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Shoutout too to the @Tutanota@mastodon.social team and their new Nextcloud <-> Tuta bi-directional integration they're working on. We'll have an interview with them discussing it soon. Exciting times!
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Techlore
@techlore@social.lol
mastodon 4.7.3+glitchYour digital life is being decided for you. Techlore helps you take it back—privacy, security, and digital rights, made simple by Henry Fisher.
11246 Followers
56 Following
50 Posts
Joined January 04, 2023
Website:
PeerTube:
YouTube:
📧 Surveillance Report:
Hope everyone's having a wonderful week so far! Just a quick notice that there will be no stream this Friday. We'll be at the Nextcloud conference in Berlin, and should be back on schedule next week. See you soon 👋
Every time you open Google Maps, it logs where you are, what you searched, and where you went next.
We interviewed the co-founder of Organic Maps, an open source app that collects none of that. New Techlore Talks out now on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XCzVQKLBkhM
Watch it on PeerTube for a Google-free viewing experience of all our content: https://techlore.tv/w/jEZcCtq1Hk7UF1jBJj8Tkd
Or listen on your favorite podcast app via audio: https://share.transistor.fm/s/83bd3292
The Maps App That Collects Zero Data About You (Organic Maps Interview)
The playbook's the same:
Industry harms people → regulators don't touch industry → individuals get surveilled instead
Kids exposed to addictive products? Scan everyone's face. Kids on social media? Scan everyone's face. Zero accountability for companies. Maximum surveillance for everyone else.
Brave just shipped Containers. Firefox just made them native. Both browsers also have profiles. The profiles-vs-containers debate that split these two browsers for years is over.
In this new video I look at what one actually does, when to use them, and why this is great news: https://youtu.be/dwFSytu_JUw
And as always, on PeerTube for anyone who'd rather not watch on YouTube: https://techlore.tv/w/3DTP57RbPVrqGM9pQKyw5L
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Two things:
- Only incoming messages were captured this way
- Disappearing messages that had already vanished inside Signal were still recoverable from the notification cache
This is iOS behavior, not a Signal vulnerability. And likely impacts other apps.
This is a very high threat model concern, though the fix is straightforward: Signal → Settings → Notifications → Show → set to "No Name or Content"
You'll still get a notification ping, but iOS just won't cache anything useful.
Microsoft silently suspended developer accounts for WireGuard, VeraCrypt & Windscribe.
Zero warning. Zero notification. Zero recourse. This isn't just a support failure, it's the result of Big Tech gatekeeping. Newest video breaks it down: https://youtu.be/fTui3CQuL9I
Microsoft BANNED WireGuard, VeraCrypt & Windscribe With Zero Warning
Brave just dropped Brave Origin: a paid, debloated version of their browser. No AI, no crypto, no rewards, no telemetry. $60 one-time (free on Linux!) We've been manually stripping this stuff out for years and so I have some thoughts...
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/3i5KH0l895o
Watch on PeerTube: https://techlore.tv/w/xo146PbzUkkjmNcqranHZf
Read our written breakdown + review: https://techlore.tech/brave-origin-review-is-the-new-60-paid-browser-worth-it/
Brave Just Released a Paid Browser: Here's What You Need to Know
After a rigorous vetting process, we've brought on a new chief video officer.
Qualifications: top-tier nap skills and unmatched ability to block the mouse & keyboard. We're in good paws 🐾
The FBI found Signal messages without breaking Signal, France is ditching Windows, Microsoft locked out WireGuard & VeraCrypt, and Wisconsin just scored a privacy win.
This week's Digital Rights Digest is live, get the latest news & takes right now 👇
https://techlore.tech/how-the-fbi-read-signal-messages-without-breaking-signal-april-14-2026/
Meta has deleted a photographer's entire portfolio overnight. Falsely accused, no appeal, years of work gone.
Your data isn't yours if it's on their servers. Start with backups YOU own, then go further with open source services that empower you: https://privacytools.techlore.tech/
Mozilla just built a free VPN directly into Firefox. 50GB/month, no app, no subscription. I turned it on for a first-look and shared my reactions and what you can expect (and not expect!)
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/bQzLGHWkTyg
Watch on PeerTube, completely Google-free: https://techlore.tv/w/suqmmWXXsTbWpxBgEVCxSV
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Notifications in general are a pretty interesting privacy/security attack vector in general, as they're largely managed by Apple & Google.
We cover this and a lot more in our Signal hardening guide for those who want to learn all the ins/outs: https://youtu.be/DPjg3651oJM
Lock Down Signal Messenger: Ultimate Hardening Guide
Livestream Friday, 11am Pacific ⏺️
On the docket: is public WiFi actually dangerous, does it matter who owns your VPN, and whether encrypted email is pointless when everyone else is on Gmail.
