Security and privacy guides
The phone, accounts, and personal data around your bitcoin. Each guide closes one of the paths attackers use to reach a holder: a hijacked phone number, a leaked home address, or a reused password.
How this protects your bitcoin
Attackers often go around the wallet instead of breaking it. A SIM swap takes over the phone number that resets your exchange password, so start with SIM swap protection and a hardware security key on every exchange account. A data breach can tie your name and address to your holdings, which is what the personal data removal guide is for. The keys themselves belong on a hardware wallet, with the seed phrase backed up offline. The security incident tracker shows how each of these attacks has played out.
Phones and devices
- How to protect yourself from a SIM swap
A SIM swap moves your phone number to a thief. How to lock your number at T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T, get SMS out of your logins, and what to do if hit.
- GrapheneOS: which phone to buy and how to install it
GrapheneOS runs only on Google Pixel phones for now. Which Pixel to buy, what the Motorola deal means, how to install it, and how it compares to CalyxOS.
- Burner phones: what they are and how to get one that's actually private
What a burner phone is, how carriers still link it to you, how to buy one with cash, what it costs, and when a second-number app is enough instead.
- Faraday bags: what they block and when you need one
What a Faraday bag blocks, when a phone or key fob bag is worth it, how to test one at home, and why a DIY foil version is a gamble you can measure.
- Privacy screen protectors: do they work, and which kind to get
How privacy screen protectors work, 2-way vs 4-way filters, the brightness trade-off, laptop filters, and the Galaxy S26 Ultra built-in Privacy Display.
Accounts and identity
- Digital privacy for bitcoiners: a starter checklist
A digital privacy and security checklist for bitcoiners, ordered by impact: accounts, phone number, credit, home address, messaging, and your phone.
- YubiKey setup: lock down your email and exchange accounts
How to set up a YubiKey on Google, Apple, Bitwarden, and Kraken, which model to buy, why it beats SMS and app codes, and how to avoid locking yourself out.
- How to remove your personal information from the internet for free
Free ways to remove your address and phone from Google and people-search sites: Results about you, manual data broker opt-outs, and California DROP.
- How to freeze your credit at all three bureaus
A credit freeze is free, won't hurt your score, and blocks new credit in your name. How to freeze at Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, and freeze vs lock.
Apps and messaging
- How to degoogle your phone and your life
Replace Google one service at a time: export your data, move email and search, self-host photos and files, then put GrapheneOS on your phone.
- Is Signal safe?
Signal encrypts your messages and calls end to end, and it holds almost no data about you. What it protects, what it misses, and how to set it up right.
- How to send an encrypted email
How to send an encrypted email in Gmail and Outlook, what TLS and confidential mode protect, and when you need Proton Mail, Tuta, or PGP.
- Is Tor Browser safe?
Tor Browser hides your IP address from websites and your browsing from your ISP. How it works, what it misses, and how to use it on desktop and phone.
Other guide categories: Bitcoin self-custody, Self-hosting. Or browse and search every guide.