Living with roommates has its perks — splitting rent, sharing responsibilities, and often making friends — but it also has its fair share of challenges, especially when it comes to maintaining your online privacy.

Sharing a living space typically means sharing an internet connection and potentially even devices. This can blur the lines between personal privacy and shared access, making it important to adopt strategies that protect your digital identity. Whether you’re concerned about data breaches, social media snooping, or just keeping your sensitive information secure, there are several ways to ensure your online privacy remains intact while living with others.

1. Secure Your Internet Connection with a VPN

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is essential for anyone looking to protect their online privacy, particularly in a shared living arrangement. A VPN encrypts your internet traffic, making it nearly impossible for others to intercept your data. Whether you're browsing, streaming, or doing online banking, using a VPN ensures that your data stays private.

Why is this so important with roommates? Even though you're sharing the same Wi-Fi, a VPN can prevent anyone in the household from tracking your online activities. It also offers protection against external threats by masking your IP address. This means not only can your roommates not see what you're doing online, but outside hackers are also kept at bay.

2. Avoid Using Public Wi-Fi at Home

When you're living with roommates, it might be tempting to rely on open or shared Wi-Fi networks, especially if someone else in the household has set it up. However, using unsecured public or open Wi-Fi networks is a massive privacy risk. These networks allow other users on the same connection to monitor your internet activity or even capture sensitive information like passwords or financial details.

To safeguard yourself, ensure that the Wi-Fi network in your home is password-protected with a strong, unique password. As a general rule, avoid any Wi-Fi that doesn't require a password. If your roommates frequently have guests over and you’re worried about them sharing your network, consider setting up a guest network with limited access to protect your devices and data.

3. Protect Your Devices with Strong Passwords and Encryption

In a shared living situation, it’s common for devices like computers or tablets to be left out in the open. Even if you trust your roommates, mistakes happen — someone could borrow your device and unintentionally access your personal information. To avoid this, make sure that all your devices are password-protected. Use strong, complex passwords that are difficult to guess.

Consider enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever possible. This approach adds an additional layer of security by requiring a second form of verification (such as a code sent to your phone) to log in to your accounts. Even if someone gets hold of your password, they won’t be able to access your account without that second factor.

4. Be Mindful of Shared Devices

If your household shares devices like a communal computer or tablet, take extra precautions. Start by creating individual user accounts for everyone, complete with their logins. This allows each person to keep their files and browsing history separate. More importantly, it minimizes the risk of someone accidentally accessing sensitive information or logging into your accounts.

5. Use Encrypted Messaging Apps

When communicating online, particularly about private matters such as finances or work, opt for encrypted messaging services. Popular messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram offer end-to-end encryption, ensuring that only you and the recipient can read the messages. This is especially useful if you're concerned about the security of your internet connection or if you suspect someone in the household might be snooping.

6. Secure Your Online Accounts

Even with all the precautions you take on your devices and network, your online accounts can still be vulnerable. To minimize the risk, ensure that all your online accounts — such as email, social media, and financial services — are as secure as possible. This includes using unique, strong passwords for each account. Password managers can help you generate and store complex passwords, eliminating the need to remember them all manually.

Regularly check your account activity for unusual behavior or logins from unfamiliar devices.

7. Educate Your Roommates on Privacy Best Practices

Even if you take all the necessary steps to safeguard your online privacy, it’s important to ensure that your roommates are on the same page.

Many people aren't aware of the risks associated with poor online privacy habits, so sharing what you've learned can help everyone in the household stay safe. For example, explain how two-factor authentication can protect their accounts. This will reduce the risks for the entire household.

8. Know When It’s Time to Find a Different Roommate

If your roommates consistently disregard your privacy concerns or refuse to adopt better security practices, it may be time to reconsider your living situation. Living with someone who risks your digital privacy can cause long-term stress, and no online security tools can compensate for an untrustworthy housemate. In this case, seeking a new living arrangement might be the best solution for both your privacy and peace of mind.

SpareRoom, a roommate matching website, will help you find roommates all over the US, whether you’re looking for a roommate in Boston, NYC, Washington D.C., or somewhere else. Take a look at SpareRoom today.

9. Keep Your Personal Information Off Shared Devices

It can be easy to accidentally save personal files or login details on shared devices. Always double-check to ensure you haven’t left any sensitive information behind. This could include anything from saved passwords in your browser to automatically filling in your credit card information when shopping online.

Conclusion

Maintaining online privacy in a shared household can be tricky, but with the right strategies, it’s entirely possible. You can minimize the risks by using a VPN, securing your devices, avoiding public Wi-Fi, and ensuring your online accounts are protected. Ultimately, staying proactive about your online security is the best way to safeguard your personal information, no matter who you share your home with.