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2025

Real-Name Policies: The War Against Pseudonymity

Filtered photo of a "Hello my name is" name-tag sticker on a street post. Over the space for the name is a black graffiti tag.

Real-name policies have existed for well over a decade already, and the problems they cause aren't new. But these problems have become exponentially harmful in today's world, where real-name policies are coupled with monopolistic platforms, increased mass surveillance, AI technologies, and facial recognition capabilities. It's time to fight back against this unsafe and discriminatory privacy-invasive practice.

What is Multi-Party Computation?

An image of a lock and multiple keys going toward it to unlock it

We know how to secure data in storage using E2EE, but is it possible to ensure data privacy even while processing it server-side? This is the first in a series of articles I'll be writing covering the privacy-enhancing technologies being rolled out.

  • in News

Chat Control Must Be Stopped, Act Now!

Filtered photo of a protest with a protestor holding a sign in first plan. The background is a red monochrome and the sign is in turquoise. The sign says "You won't make me live this 1984 sh*t".

If you've heard of Chat Control already, bad news: it's back. If you haven't, this is a pressing issue you should urgently learn more about if you value privacy, democracy, and human rights. This is happening right now, and we must act to stop it right now.

“We [Don't] Care About Your Privacy”

Filtered photo of a metal container left on the street, with on it the painted sentence "We've updated our privacy policy." with three faded happy face icons around it. On and around the container are icons of hidden red flags.

They all claim "Your privacy is important to us." How can we know if that's true? With privacy washing being normalized by big tech and startups alike, it becomes increasingly difficult to evaluate who we can trust with our personal data. Fortunately, there are red (and green) flags we can look for to help us.

Privacy Washing Is a Dirty Business

Filtered photo of a sticker on a metallic surface with graffiti. The sticker has the sentence "We respect your privacy!" written on it, and the whole sentence is barred is a red line over it.

Perhaps you haven't heard the term privacy washing before. Nonetheless, it's likely that you have already been exposed to this scheme in the wild. Regrettably, privacy washing is a widespread deceptive strategy.

Privacy Is Like Broccoli

Background filled with numbers from 0 to 2, representing binary code separated by the character 2. Outlined in bright green color is the shape of a piece of broccoli.

If you are just starting the journey to improve your privacy online, you might feel overwhelmed by all the information you recently learned. This is normal, don't panic!

How To Improve Your Privacy and Security on Mastodon

Illustration of a mastodon mascot pointing at a padlock icon in a cheerful way. Above is the Mastodon logo over a purple background.

  1. Mastodon mascot by @dopatwo@mastodon.social and Mastodon logo used with permission from Mastodon gGmbH. This site is not otherwise affiliated with Mastodon gGmbH.

Increasingly, more and more people have joined Mastodon in recent years. The advantages provided by a decentralized network and using open-source software maintained by a nonprofit organization are undeniable. Mastodon offers much more robust protections for your privacy than commercial social media platforms do. This tutorial will show you how to make the most of it.

Privacy and Security on Mastodon

The Mastodon name and logo over a dark purple background with a large purple padlock icon under it.

Mastodon is an open-source and decentralized social network that has been growing in popularity for the past few years.

While most social media rely on commercial models harvesting users' data to sell to advertisers, Mastodon offers a human-centric alternative that doesn't seek profits from your data and attention. This means better social connections, better controls, and better privacy.

  • in News

Queer Dating Apps: Beware Who You Trust With Your Intimate Data

Photo of a hand holding a phone with a rainbow gradient and a white heart on it. The hand holds the phone in front of a vertical rainbow background with an open eye displayed transparently over it, symbolizing surveillance.

When discussing the intersection of data privacy and LGBTQ+ experiences, it's inevitable to also talk about queer dating apps. Due to a smaller percentage of the population and a number of factors complicating in-person dating, people part of the queer community are more likely to seek online platforms to meet lovers and friends. Unfortunately, using queer dating apps can be very dangerous for privacy, and even for safety.

You Can Say NO

Black and white cutout photos of two hands over a blue background. One hand does an offering gesture and the other one a refusing gesture. The word "No!" is printed in the middle.

In the age of facial recognition and age verification, it might feel like our data is being harvested left and right, completely outside our control or consent. Yet, we still have a powerful weapon to fight back against surveillance: The power to say no.

Creating a Tricked-Out Monero Server with TrueNAS

A cover image for this post showing an illustration of a NAS and stacks of coins imprinted with the Monero logo

In this guide, we will walk you through setting up a very powerful Monero server on TrueNAS. By completing these steps, you will be able to connect to your own self-hosted Monero node with the official Monero wallet and Cake Wallet, and you will be able to connect to your own self-hosted Monero LWS server with Edge Wallet and MyMonero.

  • in News

Stay Safe, but Stay Connected

Photo of a rainbow heart with each color made of a neon light.

In data privacy, we often talk about the dangers of data collection and exposed data. It can get overwhelming to learn more about all the information that is collected on us, especially at the beginning. As a coping mechanism, some people react by downplaying concerns, disregarding dangers, and ignoring precautions altogether. Others react the opposite way: by isolating themselves, and no longer sharing anything with anyone. But neither is a viable solution.

Selling Surveillance as Convenience

Stylized and colorized photo of a large wooden horse standing over a blue sky.

Increasingly, surveillance is being normalized and integrated in our lives. Under the guise of convenience, applications and features are sold to us as being the new better way to do things. While some might be useful, this convenience is a Trojan horse. The cost of it is the continuous degradation of our privacy rights, with all that that entails.

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The Importance of Data Privacy For The Queer Community

Photo of a Progress Pride Flag with a semi-transparent padlock icon over it.

Data privacy is important for everyone. But for some marginalized populations, data privacy is indispensable for social connection, access to information, and physical safety. For Pride month this year, we will discuss topics at the intersection of data privacy and experiences specific to the LGBTQ+ community.

Your Online Life Is IRL

Photo of an illuminated red street sign with the word Internet on it.

If you, like myself, have been inhabiting the internet for a few decades, you're probably familiar with the old adage IRL: In Real Life.

The acronym was used a lot when the distinction between online life and offline life was much greater than it is now. In today's world, can we really keep referring to our digital life as being somehow disconnected from our "real life"?

KeePassium Review: A Flexible Password Manager for iOS and macOS

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If you have been looking for a password manager giving you full control over your data, KeePassium is a fantastic option. The application available for iOS and macOS keeps your password database offline by default. KeePassium still offers synchronization and backup options, but allows you to choose which storage provider to trust with your database, and change it whenever you want.

  • in News

Sam Altman Wants Your Eyeball

Image of a red circle of light that resembles a human iris over a black background.

Last week, OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman announced in San Francisco that the World project he co-founded, formerly known as Worldcoin, is opening six stores across the United States, allowing users of the project's app to scan their eyeballs.

Simply put, the premise is this: scan your eyeball, get a biometric tag, verify yourself, buy our apps (and cryptocurrency). The scary part is the for-profit company developing the project has now gathered millions in venture capital investment, powerful partners, and is ready to expand and impose its Minority Report style technology everywhere. Welcome to Dystopialand.