These days, it feels like personal information is swimming around everywhere. My mail and other physical documents pile high with sensitive details, from my social security number to my emergency contact’s home address. Meanwhile, issues of cybersecurity abound.
I’m frequently mailed notices that my online accounts have been involved in web leaks, and tales of cyberattacks on schools and scammers defrauding targets of thousands of dollars circulate on newsfeeds and in media. (That’s not even to mention the avalanche of spam texts and calls I regularly receive.) Within my own bubble, I’d try to cut or rip up my private documents, but they continued to pour in faster than I could keep up with, and I got overwhelmed.
That was a few years ago. I took matters into my own hands and turned to a tried-and-true solution: a home paper shredder. At just over $30, my Amazon Basics shredder has been one of the best practical purchases I’ve probably ever made.
My overwhelm and horror at my volumes of sensitive physical documents — and my urge to shred them — is valid, according to Greta Geiselman , senior director of global workplace and security at BuzzFeed Inc. Shredding private materials helps “secur[e] personal data to ensure it doesn’t end up in the wrong hands,” Geiselman explained, noting that our papers can expose credit card numbers, tax information, social security numbers, phone numbers, addresses and more. “In my personal life, I shred most all of my documents that contain personal information — or try to,” Geiselman said.
“I shred tax returns and W2s.” The only major downside of using a shredder, she noted, is mistakenly destroying a necessary document you can’t easily replace or repair — like a social security card, birth certificate or other legal documents. In other words, there are few disadvantages: Just take care to store your harder to replace documents a safe distance from your need-to-shred pile.
It’s important to safeguard your personal information online, too, Geiselman noted. “Our information is out there more than just what we see on paper.” A good way to jumpstart that process? Check your privacy settings on sites like Facebook and Instagram, she recommended.
Check out some of the best at-home shredders and other personal security items, including the shredder I own from Amazon Basics , below. HuffPost and its publishing partners may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Every item is independently selected by the HuffPost Shopping team.
Prices and availability are subject to change. The experts consulted for this story do not necessarily endorse the products ahead unless otherwise noted. Based on Geiselman's advice on using shredders to safeguard personal data, we think this Amazon Basics home shredder is a great starter pick.
I've owned it for several years and it's worked wonderfully for my purposes. The device can tackle six sheets of paper at a time (more than enough given that I usually load papers individually as I look through them). It can also cut up thick credit cards and the like.
(The shredder also comes in five other versions that can handle up to 200 sheets at once .) I'm able to use it for a long time without having to empty its shredded contents, thanks to its 3.8-gallon capacity, and I've personally never had a problem with it overheating.
It is a bit loud while operating, which I attribute to the budget-friendly price. This model delivers a cross-cut shred; if you prefer a micro-shred, this Amazon Basics micro-cut shredder is a popular option with over 16,000 5-star ratings. This bestselling security roller stamp offers a quick solution to obscuring addresses on mail and the like.
Just roll it over shipping labels or even pill bottles; it'll cover information with indecipherable ink. Based on my own research, this is the one to get. It conceals writing more effectively than other rollers, based on reviews, plus is refillable so when it runs out of ink you won't have to toss it just to throw money at another.
Plus, your papers will still be recyclable after using it. (And it's quiet.) This version casts a 1.
5-inch-wide ink print, includes three ink refills and comes in eight colors. Promising reviews: "So awesome!! 100% recommend! I used to use sharpies, pens, cut up the stickers on boxes to cover up my name and address. Such a hassle.
This is so simple to use! Simply glide on items you want to keep confidential and you’re good to go! Will definitely be reordering." — Amazon Customer This Bonsai shredder is similarly budget-friendly, yet offers some impressive additional features: a transparent window, the ability to cut through staples (!) and a top handle for easier transport. It's also designed with the ability to manually reverse in case of a jam — which will surely come in handy.
Additionally, it auto-shreds when it detects paper. This version holds a massive 3.4 gallons of paper and can cross-cut six pages simultaneously.
If you'd prefer even more security, you can grab a six-page micro-cut shredder from Bonsai for about $6 more. Note: Clip the coupon for an additional discount at checkout. Promising review: "So I have a lot of paper and docs to shred and I needed shredder because of my private info to be safe.
