Anyone had much experience with Nym VPN? Any thoughts? #AskFedi #HiveMind #AskMastodon #Nym #NymTechnologies #VPN #privacy #security #FOSS

More privacy-focused organizations are demicrosofting internal messaging — exploring Matrix / Element as an alternative to Microsoft Teams.

Matrix supports end-to-end encryption, federation, and self-hosting or managed hosting, offering more control over data, metadata, and retention.

Teams provides strong Microsoft 365 integration and compliance tooling — switching is a sovereignty vs convenience trade-off.

#privacy #matrix #element #infosec #dataprotection

Microsoft handed the government encryption keys for customer data

https://www.theverge.com/news/867244/microsoft-bitlocker-privacy-fbi

#tech #technology #security #cybersecurity #privacy #Microsoft #FBI #bitlocker

"Early last year, the FBI served Microsoft with a search warrant, asking it to provide recovery keys to unlock encrypted data stored on three laptops. Federal investigators in Guam believed the devices held evidence that would help prove individuals handling the island’s Covid unemployment assistance program were part of a plot to steal funds.

The data was protected with BitLocker, software that’s automatically enabled on many modern Windows PCs to safeguard all the data on the computer’s hard drive. BitLocker scrambles the data so that only those with a key can decode it.

It’s possible for users to store those keys on a device they own, but Microsoft also recommends BitLocker users store their keys on its servers for convenience. While that means someone can access their data if they forget their password, or if repeated failed attempts to login lock the device, it also makes them vulnerable to law enforcement subpoenas and warrants.

In the Guam case, it handed over the encryption keys to investigators."

https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2026/01/22/microsoft-gave-fbi-keys-to-unlock-bitlocker-encrypted-data/

#CyberSecurity #Encryption #Microsoft #FBI #Privacy #BitLocker

#ICE Asks Companies About ‘Ad Tech and Big Data’ Tools It Could Use in Investigations

A new federal filing from ICE demonstrates how commercial tools are increasingly being considered by the government for law enforcement and #surveillance.
#privacy #adtech #bigdata #tracking #immigration

https://www.wired.com/story/ice-asks-companies-about-ad-tech-and-big-data-tools/

MakeUseOf: Your Wi-Fi name can expose more information than you think . “That simple network name is actually a privacy minefield, and the information it reveals might shock you. Knowing how to identify a free Wi-Fi trap is one thing, but you should also be aware of the risks your own network can face.”

Are you aware that some popular social media apps collect your immigration status? It may seem alarming, but it's actually related to state data protection laws in the US.

Read more: https://steelefortress.com/8ubd39

#Privacy #InfoSec #Security

Lawsuit claims Meta can see WhatsApp chats in breach of privacy

The group, which includes plaintiffs from Australia, Brazil, India, Mexico and South Africa, alleges that Meta stores the substance of users’ communications and that workers can get access to them.

https://www.theedgesingapore.com/news/tech/lawsuit-claims-meta-can-see-whatsapp-chats-breach-privacy

#Meta #WhatsApp #Facebook #messaging #privacy #surveillance #encryption #technology #socialmedia #software

TSA wants more biometric data from pre-check travelers. Forget it. I will wait in line.
#tsa
#tsaprecheck
#privacy
https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/news/2026/01/23/tsa-biometric-data-policy-updates/88325455007/

TikTok users in the U.S. have grown worried (to put it gently) over the company’s updated privacy policy. @Techcrunch tells us what the update really means:

https://flip.it/BQaEQm

#Tech #TikTok #SocialMedia #Privacy #Technology

#Microsoft gave #FBI a set of #BitLocker encryption keys to unlock suspects’ laptops: reports
By default, BitLocker recovery keys are uploaded to Microsoft’s cloud, allowing the tech giant — and by extension #lawenforcement — to access them and use them to decrypt drives encrypted with BitLocker, as with the case reported by Forbes. https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/23/microsoft-gave-fbi-a-set-of-bitlocker-encryption-keys-to-unlock-suspects-laptops-reports/
#security #privacy

Forbes: Microsoft Gave FBI Keys To Unlock Encrypted Data, Exposing Major Privacy Flaw

The tech giant said it receives around 20 requests for BitLocker keys a year and will provide them to governments in response to valid court orders. But companies like Apple and Meta set up their systems so such a privacy violation isn’t possible.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2026/01/22/microsoft-gave-fbi-keys-to-unlock-bitlocker-encrypted-data/

#privacy #cybersecurity #microsoft #bitlocker

Alt...

Microsoft Gave FBI Keys To Unlock Encrypted Data, Exposing Major Privacy Flaw The tech giant said it receives around 20 requests for BitLocker keys a year and will provide them to governments in response to valid court orders. But companies like Apple and Meta set up their systems so such a privacy violation isn’t possible.

Don't ever trust a man wearing "smart glasses" from Meta.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cr7jej2elyyo

#privacy #harassment #meta

"Four in five young people in the UK have used an artificial intelligence companion - with almost one in 10 having intimate or sexual interactions with one, a landmark study shows.

AI companions are artificial personas which often incorporate human-like avatars, customisable personalities and long-term memory.

Researchers at the Autonomy Institute say its study - which it said is the first major one of its kind in the UK - shows the companions are reshaping the emotional and social lives of young adults.

