[ DuckDuckGo Privacy Weekly ] For Jan 14, 2021

• WhatsApp Gives Users an Ultimatum: Share Data With Facebook or Stop Using the App [arstechnica.com]
  WhatsApp users beware: the app will now force users to agree to share data (i.e. phone numbers, other people’s numbers stored in address books, location, etc.) with Facebook (even if you've previously opted out). Time to switch to Signal!
• Signal for Beginners [freedom.press]
  So, you've heard it's time to dump WhatsApp and switch to Signal... but how? Martin Shelton breaks down how to get started on iOS, Android, and desktop, use group messaging and attachments, and set yourself up for privacy.
• Anti-competitive Google [post-gazette.com]
  "Google’s power is immeasurable. You see what Google wants you to see." An explainer on the U.S. antitrust lawsuits against the tech giant for "favoring its own products over competitors’ in search results and unfairly driving up digital ad prices."
• A Personal Digital Reset [anildash.com]
  "App defaults are designed for the companies that make them, not for users." Wise words from Anil Dash in his "personal digital reset". Take a minute to check the default settings for your apps. There's at least one with privacy by default, y'know. 😉
• Strong Passwords Aren't as Easy as Adding 123 [cnet.com]
  Do you add "1" to the end of a password to make it stronger? Or capitalize the first letter? There's a better way, says Laura Hautala, including:
  • Break up common words;
  • Use a password manager.
• How to Opt Out of Facial Recognition at the Airport [cntraveler.com]
  The use of facial recognition tech at airports is becoming more common, but how to opt out can be a mystery. Jessica Puckett reveals "four common airport areas that leverage facial recognition technology and how to avoid surrendering your biometric data at each."
• The Privacy Wins Worth Celebrating in an Otherwise Dreary 2020 [mashable.com]
  Thankfully there were wins for privacy in 2020, explains Jack Morse, such as:
  • Regional bans of face recognition tech;
  • California Consumer Privacy Act came into effect, with impact beyond California;
  • Stronger calls for encryption, e.g. in messaging apps.

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