diff --git a/src/common/util.cpp b/src/common/util.cpp
index 6f75e5bad..2337f5766 100644
--- a/src/common/util.cpp
+++ b/src/common/util.cpp
@@ -413,4 +413,13 @@ std::string get_nix_version_display_string()
     }
     return false;
   }
+  void set_strict_default_file_permissions(bool strict)
+  {
+#if defined(__MINGW32__) || defined(__MINGW__)
+    // no clue about the odd one out
+#else
+    mode_t mode = strict ? 077 : 0;
+    umask(mode);
+#endif
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src/common/util.h b/src/common/util.h
index 7554b1df7..ed1c16cb0 100644
--- a/src/common/util.h
+++ b/src/common/util.h
@@ -158,4 +158,6 @@ namespace tools
     /*! \brief where the installed handler is stored */
     static std::function<void(int)> m_handler;
   };
+
+  void set_strict_default_file_permissions(bool strict);
 }
diff --git a/src/simplewallet/simplewallet.cpp b/src/simplewallet/simplewallet.cpp
index 30c958381..c053f462b 100644
--- a/src/simplewallet/simplewallet.cpp
+++ b/src/simplewallet/simplewallet.cpp
@@ -2812,6 +2812,7 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
 
   std::string lang = i18n_get_language();
   tools::sanitize_locale();
+  tools::set_strict_default_file_permissions(true);
 
   string_tools::set_module_name_and_folder(argv[0]);