Come say hi and bring questions: https://youtube.com/live/c4sOu4JbcQc
Apple with ADP encrypts your photos. Your notes. Your messages. But not your email. Not your contacts. Not your calendar.
That gap isn't an accident. I got early access to @Tutanota@mastodon.social Drive and shared my first impressions. I'm happy to see more companies closing the gap!
YouTube: https://youtu.be/NcpEwYMXYBQ
PeerTube: https://techlore.tv/w/41KiDZZkCccXSsQhS44iiz
Written Breakdown: https://techlore.tech/tuta-drive-first-look-the-encrypted-platform-that-does-what-google-and-apple-wont/
Governments are racing to verify your age & nobody agrees how to do it. The US introduced a federal bill. And the EU is launching an app with cryptographic guarantees.
I just broke down what concerns me about both, and how you can get involved.
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/RPc869MO86k
Watch it on PeerTube: https://techlore.tv/w/uHyudCUQYWefVtr6a3WvBn
Read the blog: https://techlore.tech/eu-and-us-age-verification-explained-what-the-new-laws-and-apps-actually-mean-for-your-privacy-free/
Heads up everyone: we're going to need to pass on Friday livestream this week. We've got an urgent hot video to make & Surveillance Report still needs to get out! Limited time means we have to prioritize. Thanks for understanding, and stream will be back next week🙏
Enjoy the content dropping soon!
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PeerTube link for those wanting an open source, ad-free, Google-free experience:
https://techlore.tv/w/3rUszDg3XDqMrLcfx1ry4Z
The US govt recommends VPNs. They also admit using one might strip your constitutional rights. Yes, seriously.
Plus LinkedIn's secret browser surveillance & more in this week's Digital Rights Digest: https://techlore.tech/vpns-nsa-spying-and-the-surveillance-double-standard-nobody-wants-to-address/
📢 Surveillance Report & Techlore Talks have moved to a new pod host! If you follow us on Apple, Spotify, or any podcast app, everything should carry over automatically.
If you only watch on You/PeerTube, did you know they're available as podcasts? Follow them now: https://techlore.tech/podcasts
Are browser extensions in Brave or Safari necessary or overkill?
Join LIVE tomorrow at 1PM ET for Techlore Office Hours: your privacy & security questions answered in real time 🫡
Set a reminder, and see you all soon: https://youtube.com/live/g8NXHO9dc4c
The age verification conversation has been loud, messy, and extremely difficult to navigate. I brought on an @fsfe@mastodon.social legal expert @pjitendra@mastodon.social to cut through all of it: systemD, MidnightBSD, California, the UK, and more to help explain what these laws actually mean for free software. This one is essential listening...don't miss it!
🎥 YouTube: https://youtu.be/5iKvQk7drd4
📹 PeerTube: https://techlore.tv/w/9aTREpsS3oWHGbtbZCX15Y
🎧 Podcast/Audio RSS: https://share.transistor.fm/s/0000476d
Written breakdown: https://techlore.tech/age-verification-laws-and-free-software-fsfe-interview-techlore-talks/
Your VPN might be making you an NSA target...yes the same gov that told us to use VPNs. Also: North Korea's open-source hijack, 2.3M infected Android devices & EU ending Chat Control.
Big week, lots of news in the newest Surveillance Report: https://youtu.be/TmfP-gHHpKg
Techlore.TV PeerTube Mirror: https://techlore.tv/w/8UZe5MEig9qqmMKVcXS8xV
Audio/RSS/Apple/Spotify: https://share.transistor.fm/s/945c8230
A jury recently held Meta & Google liable for designing addictive platforms that harmed a child. First-ever verdict. 2,000+ cases still pending.
Plus: DarkSword exploit leaks, Apple's UK age verification, Lockdown Mode's perfect record & more in this week's Digital Rights Digest 👇
https://techlore.tech/the-week-big-tech-got-sued-hacked-and-verified-march-22-31/
We moved podcast hosts for Surveillance Report & Techlore Talks! Better embedded timestamps, transcripts, and more on the way. Let us know if you notice anything off...and enjoy the upgrades!
All links: https://techlore.tech/podcasts/
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Other changes in 2026.07 to the SPA Tools:
✅ Security & accessibility enhancements to VPN submissions
✅ Smarter SPA Quiz Results
✅ Updated VPN Finder to use Windscribe's newer relationship map
✅ Other small improvements
Try it for yourself:
https://techlore.tech/
A while ago we announced a student giveaway for our coaching (donated by a client who didn't need their last 2 sessions!)
