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mirror of https://github.com/privacyguides/privacyguides.org.git synced 2025-07-02 17:42:39 +00:00

Tidy links, and lint (#2435)

Tidies up a number of things:

- Outdated links that redirect
- Dead links
- Remove unnecessary parameters eg "en" and "en-US"
- Shortened amazon, apps.apple.com, reddit links
- Removed trailing /
- Remove www (except for PG assets)
- Optimize unoptimized SVGs and remove xml declarations
- Lint yaml, md files

Co-Authored-By: Daniel Gray <dngray@privacyguides.org>
This commit is contained in:
kimg45
2024-03-13 03:18:28 +00:00
committed by Daniel Gray
parent d8627a1ad2
commit aaa843d272
116 changed files with 700 additions and 1311 deletions

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@ -3,26 +3,26 @@ title: "Account Deletion"
icon: 'material/account-remove'
description: It's easy to accumulate a large number of internet accounts, here are some tips on how to prune your collection.
---
Over time, it can be easy to accumulate a number of online accounts, many of which you may no longer use. Deleting these unused accounts is an important step in reclaiming your privacy, as dormant accounts are vulnerable to data breaches. A data breach is when a service's security is compromised and protected information is viewed, transmitted, or stolen by unauthorized actors. Data breaches are unfortunately all [too common](https://haveibeenpwned.com/PwnedWebsites) these days, and so practicing good digital hygiene is the best way to minimize the impact they have on your life. The goal of this guide then is to help navigate you through the irksome process of account deletion, often made difficult by [deceptive design](https://www.deceptive.design/), for the betterment of your online presence.
Over time, it can be easy to accumulate a number of online accounts, many of which you may no longer use. Deleting these unused accounts is an important step in reclaiming your privacy, as dormant accounts are vulnerable to data breaches. A data breach is when a service's security is compromised and protected information is viewed, transmitted, or stolen by unauthorized actors. Data breaches are unfortunately all [too common](https://haveibeenpwned.com/PwnedWebsites) these days, and so practicing good digital hygiene is the best way to minimize the impact they have on your life. The goal of this guide then is to help navigate you through the irksome process of account deletion, often made difficult by [deceptive design](https://deceptive.design), for the betterment of your online presence.
## Finding Old Accounts
### Password Manager
If you have a password manager that you've used for your entire digital life, this part will be very easy. Oftentimes, they include built-in functionality for detecting if your credentials were exposed in a data breach—such as Bitwarden's [Data Breach Report](https://bitwarden.com/blog/have-you-been-pwned/).
If you have a password manager that you've used for your entire digital life, this part will be very easy. Oftentimes, they include built-in functionality for detecting if your credentials were exposed in a data breach—such as Bitwarden's [Data Breach Report](https://bitwarden.com/blog/have-you-been-pwned).
<figure markdown>
![Bitwarden's Data Breach Report feature](../assets/img/account-deletion/exposed_passwords.png)
</figure>
Even if you haven't explicitly used a password manager before, there's a chance you've used the one in your browser or your phone without even realizing it. For example: [Firefox Password Manager](https://support.mozilla.org/kb/password-manager-remember-delete-edit-logins), [Google Password Manager](https://passwords.google.com/intro)
and [Edge Password Manager](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/save-or-forget-passwords-in-microsoft-edge-b4beecb0-f2a8-1ca0-f26f-9ec247a3f336).
and [Edge Password Manager](https://support.microsoft.com/microsoft-edge/save-or-forget-passwords-in-microsoft-edge-b4beecb0-f2a8-1ca0-f26f-9ec247a3f336).
Desktop platforms also often have a password manager which may help you recover passwords you've forgotten about:
- Windows [Credential Manager](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/accessing-credential-manager-1b5c916a-6a16-889f-8581-fc16e8165ac0)
- macOS [Passwords](https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211145)
- iOS [Passwords](https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211146)
- Windows [Credential Manager](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/accessing-credential-manager-1b5c916a-6a16-889f-8581-fc16e8165ac0)
- macOS [Passwords](https://support.apple.com/HT211145)
- iOS [Passwords](https://support.apple.com/HT211146)
- Linux, Gnome Keyring, which can be accessed through [Seahorse](https://wiki.gnome.org/Apps/Seahorse) or [KDE Wallet Manager](https://userbase.kde.org/KDE_Wallet_Manager)
### Email
@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ When attempting to regain access, if the site returns an error message saying th
### GDPR (EEA residents only)
Residents of the EEA have additional rights regarding data erasure specified in [Article 17](https://www.gdpr.org/regulation/article-17.html) of the GDPR. If it's applicable to you, read the privacy policy for any given service to find information on how to exercise your right to erasure. Reading the privacy policy can prove important, as some services have a "Delete Account" option that only disables your account and for real deletion you have to take additional action. Sometimes actual deletion may involve filling out surveys, emailing the data protection officer of the service or even proving your residence in the EEA. If you plan to go this way, do **not** overwrite account information—your identity as an EEA resident may be required. Note that the location of the service does not matter; GDPR applies to anyone serving European users. If the service does not respect your right to erasure, you can contact your national [Data Protection Authority](https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/law-topic/data-protection/reform/rights-citizens/redress/what-should-i-do-if-i-think-my-personal-data-protection-rights-havent-been-respected_en) and you may be entitled to monetary compensation.
Residents of the EEA have additional rights regarding data erasure specified in [Article 17](https://gdpr.org/regulation/article-17.html) of the GDPR. If it's applicable to you, read the privacy policy for any given service to find information on how to exercise your right to erasure. Reading the privacy policy can prove important, as some services have a "Delete Account" option that only disables your account and for real deletion you have to take additional action. Sometimes actual deletion may involve filling out surveys, emailing the data protection officer of the service or even proving your residence in the EEA. If you plan to go this way, do **not** overwrite account information—your identity as an EEA resident may be required. Note that the location of the service does not matter; GDPR applies to anyone serving European users. If the service does not respect your right to erasure, you can contact your national [Data Protection Authority](https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/law-topic/data-protection/reform/rights-citizens/redress/what-should-i-do-if-i-think-my-personal-data-protection-rights-havent-been-respected_en) and you may be entitled to monetary compensation.
### Overwriting Account information
@ -59,4 +59,4 @@ Even when you are able to delete an account, there is no guarantee that all your
## Avoid New Accounts
As the old saying goes, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Whenever you feel tempted to sign up for a new account, ask yourself, "Do I really need this? Can I accomplish what I need to without an account?" It can often be much harder to delete an account than to create one. And even after deleting or changing the info on your account, there might be a cached version from a third-party—like the [Internet Archive](https://archive.org/). Avoid the temptation when you're able to—your future self will thank you!
As the old saying goes, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Whenever you feel tempted to sign up for a new account, ask yourself, "Do I really need this? Can I accomplish what I need to without an account?" It can often be much harder to delete an account than to create one. And even after deleting or changing the info on your account, there might be a cached version from a third-party—like the [Internet Archive](https://archive.org). Avoid the temptation when you're able to—your future self will thank you!