7 uncommon and easy privacy and security tips.
#privacy #technology

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDV07Anv6m0

Most ecommerce teams assume their tracking works. It usually doesn’t.

We’re seeing Shopify + Google Tag Manager setups where tags fire before consent, duplicate events inflate conversions, and attribution becomes unreliable.

Our GTM privacy audit identifies compliance gaps, consent issues, and tracking problems so you can trust your data again.

https://biytelum.com/shopify-gtm-audit

#Privacy #GTM #Shopify #GDPR #ecommerce #DataProtection

📝 New article: AnonMesh - Rethinking Anonymous Networks | Part 1

Building True Digital Privacy in the Post-Quantum Era. An article from the Virebent.art blog.

🔗 https://www.virebent.art/blog/anonmesh-part1.html

#privacy #security #opensource #virebent

📝 New article: VaporDrop: Ephemeral Messaging That Actually Disappears | Virebent Blog

VaporDrop: RAM-only ephemeral messaging over Tor. No disk storage, no logs, no persistence. Non-NIST cryptography. When the server shuts down, everything vanishes.

🔗 https://www.virebent.art/blog/vapordrop.html

#privacy #security #opensource #virebent

📝 New article: VaporDrop: Self-Hosted Digital Dead Drop on Tor

VaporDrop: self-hosted ephemeral messaging system on the Tor network. Digital dead drop with end-to-end encryption.

🔗 https://www.virebent.art/blog/vapordrop-stable.html

#privacy #security #opensource #virebent

😶‍🌫️ Starlink Is Using Your Personal Data to Train AI. Here’s How to Opt Out

｢ The company updated its privacy policy on Jan. 15 to allow harvesting of user data for AI training. Customers are opted in by default, but it’s relatively simple to opt out ｣

https://www.cnet.com/home/internet/starlink-updates-privacy-policy-for-ai-training/

#spacex #musk #privacy

Virebent.art provides surveillance-free alternatives to Big Tech: encrypted collaboration (CryptPad), secure video calls (Jitsi), Usenet access, and
more.

No data harvesting. No tracking. Just privacy.

We need your support to:
✅ Upgrade servers
✅ Build mobile apps
✅ Create privacy guides
✅ Expand secure email & cloud storage

Every contribution matters. Support via Liberapay (no fees!):
👉 https://liberapay.com/Virebent-Art/

#privacy #opensource #encryption #digitalrights

Remove Windows AI: Force Remove Copilot, Recall and More in Windows 11

Why? The current 25H2 build of Windows 11 and future builds will include increasingly more AI features and components. This script aims to remove ALL of these features to improve user experience, privacy and security.

❌ https://github.com/zoicware/RemoveWindowsAI

#windows #ai #Win11 #removewindows #privacy #security #copilot #recall #win #ms #features #feature #blockit #remove

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Windows AI logo crossed out

States are probing “surveillance pricing,” where retailers use personal and location data to set individualized prices, led by a new California privacy investigation. 🕵️
The cases highlight opaque algorithmic pricing, discrimination risks, and pressure for stronger transparency and data rights rules. ⚖️

🔗 https://news.bloomberglaw.com/privacy-and-data-security/states-probe-firms-using-personal-data-location-to-set-prices

#TechNews #Privacy #Data #Surveillance #Pricing #Algorithms #CCPA #California #Retail #Grocery #Hotels #AI #ConsumerRights #Transparency #Regulation #BigData #USA #US

Microsoft is reportedly rethinking its Windows 11 AI push, scaling back intrusive Copilot integrations and reassessing Recall after strong privacy and usability backlash from power users. 🤖
The focus is shifting from “AI everywhere” toward more meaningful, less invasive features that better respect user control and data practices. 🛡️

🔗 https://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft/windows-11/microsoft-is-reevaluating-its-ai-efforts-on-windows-11-plans-to-reduce-copilot-integrations-and-evolve-recall

#TechNews #Windows11 #Microsoft #AI #Copilot #Privacy #Security #UX #Software #PC #Data #UserControl #Productivity #Cloud #Trust #Windows

FBI agents reportedly failed to access a Washington Post reporter’s iPhone after a raid — the device was in Apple’s Lockdown Mode. 🔒
Court records suggest the feature effectively blocked access, highlighting limits of digital forensics vs. user privacy. ⚖️

🔗 https://www.404media.co/fbi-couldnt-get-into-wapo-reporters-iphone-because-it-had-lockdown-mode-enabled/

#TechNews #Privacy #Security #Cybersecurity #iPhone #Mac #iOS #MacOS #Apple #Encryption #FBI #Data #Journalism #Rights #Digital #iPhone #Cybersecurity #Surveillance #Infosec #Accountability #WashingtonPost

European AI ≠ automatic data sovereignty.

Mistral AI is a French company operating under EU regulatory frameworks and offers open-weight models with self-hosting options.

But using cloud APIs or hosted chat tools may still involve US infrastructure depending on deployment.

Privacy is about architecture and hosting decisions, not just company geography.