This is just a quick PSA that the winner has been selected and everyone has been emailed. Thank you to everyone who applied. Keep building 🚀
Is your personal info listed on hundreds of websites right now? Join us LIVE tomorrow for Techlore Office Hours, we're covering data brokers, people-search sites, and whether opt-out services are actually worth it.
🔴 Tomorrow @ 1PM ET: https://youtube.com/live/pFiK6NJgXmk
How To Actually Remove Yourself From Data Broker Sites - Techlore Office Hours Live
Two zero-click iOS exploits hitting millions of iPhones. Google revealing their insulting Android sideloading "advanced flow." Instagram quietly killing E2E encryption. It's a wild one.
🎙️ Surveillance Report 258 is live, thank you all for your patience:
https://youtu.be/qllpVoCVQSE
Two iOS Exploits Just Hit 100M+ iPhones — How To Check Yours
Starting at the top of the hour...Techlore Office Hours is going live! Can you actually escape Google Calendar? Let's find out. Come watch the live show and bring your questions, can't wait to chat!
https://youtube.com/live/LF1FcDLUtyQ
Can You Actually Escape Google Calendar? - Techlore Office Hours Live
One more reason to get away from Windows. VeraCrypt is excellent software!!
Source: https://www.404media.co/microsoft-abruptly-terminates-veracrypt-account-halting-windows-updates/
We've shown how to use it in the past if you want to see how it works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C25VWAGl7Tw
🔴 LIVE TONIGHT: Josh @ AllThingsSecured is inviting me on to talk DNS!
What is it? How does it impact your safety? What tools actually help? Whether you've never touched DNS or want to level up...this one's for you. Join the livestream + Q&A!
🕗 7pm Central:
https://youtube.com/live/n5rddEvnQQU
Is your mouse transmitting data right now? 🖱️
Tomorrow @ 1pm ET we're answering this + your biggest privacy questions LIVE. Wi-Fi calling, DNS conflicts, and more. Bring your questions & see you there👇
https://youtube.com/live/SRJGnVsNQUQ
Sorry everyone for the weird livestream issues, we've had a weird bug with our recording studio which triggers a random livestream. The new link for our stream tomorrow @ 1PM ET is here: https://youtube.com/live/LF1FcDLUtyQ
See everyone soon!
Can You Actually Escape Google Calendar? - Techlore Office Hours Live
I'm going live at the top of the hour 🔴
Come say hi, hang out, and bring your tech questions, can't wait to to chat!
See you in a few minutes 👇
https://youtube.com/live/vLAb3CldzY0
🔴 LIVE @ TOP OF THE HOUR
Techlore Office Hours: Brave extensions, Safari ad blockers, phone security in China, and more.
Join, hang out, and say hi: https://youtube.com/live/g8NXHO9dc4c
WE'RE ABOUT TO GO LIVE 🔴
Can a mouse spy on you without any software installed? Answering this + your privacy & security questions at the top of the hour!
https://youtube.com/live/SRJGnVsNQUQ
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@harley @banshee7076
Sorry all, annoying bug with our recording studio, New link:
https://youtube.com/live/LF1FcDLUtyQ
Can You Actually Escape Google Calendar? - Techlore Office Hours Live
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@ilust606 Bizarre bug with our recording studio....new URL... sorry for the confusion:
https://youtube.com/live/LF1FcDLUtyQ
Can You Actually Escape Google Calendar? - Techlore Office Hours Live
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@pictor They are the only services providing an encrypted suite trying to compete against Google in ONE ecosystem. Not disingenuous at all. If there is another party we're unaware of doing this too I'd love to hear so we can follow them.
There are plenty of E2EE drive products, our resources reference some of them: https://essentials.techlore.tech/#cloud
But again....most people are not using individual services for every part of their tech stack. They are simply using Google, or Microsoft, or Apple.
Live stream tomorrow, 10am Pacific!
Bringing your questions incl:
🔒 Texas got Verisign to freeze a .com domain...can any website just be erased now?
🖥️ Rust/Tauri vs Electron, is it time for apps to ditch Electron?
Bring your Qs, come hang out 👇
https://youtube.com/live/vLAb3CldzY0
Ask "which VPN should I use?" in search and you'll probably get whoever paid the most.
The VPN Finder flips this on its head. It's just filterable, comparable data so you decide what's best for you. This v2026.07 update includes 7 new VPNs submitted by you all, dozens of data corrections, and most importantly: The chart was fully rebuilt for keyboard + screen readers 🙏
Try it for yourself, and submit data if you have any!
https://vpn.techlore.tech/
