mastodon 4.8.0-alpha.3+glitchIndependent blog on digital sovereignty, privacy and open-source alternatives to Big Tech. Practical guides and news for everyday users who want control over their digital lives.
mailbox.org: the Berlin office suite for digital sovereignty
In previous posts on this blog, I’ve written about Proton, Tuta, and, most recently, Mailfence. However, I’ve intentionally left out one important project…
https://vsx.global/mailbox-org-berlin-office-package-for-digital-sovereignty/
Privacy Is Not the Same as Security: How Alternative Mobile Operating Systems Really Stack Up Against iOS and Android
A week ago, I wrote here about custom-made spyware and how the real weakness of encrypted communication isn't cryptography,…
The Tech Sovereignty Package, Part 2: What Lies Behind the Talk of the Cloud, Chips, and Open Source
Who can shut down the cloud that runs your bank's services? It sounds like a conspiracy theory, but this very question is worth…
Volla Cloud: Can the Cloud Exist Without a Data Center?
Last week, I published my first report from the Voll Community Days 2026 here and promised to return to the three key topics…
https://vsx.global/volla-cloud-can-a-cloud-exist-without-a-data-center/
Volla Community Days 2026: Europe’s Bet on Independence from Big Tech
While most of the world operates within the Google and Apple ecosystems, a small group of European companies is building an alternative. This year’s…
https://vsx.global/volla-community-days-2026-europes-bet-on-independence-from-big-tech/
Britain as a Test Case: Legitimate Goals, Controversial Scope
Protecting children from pornography, violent material, and content that promotes suicide is a legitimate goal. There is no dispute about this, and it does not…
https://vsx.global/britain-as-a-test-case-legitimate-goal-controversial-scope/
The End of uBlock Origin in Chrome: What's Really Changing and What to Do About It
In early June 2026, it was confirmed that Chrome was also losing its last technical capabilities that had kept…
Commodore Callback 8020: A Legend Returns as a Linux Flip Phone That Deliberately Does Almost Nothing
Most of us know the name Commodore from the 8-bit era—the C64, the Amiga, the blinking cursor on a blue screen. After years of silence…
What happens to leaked data: the lifecycle of a leaked password
In the previous two installments of this series, I discussed the basic definition of the darknet [Myths and Reality: What Is the Darknet, Really?]…
https://vsx.global/what-happens-to-leaked-data-the-lifecycle-of-a-password-that-someone-leaks/
„A Double Threat“: The EU Revives Chat Control 1.0 in the Same Week That Negotiations on Version 2.0 Are Wrapping Up
Last week, I wrote about Monday’s final meeting on the „Chat Control“ regulation. At that time, there was only one outstanding issue on the table. It was…
Volla Community Days 2026: First Report on Europe’s Commitment to Independence
Two days ago, I wrote here about the Volla Community Days event as a European push for independence from Big Tech…
https://vsx.global/volla-community-days-2026-first-report-from-the-european-bet-on-independence/
Some media outlets are reporting a leak of 24 billion passwords. What this number (doesn't) mean, and how to find out if yours is among them
This week I published an article here about the lifecycle of a leaked password. In it, I describe what happens to an email address, password, or…
Tor in Practice: What It's For, What It Can Do, and Where Its Limits Lie
In the media, Tor is often conflated with the dark web to such an extent that it is treated as a synonym for illegal activities.
https://vsx.global/what-is-it-used-for-in-practice-what-can-it-do-and-what-are-its-limitations/
Message Scanning and „Chat Control“ Regulations: Technology, Error Rates, and Pitfalls
The specific outcome of the final round of negotiations on the „Chat Control“ regulation has not yet been officially announced. Another round is scheduled for June 29, 2026,…
https://vsx.global/message-scanning-and-chat-control-technology-error-rates-and-pitfalls/
Custom Spyware: How an Industry That Only Makes Headlines When It Ends Up in Court Works
This week, a news story caught my attention in the media—one that one could easily overlook as just another item in the „cybersecurity“ section: Meta…
Euro-Office the Day After: What's Actually Available and Why LibreOffice Is Protesting
A few days ago, I wrote here about the release of Nextcloud Hub 26 Spring and mentioned that…
The trilogue on „Chat Control 2.0“ did not result in an agreement on the entire package. However, the Parliament will vote next week on reinstating version 1.0
The final negotiations on the permanent regulation known as „Chat Control“ did not result in an agreement on the entire package. At the same time, however,…
When Washington Shut Down Anthropic: What Really Happened and What It Means
On Friday, June 12, the U.S. government issued an export control directive to Anthropic, ordering the company to restrict access to its most powerful…
https://vsx.global/when-washington-shut-down-anthropic-what-really-happened-and-what-it-means/
