Case file: your digital life
Free security and privacy checklists. In your browser.
Data is like fingerprints. Leave none at the scene and nobody can trace you.
No sign-up, no install. Your answers .
Hover, focus or tap to declassify.
20 case files are open. Pick one and start.
Why this site
No account
No sign-up and no password to lose. Open a checklist and start.
Answers stay put
Checklists run in your browser. What you answer is not sent to a server.
Steps, not scare stories
You get a score and concrete next steps. It is an orientation, not legal advice.
How it works
- Panel 1
Answer
Short questions about your devices, accounts or business. Yes, no or not sure.
- Panel 2
Score
Your answers add up to a score, calculated in your browser.
- Panel 3
Steps
You get concrete steps to take, the most important first.
Most wanted: start here
Six case files for you and your family, in the order we would open them. Biggest everyday risk first.
- Available now
Most wanted No. 1
Password manager, unique passwords, multi-factor sign-in and passkeys, recovery codes and your e-mail as the master key.
Your e-mail is the master key: whoever holds it can reset everything else.
- Available now
Most wanted No. 2
Spot fake messages, fake invoices and cloned voices, and learn to confirm a request through a second channel.
Most real damage starts with a message or a call, not a clever hack.
- Available now
Most wanted No. 3
Your mobile phone (Android and iOS)
Updates, app permissions, screen lock, backups and what to do when the phone is lost.
Your phone holds your bank, your photos and your sign-in codes.
- Available now
Most wanted No. 4
Router admin password, firmware, WPA3 and a separate network for smart devices and guests.
The router guards every device in your home, and it is often left on factory settings.
- Available now
Most wanted No. 5
Smart devices without the cloud
Check whether your smart home, shop or cold-storage devices still work and stay safe when the internet or the manufacturer's cloud is gone.
Cameras, locks and heating should stay safe and working when the cloud is gone.
- Available now
Most wanted No. 6
The 3-2-1 backup rule, offline copies, a tested restore and who in your team knows how to recover.
A dead disk, a lost phone or ransomware hurts far less with a recent copy.
The case files
One folder per checklist, grouped by topic.
Devices and networks
Case file 1 of 4: Smart devices without the cloud
Accounts and scams
Case file 1 of 3: Accounts and passwords
Business
Case file 1 of 2: Backups and ransomware
Law and regulation
Case file 1 of 4: AI literacy at work (AI Act, Article 4)
Development and servers
Case file 1 of 3: Secure software development
Personal privacy
Case file 1 of 4: Using AI tools safely
Questions and answers
What is Private by Design?
A free website with security and privacy checklists for devices, accounts, small businesses and software development. You answer short questions and get a score and concrete next steps.
Who is it for?
Households, small businesses, developers and people who run servers. Each checklist says who it is meant for.
Is it free?
Yes. The site and its checklists are free of charge.