Jun 21, 2026 in phishing, ai, security — AI-generated phishing surged roughly 14× in 2026, and the FBI logged more phishing complaints than any other crime category in 2025. Here's how to spot a modern phishing attempt and the practical steps that actually prevent it.
Jun 20, 2026 in phishing, security, email — A practical, sign-by-sign checklist for spotting a phishing email — spoofed senders, manufactured urgency, deceptive links, attachments, credential requests and tells in the writing — plus exactly what to do when one lands in your inbox.
Jun 20, 2026 in linux, arch, aur — In June 2026 hundreds of Arch User Repository packages were hijacked to deploy an infostealer and an eBPF rootkit. What actually happened, why the AUR is structurally riskier than Arch's official repos, and a practical routine to vet AUR packages before you install them.
Jun 19, 2026 in firewall, security, network — A firewall decides which network traffic is allowed in or out of your device or network. What a firewall is, how it works, the main types (hardware, software, stateful), what it can and can't protect against, and how it fits into real security.
Jun 19, 2026 in phishing, security, email — Phishing tricks you into handing over passwords or money by impersonating someone you trust. What phishing is, the main types (email, spear, smishing, vishing), the red flags, and the defenses that actually work — 2FA and a password manager.
Jun 19, 2026 in 2fa, authentication, security — Two-factor authentication adds a second proof of identity on top of your password, so a stolen password alone can't open your account. What 2FA is, the methods ranked from SMS to hardware keys, the honest limits, and how to set it up.
Jun 18, 2026 in encryption, gpg, pgp — GPG vs PGP confuses everyone — because they're not really competitors. PGP is the original encryption program, OpenPGP is the open standard, and GPG (GnuPG) is the free implementation most people actually use. What each one is, and which to choose.
Jun 18, 2026 in tor, vpn, anonymity — Is Tor safe? Mostly yes — Tor is a respected free anonymity network, but it has real limits: slow speeds, exit-node risks, and it doesn't make you invincible. What Tor protects, what it doesn't, and how it compares to a VPN.
Jun 18, 2026 in privacy, data-protection, ccpa — The US still has no single federal data privacy law — instead a growing patchwork of state laws like California's CCPA/CPRA, with more states joining in 2026. What rights you actually get, what it changes, and how to protect yourself without waiting for the law.
Jun 18, 2026 in opsec, privacy, operational-security — OPSEC (operational security) is the practice of protecting the small pieces of information that, combined, expose you. What OPSEC means, where it came from, the 5-step process, and how to apply it to your everyday digital life — without paranoia.
Jun 17, 2026 in linux, windows, security — Is Linux more secure than Windows in 2026? Linux has real structural advantages — permissions, smaller desktop attack surface, open-source auditability — but Windows has closed much of the gap. What actually makes the difference, honestly.
Jun 16, 2026 in messaging, encryption, signal — Looking for the best encrypted messaging app in 2026? Signal leads for most people, but Threema, Session and SimpleX win on specific needs. End-to-end encryption, metadata, and which to actually pick.