No-nonsense tools for thriving in the digital space

I'm convinced that the human existence in the cyberspace would be significantly better off if everyone were using those. All the tools in this section have something in common — they are open-source. This is an important aspect of trust since anyone can independently inspect the source code to evaluate its functions.

Bitwarden

You need a password manager. Adopt one early if you still aren't using one already. Bitwarden is a fantastic choice. I highly recommend exploring its premium features although you can use it for free. Proton Pass seems to be a solid choice as well. If you wish to go fully offline without relying on any providers, then go for KeePassX.

How to do it right:
• Open an account with Bitwarden or Proton. If you go for KeePassX no account is needed, but you will have to manage its password database yourself.
• Create a Master Password which will be easy for you to remember, but difficult for machines to guess. It should be 16 characters or longer. Passphrases are ideal for this purpose. If feasible, add another authentication factor — mobile apps will let you use biometrics, or you can get a physical key like YubiKey.
• Add all the accounts you know of into the password manager. There are only two passwords you should really remember — the one to your password manager and the one to your primary email. Each account should have its unique password, so if one gets hacked, all others remain safe.
• Your master password is sacred. If you ever forget it, you will not be able to regain access. Write your passphrase on a physical note and store it somewhere safe — for example, a diary entry without any context indicating what it's for.

Protonmail

Your email provider matters. Proton was established in Switzerland by a team of scientists at CERN with a vision of an Internet where privacy is the default. It is open-source, ad free, privacy oriented and very secure.

How to do it right:
• Create a free account on Proton and choose a strong passphrase.
• Begin using Protonmail as your primary email. Ideally, get a paid plan for extra features — it is well worth it.
• If you have a personal domain, connect Protonmail with it in the settings to use your own email domain hosted on Proton.

Signal

State-of-the-art end-to-end encrypted communication messenger. If you should install only one app on your mobile phone, this is the one. Conversations are stored exclusively on your and the recipient's device — not on any servers on the internet. It is free to use without any ads.

How to do it right:
• Simply install the Signal app on your phone and go through the initial setup.
• Start using it with your contacts who are Signal users as a default communication platform for messaging, video calls and calls.
• Encourage your friends and enemies to use Signal!

Taking it to the next level

These are optional, however if you are concerned about security and privacy in the cyberspace, then it is essential to know the basic use of the following technologies.

DNS

Nearly everything you do on the Internet begins with DNS. Each time you visit a website, there is a request asking some DNS server for its IP address. Most people never change DNS settings on their devices — yet whoever controls the DNS can see which sites you're visiting, blocklist content, or in extreme scenarios manipulate your traffic. Choosing the right DNS servers will also often speed up your internet connection.

DNS servers focused on security & privacy:
• Quad9 — IPv4: 9.9.9.9   IPv6: 2620:fe::fe
• NextDNS — IPv4: 45.90.28.0   IPv6: 2a07:a8c0::

Fastest DNS (Cloudflare):
• Cloudflare — IPv4: 1.1.1.1   IPv6: 2606:4700:4700::1111

VPN & Tor

VPN sends your internet traffic through an encrypted tunnel to a remote server, masking your real IP address and keeping browsing data protected over untrusted connections. Tor routes all traffic through a worldwide volunteer network of relays that conceal your location and activity.

When to use VPN or Tor:
• Use VPN when your main concern is security, privacy, or bypassing geo-restrictions. Choose a trustworthy provider like ProtonVPN, IVPN, or Mullvad.
• If your life depends on it, choose Tor instead. It is primarily used for strict anonymity and is commonly used by journalists and activists operating under repressive regimes. Tor is always free.
• Keep in mind that VPN and Tor are outright illegal in several countries. Take additional precautions if you find yourself in one of those.