Personal Security Checklist — The Narrow Path

Daily Habits — Your New Defaults

Things you do every time, without thinking, because they're now part of how you operate.

Use your password manager for every login (Ch 4)
Communicate sensitive things on Signal (Ch 5)
Don't reuse passwords — ever (Ch 4)
Don't click links in unexpected messages without checking (Ch 10)
Use privacy-respecting search engine (Ch 9)
Keep uBlock Origin running (Ch 9)
SIFT before sharing: Stop, Investigate, Find better coverage, Trace to origin (Ch 10)

Scheduled Maintenance — Put These in Your Calendar

Recurring tasks that keep your security posture current. Set them as calendar reminders.

Data broker opt-outs (every 3–4 months) — opt-out requests expire; brokers re-add you from new sources (Ch 8)
App permission audit (quarterly) — new apps accumulate; permissions drift (Ch 2)
Have I Been Pwned check (quarterly) — new breaches surface constantly (Ch 4)
Update devices when prompted (ongoing) — security patches close known vulnerabilities
Review social media privacy settings (quarterly) — platforms change defaults without notice (Ch 8)

Situational Activations — When the Context Changes

Activate these when your threat level shifts. Keep in your field journal as reference, not daily tasks.

Threat model review — before any change in exposure (new job, protest, public speaking) (Ch 3)
Full self-OSINT check — if you suspect you're being targeted (Ch 8)
Burner practices — for high-risk contexts requiring separation from your primary identity
Tighten social media settings — before events, travel, or public visibility (Ch 8)
Check phone for unfamiliar apps — after device has been out of your physical control
Review who has access to shared accounts/documents — after any group membership change

The Structural Ceiling

Individual security has a limit. Your security ceiling is set by the least secure person you communicate with. You can encrypt everything on your end — if the person you're talking to screenshots the conversation, encryption didn't help. That's why Level 2 shifts from what you do alone to who you do it with.