Online communication guides
Online Chat Privacy: A Practical Checklist
Check what your profile reveals, review camera and microphone access, and protect personal details before starting an online conversation.
Start with what other people can see
Before your first conversation, open your public profile or ask someone you trust to check it. A display name, profile picture and biography can reveal more together than you intended. Consider whether your photo shows a workplace badge, house number or document. Keep your home address, daily schedule and identity documents out of a public profile. Share only what is useful for the conversation.
Review access before a voice or video call
If you move to a service that offers calls, check its camera and microphone permissions. Use a background that does not reveal private paperwork or other people without their agreement. Close unrelated windows before sharing your screen, and choose a specific window where that option is available. A call does not require showing the whole room or your entire desktop.
Keep passwords and verification codes out of chat
Never send a password, recovery code or one-time sign-in code to someone in a conversation. A request that appears to come from support can still be impersonation. If a message says your account needs attention, open the service through its official app or a known address and check there. Avoid signing in through unexpected message links.
Treat moving to another app as a fresh decision
A link can take you to a different service with different privacy settings. Before continuing, check the destination and review what your profile reveals there. You can decline a request to switch apps, share a phone number or turn on your camera. Agreeing to one conversation does not mean agreeing to every later request.
Have an exit plan
Find the service’s block and report controls before you need them. If someone keeps pushing your boundaries, stop replying and use those controls. Keep a record of suspicious messages when appropriate, but do not post another person’s private information publicly. Revisit your privacy settings after changing devices or adding a new account.