I was stunned by how small this was but once I plugged in and started using it my goodness!! This was one of the best purchase of my life !!! This is so so worth every dollar and the best there is for this price. You will pay for lesser quality junk at Walmart, Target, etcs. Buy this!" — david "We purchased this to replace two other name brand shredders that we managed to kill in less than a year each.
This things works really well. We use a lubricating sheet each month or whenever we empty the bin and that makes a huge difference. Would buy again!" — keliana If you're not covering the webcam camera on your computer, you really should.
Obscuring the camera on your laptop or phone when you're not using it helps protect you against potential spying by hackers and prying eyes. These Cloud Valley camera covers are by far the bestselling option on Amazon , with nearly 40,000 5-star ratings. That's in part because of their elegant, simple design: You can just slide them back and forth when you need to.
However, their real star power is their careful construction in comparison to that of competitors, according to my research. While most other webcam covers are bulky and made of plastic, these ones are smaller and thinner than a dime. That lets them do their job — solely covering your camera — without impeding the functionality of your devices when it comes to closing your laptop, using phone cases and preserving your phone's location-sensing features, all problems attributed to peer models.
Plus, made of metal, they'll actually be durable. They come in a pack of two and in various nice but not-cutesy colors. You can use them on most laptops, computers, tablets and smartphones.
Promising review: "I'm not saying that hackers or the government or Facebook employees are spying on you through your laptop webcam ...
but these work really well to cover up the camera (just in case). It's super-thin, so no issues closing a MacBook Pro with it attached. Think of the careers that these could have saved on the accidentally revealing Zoom/Skype call.
.." — Hank Sanderson Get the benefits of shredding without paying for the heavy base basket with this Bonsai extendable shredder arm .
It comes with just the functioning top part of a shredder, sans bottom, so you can just place it over a box or whatever trash bin you already own and get to work. The Bonsai model cuts through six sheets at a time, plus credit cards, and expands from 11 to 15 inches. And if you're looking for an especially high-performing shredder arm — minus the basket — this eight-sheet Aurora version is a real standout for about $20 more.
It's able to cut through CDs, a feat for any shredder, and auto-starts when it detects paper. Both these benefits are typically associated with pricier shredders, so gaining them for about $40 is a steal. The Aurora extends from 12 to 15 inches.
Note: Clip the coupon for an extra discount at checkout. Promising review: "cant complain, I'm not a big shredder but my little shred pile was building up. I didn't want to spend 50 bucks on something I'm only occasionally going to use so I got this little guy for 25 and it fits the bill perfectly.
Sits beautifully on my trashcan and does its job, then I put it away when I don't need it. Def would recommend if you just need something shredded sometimes." — Adriana Originally designed for cutting herbs, these five-blade scissors are a convenient gem for makeshift shredding, reviewers say.
They're best for cutting up a small segment of paper, like your address from mail. Reviewers do say that for folks with arthritis, the cutting action may require too much force. The shears come in three colors, with a comb for easy cleaning and with a safety cover.
Promising review: "I use these for cutting my address off of mail. I don't like using them for herbs because they're difficult to clean and I think they cut the herbs too small. But they are great for cutting info out of paper .
" — MaddMaven "Bought these not to cut herbs but to shred papers after scanning them, as this was $8 and a shredder was $40. They work great for that; make partial cuts one way, then turn paper 90 degrees and cut them into tiny squares . They come sharp and well-aligned, and can cut through a piece of paper folded in half with minor difficulty.
The beauty of using this for shredding paper is that you can just shred the part that contains sensitive information instead of the entire piece of paper, which saves work. Comes with two accessories, a comb with thin teeth to clean the blades, and a guard that has a smaller comb on top of it with thicker teeth to also clean the blades. Unfortunately, there's no way to store the separate comb, so I just taped it to the guard.
I don't imagine that this would work well if you had low hand mobility/arthritis; the force to cut through paper is probably higher than with herbs." — B This Aurora shredder is splurgier, but according to reviews, it's well worth it, especially for folks with limited mobility or restricted upper body strength. Instead of shredding into a waste bin that you must uncover and lift, this model has a pull-out basket that's much easier to maneuver, according to reviewers.
(Its clear bin also lets you see when it's full at a glance, without having to lift it up to check.) Plus, the drawer fits 1.8 gallons of shredded paper, so you won't have to empty it as often in general.
