password to protect your Amazon Fire TV Stick is pretty useless. This is because, if your password falls into the wrong hands, your entire account and related data are at risk for cyber threats such as hacking, data theft, and malware. To add an extra shield of protection to your Amazon Fire TV Stick, you can use two-factor authentication. This feature, also commonly called 2FA, is a security tool that requires two steps for getting into your device and account logins. Luckily, you can enable 2FA for your Fire TV Stick directly in your Amazon account. Get started here and follow the on-screen instructions in your account.
4. Delete saved Wi-Fi passwords
This privacy issue may not be as glaring, which is why it’s important to take note of. Amazon saves your Wi-Fi passwords in the cloud for quicker network access. While convenient, this setting leaves your Wi-Fi network completely vulnerable to any bad actor who is able to hack into your account. You can also protect your Wi-Fi network and saved passwords by using a VPN, which we’ll detail below. Here’s how you can delete your saved Wi-Fi passwords:
- Using a web browser, log into your Amazon account.
- Go to Manage Your Content and Devices.
- Select ‘Preferences.’
- Under ‘Saved Wi-Fi Passwords,’ click Delete.
5. Add a Firestick VPN
If you’re looking for an all-encompassing security tool to cover your bases, we recommend adding a VPN to your Amazon Fire TV Stick. So, what is a VPN, exactly? Short for virtual private network, it’s an encryption tool that protects your internet traffic from being viewed or accessed by outside parties. Using encryption to scramble your network traffic and hide your IP address, a VPN makes it easy to completely shield your Amazon Fire TV Stick activity from potential outside threats. You can add a VPN for Fire TV Stick by using our how-to guide, and if you don’t have a VPN account yet, consider IPVanish.
6. Enable a VPN Kill Switch app
If you’ve added a Firestick VPN, then you’ll want to use a VPN Kill Switch app. A VPN kill switch helps prevent data leakage in the event of a connection disruption. To use the VPN Kill Switch app by IPVanish, simply download the application from the Amazon Appstore, log in, and activate the kill switch.
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