Cypherpunk Notes

Episode 11: Why Signal Is the Answer Your browser does not support the audio element. Download MP3 Duration: ~8 minutes | Format: Practical Episode Summary Your text messages aren’t private. SMS travels in plaintext, iMessage only protects iPhone-to-iPhone (and not your iCloud backups), and WhatsApp encrypts content while Meta harvests your metadata. This episode maps the messaging landscape honestly and explains why Signal stands alone. This episode covers: ...

Episode 12: The Truth About VPNs Your browser does not support the audio element. Download MP3 Duration: ~8 minutes | Format: Myth Buster Episode Summary VPNs are probably the most oversold privacy tool on the internet. Every YouTuber is sponsored by one, every podcast has a promo code, and most of what they tell you is either exaggerated or flat-out wrong. This episode cuts through the noise. ...

Episode 13: Your First Encrypted Files Your browser does not support the audio element. Download MP3 Duration: ~9 minutes | Format: Practical Episode Summary A stolen laptop. A failed hard drive sent for recovery. A breached cloud account. A border agent demanding your device. In every one of these scenarios, what happens to your files comes down to one thing: are they encrypted? This episode shows you how to make sure they are. ...

Episode 14: Your Daily Privacy Workflow Your browser does not support the audio element. Download MP3 Duration: ~9 minutes | Format: Practical Episode Summary You’ve got the tools—password manager, private browser, encrypted messaging, secure email, file encryption. But are you actually using them every day, or defaulting back to Chrome and Gmail because it’s easier? This episode builds a privacy workflow that sticks. This episode reveals: ...

Episode 15: Why Linux? Your browser does not support the audio element. Download MP3 Duration: ~12 minutes | Format: Practical Episode Summary You can install all the privacy tools you want, but if your operating system is hostile, you’re building on a compromised foundation. This episode makes the case for owning your computing stack with Linux. This episode reveals: The Windows problem: Telemetry you can’t turn off, Cortana, advertising IDs, forced updates, OneDrive Why Linux is different: Open source, no business model that needs your data, choice and control, respect by default The intimidation myth: Why “Linux is too hard” hasn’t been true for over a decade Choosing a distro: Mint, Pop!_OS, Ubuntu, Fedora for beginners; Debian and Arch for the curious A gentle migration: Live USB, dual-boot, a designated machine, then full Linux What you gain: Ownership, longevity, understanding, community, privacy by design Key Quotes “You can install all the privacy tools you want. But if your operating system is hostile, you’re building on a compromised foundation.” ...

Episode 16: Tor Browser Your browser does not support the audio element. Download MP3 Duration: ~10 minutes | Format: Practical Episode Summary Private browsers block trackers. VPNs hide your traffic from your ISP. But Tor is different—it’s designed from the ground up for anonymity, hiding not just what you’re doing but who you are. This episode explains how it works and when to use it. This episode reveals: ...