All that aside, it's seemingly excellent at its job. The shredder delivers an extra-security micro-cut shred that can cut through CDs, staples, paper clips and 12 pieces of paper at a time, plus sticky, plastic-coated junk mail. It includes anti-jam and auto-reverse features, too.
Another huge plus that comes along with its increased price is its reduced noise level; it's designed to be actually-quiet as it operates. "It’s so quiet, and it works so well, I could sit here and shred for hours. And with all the paper I have to shred now, it literally will be hours of shredding," a reviewer named Helen jokes, adding, "It’s so quick.
So easy. So quiet. And kind of fun.
" Promising review: "The side pull-out shred container is a huge plus . No wrestling a heavy shredder top off while it spews shreds everywhere. The container is totally clear, so you can easily see when it needs to be emptied.
This shredder is solid and squarish and stays put even when you or the dog trip over it, unlike the tall scrawny shredders that gleefully fling themselves to the floor when bumped, dumping a huge pile of shreds for a cleanup job you didn't need. And it's so quiet that at first I wasn't sure it was working properly. It was.
It even cheerfully grinds up pieces of corrugated cardboard with no complaints. It considers jamming beneath it and hasn't jammed yet. I cannot find a single fault with it.
" — Reviewer1000 For an additional privacy safeguard, you'd be wise to add a privacy screen to your phone. It's designed to darken the view of your screen from the side, so people can't snoop over your shoulder to check out your bank statement or your texts. An expert previously recommended this YMHML privacy screen to HuffPost because of its use of tempered glass, which will also help protect your phone if it drops.
It comes in a two-pack and fits all different iPhone models, including the new 16. Promising review: "I am notorious for dropping my phone. I got a new iphone about a year and a half ago.
I got an otterbox case and one these privacy screens. Over about a year and a half, the screen protector had a few cracks in it. Nothing crazy though.
My actual screen had none! And the privacy aspect works so well . People are always asking me “are you just staring at a blank screen?” And im like bruh😐, youre the reason i need this😭..
. " — Michelle majors For folks with Samsung Galaxy phones, this two-pack of screen protectors for Androids will do the trick. Like the previous option, it's designed with tempered glass for added functionality and durability.
The protectors fit A12, A13, A13 LTE, A32, A03S and A02S phones, plus comes in versions that fit the A14 and A15 models. Promising review: "This glass protection and privacy screen are perfect . I work in health care and privacy is very important.
The screen works really well standing strong after I drop it. I have tremors in my hands so I drop my phone regularly . It also is a great price since I have two other screens I can use and not wait for another to arrive.
Really great screen." — kelsey esler This clever diversion book opens to a locked metal box, which requires either a combination or a key to open (your choice). You use it to safeguard precious smaller items like money, jewelry or identification.
You can also choose between several “book covers” to further personalize your “reading" (plus between two sizes and colors). Promising review: "I love it! It blends it perfectly with my decor and I am able to safely lock important documents like passports and social security cards." — jess VPNs, or virtual private networks, offer a useful layer of defense for your online privacy and security.
They hide your IP address, so your geographical location can’t be found, plus encrypt your data to prevent tracking of your online activity. Mullvad’s VPN is impressively highly rated by reviewers, with 4.8 out of 5 stars, and provides VPNs for up to five devices for time periods of six months or 12 months .
Folks especially appreciate Mullvad’s easy setup, making it accessible for those new to VPNs; its low price compared to competitors; and that the company doesn’t gather information from its users. While VPNs can often be used for streaming TV and movies otherwise restricted to other locations, reviewers do note that this option is probably not best for streaming (though it’s “ the best VPN out there for anonymity ” and “ great for privacy ”). Promising review: "This is my second year using Mullvad VPN.
I used another service before, but when you look at the security benefits of Mullvad (absolutely NO logging, no personally identifiable information, and located in a jurisdiction whose government will not compel Mullvad for any information) there is really no comparison. Regarding speed, you will always have decreased speed when using a VPN, that's the price for privacy. That being said, Mullvad has comparable speeds to its competitors and depending on your personal setup, sometimes faster.
Unless something catastrophic happens with the company, I don't see myself ever using another VPN provider." — AMZNreviewer Related From Our Partner.