#Privacy #AI #GDPR #DigitalSovereignty #Infosec

Ars Technica: “ICE Out of Our Faces Act” would ban ICE and CBP use of facial recognition. “A few Senate Democrats introduced a bill called the ‘ICE Out of Our Faces Act,’ which would ban Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) from using facial recognition technology.”

Has anyone written anything about `vouch` from a data protection perspective?

Perhaps some practical considerations for people / projects who run instances of it?

> GitHub - A contributor trust management system based on explicit vouches to participate.

https://github.com/mitchellh/vouch

#DataProtection #Privacy #GDPR

#Privacy for the weak and #transparency for the powerful.

I wish I could force every legislator
in favor of Age Verification to watch this amazing talk by Carissa Véliz,

So that they understand the dangers
of the surveillance infrastructure they are currently putting in place.

You should watch it too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSPRouBvgFE

#Privacy #Democracy #HumanRights #AgeVerification #MassSurveillance #Fascism

Die Rückkehr zur Registrierung - Datenaustausch über psychisch erkrankte Menschen

„Schon vor mehr als 50 Jahren gab es Streit darüber, ob Behörden Daten über Menschen sammeln sollen, die als psychisch krank gelten. Doch während sich damals ein Konsens für mehr Teilhabe und gegen Stigmatisierung bildete, hat sich heute etwas verändert……“

https://netzpolitik.org/2026/datenaustausch-ueber-psychisch-erkrankte-menschen-die-rueckkehr-zur-registrierung/

#Überwachung #Repression #Hessen #Deutschland #Datenschutz #Privacy #Netzpolitik

NPR:"....“She's using the city's license plate readers not to combat a wave of armed robberies, but to track down the everyday movements of an everyday citizen who dared to write the Kansas City Star and express their opinion,” Rhodes said...."

#alpr #privacy #bigbrother #freespeech #licenseplatereaders #flock

NPR: "...“This is MYOC,” Laffey said.

In Lenexa police parlance, MYOC is shorthand for “make your own case.” With no arrest warrant for Ashworth, police were looking for any reason to stop him.
... Chief Schmitz described MYOC this way: “You need to build your own probable cause, your own reasonable suspicion. It's pretty much that, make your own case.”

Kubic, from the ACLU, is especially worried about that.

“The idea that you can essentially just make something up to throw against the wall and see if it sticks to be able to go after someone, is a really chilling and dangerous thing,” he said..."

#privacy #ALPR #flock #bigbrother

NPR: Lenexa police investigated author of column criticizing the department. He's 'pissed off'

"...A KCUR investigation discovered the department used the city’s license plate readers to track the writer’s movements and it issued a “be on the lookout” for him.

On Oct. 21 the entire Lenexa, Kansas police patrol division was hunting Canyen Ashworth.

At 1:50 that afternoon, the department issued a BOLO — police shorthand for “be on the lookout” — for the 28-year-old information technology consultant and sometimes writer.

There were two problems. They didn’t have a charge, and he was the wrong man....."

https://www.kcur.org/politics-elections-and-government/2026-02-02/lenexa-police-investigated-column-writer-critical-failure-warn-ice-raid-councilwoman-investigation

#privacy #bigbrother #ALPR #flock

German authorities warn of phishing attacks targeting Signal users.
Scammers use social engineering to steal verification codes or link rogue devices. No encryption flaw — never share codes and enable all account protections.

👉 https://digital-escape-tools-phi.vercel.app/2026/02/news1.html

#Security #Privacy #Phishing #Signal #Cybersecurity

🚀 Episode 12 – “Hijacked Homework”

We talk five layers of classroom surveillance—from free‑tier badge apps that harvest gold‑star data to AI‑tutors that listen to every question.

🎙️ Get the legal low‑down (FERPA, COPPA, GDPR) and a practical, low‑cost privacy toolkit (burner tablets, VPNs, paper opt‑outs, data‑deletion requests, contract advocacy)

👉 Tune in:
https://impracticalprivacy.com

#Privacy #EdTech #Surveillance #Data #DataProtection #Surveillancecapitalism #Education

NBC News: How ICE agents are using facial recognition technology to bring surveillance to the streets. “Using smartphones loaded with sophisticated facial recognition technology, in addition to professional-grade photo equipment, agents are photographing faces of people they encounter in their daily operations, including possible enforcement targets and observers. Some of the images are being […]

Yahoo reduced free storage from 1TB to 20 GB in 2025, in May it will be only 15 GB. Surprised? 😮‍💨

Yahoo's move is a reminder: Big Tech doesn't want to offer free products, it wants to lure you in with the free offering.

Check here how Tuta Mail compares to Yahoo and why you should choose #privacy: ➡️ https://tuta.com/best-yahoo-alternative

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Screenshot from a Yahoo account: Your storage limit is changing Starting today, Yahoo Mail includes 20 GB of free storage. To keep sending and receiving emails, add storage or free up space. 24.8 GB of 20 GB used

"Reflectacles are designed to fool facial recognition systems that use infrared for illumination and systems using 3D infrared mapping/scanning. Two analog technologies are used to maintain your privacy: infrared blocking lenses and reflective frames. Each design has its own purpose."

https://www.reflectacles.com/#home #Privacy #Surveillance