Some 79% of young people in the UK have used an AI companion, according to polling of 1,160 youngsters aged 18 to 24, commissioned by Autonomy. Around half of those are ‘regular’ users, interacting multiple times per week.

Some 40% have used an AI companion - which attempts to mimic human conversations - for emotional advice or therapeutic support, while 9% reported intimate or sexual interactions.

Half of young people said they’d feel comfortable discussing mental health issues with a confidential AI companion - yet only 24% said they trust the bot “completely” or “quite a lot”.

Nearly a third (31%) of youngsters said they’ve shared personal information with an AI companion despite widespread privacy concerns."

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/young-people-having-intimate-sexual-36437027

#AI #GenerativeAI #AICompanion #Privacy #DataProtection #UK

Ars Technica: Millions of people imperiled through sign-in links sent by SMS. “Websites that authenticate users through links and codes sent in text messages are imperiling the privacy of millions of people, leaving them vulnerable to scams, identity theft, and other crimes, recently published research has found.”

#Incognito Mode in Google Chrome, it is known as "Private Browsing" in Firefox, Edge, and Safari, is a privacy feature in most web browsers that prevents your device from saving your browsing history, cookies, site data, and form entries after you close the session.

What it does: Deletes browsing history, cookies, and site data after the session ends

What it doesn’t do: Hides your activity from websites, ISPs, or network administrators.

Best for: Temporary, local privacy on shared devices—not full online anonymity

For stronger privacy, consider using a VPN, Tor Browser, or privacy-focused tools like DuckDuckGo.

#PrivacyMatters #Browser #privacy #Incognito #chrome

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What is Incognito Mode (Private Window) and How Does it Work? What are the Pros and Cons of Incognito Mode, explained

Microsoft confirms it will give the FBI your Windows PC data encryption key if asked — you can thank Windows 11's forced online accounts for that

Windows 11's online Microsoft Account requirement means your PC is automatically backing up its data encryption key to the cloud, and Microsoft says it will hand those over to the FBI if asked.

https://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft/windows-11/microsoft-bitlocker-encryption-keys-give-fbi-legal-order-privacy-nightmare

#Microsoft #Windows11 #privacy #surveillance #enshittification #encryption #technology #software #dystopia

"TikTok users freak out over app’s ‘immigration status’ collection — here’s what it means"

"TikTok users are freaking out over a mention of "immigration status" data collection, but lawyers explain the disclosure is related to state privacy laws."

https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/23/tiktok-users-freak-out-over-apps-immigration-status-collection-heres-what-it-means/

#Privacy

TikTok's transition to U.S. ownership involves collecting even more data about its users, including precise location and AI interactions. It's also likely that the new privacy policy will lead to you seeing more targeted ads. Here's the lowdown from @WIRED.

https://flip.it/TNynho

#Technology #Tech #TikTok #SocialMedia #Privacy #Data

https://winbuzzer.com/2026/01/23/microsoft-gave-fbi-bitlocker-keys-breaking-apple-privacy-stance-xcxwbn/

Microsoft Gave FBI BitLocker Keys, Breaking from Apple Privacy Stance

#BitLocker #Microsoft #Security #Encryption #Privacy #Cybersecurity #DataPrivacy #EndToEndEncryption #Law #Windows #UserPrivacy #NationalSecurity #PrivacyProtection

Microsoft reportedly gave the FBI BitLocker recovery keys to unlock encrypted laptops in a Guam fraud probe. 🔐

I’m genuinely stunned. 🤯 Encryption should protect users — not defer to cloud-stored keys that can be handed over on demand. ⚠️

This raises deep concerns about trust, what “secure by default” means. 🧩

🔗 https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/23/microsoft-gave-fbi-a-set-of-bitlocker-encryption-keys-to-unlock-suspects-laptops-reports/

#TechNews #Microsoft #FBI #Privacy #Encryption #BitLocker #Cybersecurity #DataSecurity #DigitalRights #BigTech #UserControl #Cloud #Security #Surveillance

Microsoft Gave FBI Keys To Unlock Encrypted Data, Exposing Major Privacy Flaw

The tech giant said it receives around 20 requests for BitLocker keys a year and will provide them to governments in response to valid court orders.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2026/01/22/microsoft-gave-fbi-keys-to-unlock-bitlocker-encrypted-data/

#Microsoft #Bitlocker #privacy #security #datasecurity #surveillance #dataleak #encryption #technology

"From privacy screens to variable apertures and beyond, how likely are these Samsung Galaxy S26 series rumors?"

"I've rated all the biggest Samsung Galaxy S26 series rumors to tell you how likely I think they are."

https://www.techradar.com/phones/samsung-galaxy-phones/from-privacy-screens-to-variable-apertures-and-beyond-how-likely-are-these-samsung-galaxy-s26-series-rumors

#Privacy

🌀 Tor Browser 15.0.3 released with key security and privacy updates. 🔒
NoScript updates are now hosted directly on Tor’s infrastructure, improving update reliability and autonomy. 🧩
Enhanced protections reduce fingerprinting risks and tighten extension control. 🕵️

@torproject

🔗 https://blog.torproject.org/new-release-tor-browser-1503/

#TechNews #Privacy #Security #OpenSource #DataProtection #Encryption #Cybersecurity #Anonymity #Transparency #Accountability #WebSafety #Internet #Linux #Software #Mozilla #Tor #Browser #Firefox