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Hey, it's been a minute since I've shared some of the tools that I use on a daily basis for my privacy workflow. Despite last month being "Cybersecurity Awareness Month", ironically most of these privacy services offer the deepest discounts during these next two major shopping weeks. If you've been on the fence about making some changes and/or you want to help support what I do here (since many of these are affiliate links), here's a quick rundown of my privacy stack: Email: Proton Mail (60% off) I don't know if you've heard the news, but Google is in hot water for secretly starting to train their Gemini AI model on your email data...without your consent. Now is the best time to ditch Gmail, or at least start slowly migrating to a better alternative. Not only is Proton Mail super easy to switch to, it also includes a private calendar app. --> Another option: Tuta Mail (62% off) *** Password Manager: Proton Pass (60% off) I'm obviously a fan of Proton. I really like that you can use separate master passwords to unlock your Proton Mail and Proton Pass accounts, which adds better security. Proton Pass also gives me unlimited email aliases and simple integration into Proton Mail, which is a huge plus. Password managers are already dirt cheap, so getting 60% off makes it a no-brainer. *** 2FA Security Key: YubiKey (30% off) For me, every online account that allows for 2FA security has it turned on. And if they accept security keys (which most of them now do), that's my preferred method of account security. It's significantly better than SMS text and authenticator apps - and that's not just my opinion. Every major company uses some form of security key for their employees now. *** Data Removal: DeleteMe (30% off) I use DeleteMe to scan the internet for my personal information (email, phone number, address, etc.) and make legal removal requests. I've seen a noticeable decline in spam and it's much harder to find my data. Usually they only give a 20% discount, but during these next two weeks you can get 30% off when you use the Black Friday code "BFCM30OFF25". *** Daily Carry: Pacsafe (up to 50% off) I never leave home without my Pacsafe backpack, and it's particularly great for traveling. There are numerous security features including locking zippers, RFID blocking pockets and a security mesh that mean I don't have to worry as much about pick pockets. They offer everything from packs to pouches to even purses. *** Privacy Phone: GrapheneOS (free...kind of) This year I've been testing Graphene OS quite a bit and although I didn't have high expectations, I was really impressed. Installing Graphene OS is free, but you'll need to have a Google Pixel phone to do so. You have two options: you can either get a Pixel phone at the Google Store (they have a Black Friday sale) to flash with Graphene, or you can purchase one that is pre-configured with all the software and additional privacy apps. --> Google Store Deals (62% off) --> Preconfigured Option: Above Phone (up to $500 off) *** I have mixed feelings about Black Friday. On the one hand, most of these companies genuinely offer their best deals of the year during the next two weeks, but I'm not encouraging you to buy something that you weren't already considering. In other words, don't spend money just because it's a deal. Only grab something if it legitimately fits your needs. Shoot me a reply if you have any questions, otherwise have a great week and (if you're American) a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. Josh |
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April 2026 Secure Messaging *sponsored by DeleteMe "Signal Only" is Bad Advice The prevailing privacy wisdom says that you need to migrate ALL of your communication over to Signal, Threema or some other app. But what if this is bad advice? What if you adopted a strategy to blend in and use apps and/or devices as a way to compartmentalize your communication? Here's what I mean: SECURE Messaging isn't what you think Go Deeper: There are some people who say that Signal isn't secure anymore and...
March 2026 Secure Payments 3 Levels of Payment Security Have you ever considered how stupid it is that a "security code" is literally printed on the back of your physical credit card? It's no wonder there's so much financial fraud, which we pay for via credit card fees, by the way. There are better, more secure payment methods, but most people either don't know about them or think they're too complicated. Here's an easy breakdown: 3 Levels of Payment Security (credit card alternatives) Go...
February 2026 Stop Online Tracking 3-Layer Approach Anyone Can Use This week I'm sharing something by my friend Henry from Techlore who published a great video about online trackers and the three layers of protection you can use (from easiest to hardest): 3 Layers to Stop Online Tracking (Techlore) Go Deeper: As with anything having to do with your online presence, there are quite a few angles you can take to add greater protection. It could be your browser (like Brave) or even how you give...