Setting up an online account

Before signing up to any website or service I go through the following process:

• identify site.
  • search for account deletion options
    • on site
    • on search engine
• search for two factor authentication options
• search for integrations (ifttt, shortcuts.app, other automation tools, etc)
• read TOCs and privacy policy
• look at subscription options
• create account with throw away email address and password
• password reset
  • if password is plain text delete / change details and find alternative website/service
  • else continue
• correct email and password on account.
• leave as many profile fields empty as possible and delete data where possible.
• use dedicated one off email address or tag like user+tag[@].domain.tld
• enable two factor auth options
• add account to password manager
• use service

At any point the information returned is not acceptable find an alternative.

Essentially only sign up to services/sites that:

• support 2FA
• do not store passwords in plain text
• share my ethics/morals
• do not share my data other than absolutely neccesary
• allows account to be deleted

Published 23 October 2017, with 175 words.