Security
Target acquired: The increasing threat of targeted cyber-attacks
September 12, 2022 / Alex Linton
Data gets leaks are giving malicious attackers more chances to perform highly sophisticated, targeted attacks.
Sim Swapping attacks: How to protect yourself from this common phone scam
September 05, 2022 / Wesley Sukh
SIM Swapping: it's a pretty scary form of hacking that even managed to catch the CEO of Twitter off guard. This article tackles the best way to avoid phishing attacks, the risk and reward of 2FA (two-factor-authentication) and tips on protecting your phone number.
Avoiding malicious hackers: How to reduce your personal attack surface
September 02, 2022 / Alex Linton
Are you doing enough to protect yourself from hacks? There's one sure-fire way to figure that out: attack surface.
Interview with researcher Mariano Di Martino
August 03, 2022 / Kee Jefferys
Kee sat down with Mariano at the Privacy Enhancing Technology Symposium to discuss his paper on the security practices of companies which hold personal data covered by the GDPR.
How to find true love on Session
June 30, 2022 / Wesley Sukh
Privacy matters to all relationships — especially when we communicate digitally. How you and your partner message, sext or chat is just be between you.
Livin’ on the land of Big Tech: The gentrification of the internet
November 29, 2021 / Alex Linton
Do you believe in technology? In the world wide web of mega-corporations, rent goes up while innovation goes down.
Flip the switch: Global Encryption Day 2021
October 21, 2021 / Alex Linton
This Global Encryption Day, the cybersecurity community is calling for people to #MakeTheSwitch to end-to-end encryption. The OPTF is proud to join the call and stand in support of encryption.
Privacy propaganda: The war on encryption
June 23, 2021 / Alex Linton
Encryption is vital to defending digital privacy, but it’s being painted as the villain of the tech world. Push back against the anti-encryption agenda.
Session code audit: Technical report published by Quarkslab
April 29, 2021 / admin
A Session code audit for the Android, iOS, and Desktop versions of Session been completed by the cybersecurity research company Quarkslab.
End-to-end encryption: Secure messengers and messaging
April 26, 2021 / Alex Linton
End-to-end encryption is the most private and secure way to communicate online. End-to-end encryption (E2EE) is offered in most modern messaging apps, but how does it work?
Your adversary: Who’s a hacker, anyway?
April 20, 2021 / Alex Linton
A fundamental concept underpinning the field of cybersecurity is adversaries. Adversaries are any two parties who have opposing interests.
The crypto craze: Implementing cryptocurrency into a messenger
April 08, 2021 / Alex Linton
Cryptocurrencies are in the headlines again lately. Everyone who’s anyone is talking about them, trading them, and…putting crypto into their messenger?
Trust on first use: The Achilles heel of centralised messengers
April 07, 2021 / Kee Jefferys
When you first send a message on a new app, you’re trusting that service to send your message to the right person without compromising its integrity or privacy. How can we remove that trust?
Ground Safe: Putting secure tech in the hands of democracy’s defenders
March 19, 2021 / admin
A groundbreaking new report sheds light on ways for secure communications tech to evolve so it can better protect people working to defend our human rights.
The Session Protocol: What’s changing — and why
December 16, 2020 / Kee Jefferys
Session is moving to a purpose-built new encryption protocol: the Session Protocol. Read all about why we’re making the move, and what it means for users.
Privacy on trial: How encryption laws and backdoors threaten us all
December 04, 2020 / Alex Linton
Leaders around the world are advocating for anti-encryption and backdoor laws. Here's why it's never okay to compromise E2EE.
Cost of admission: What info do you give away when signing up for a new private messenger?
June 11, 2020 / Alex Linton
Signing up is a critical moment whenever you start using a new service, and sometimes it can feel like signing a deal with the devil — how much are you sacrificing to start sending messages securely? And when you’re making an account on a (supposedly) private messenger, it can feel like this is all defeating …
Verifying software downloads on Linux, Windows, and macOS
April 09, 2020 / admin
Don’t care what’s behind the scenes? Skip straight to software verification tutorials for macOS, Linux, and Windows. Back in the day, software used to arrive in the form of floppy discs, MiniDiscs, and CD-ROMs. But now, it’s all about the download. Everything is downloaded: the apps you use to keep in touch with your family, …
Anonymity 101: Day-to-day ways to stay anonymous online
January 23, 2020 / admin
The little things really do add up when it comes to online privacy. Check out 9 steps you can take to keep yourself, and your data, safe online.
Confirming identities online
January 10, 2020 / admin
Staying private online is important for everyone — but for some, it can be crucial. Learn how to confirm who you’re talking to while staying anonymous.
How to make an anonymous tip — and stay safe
January 07, 2020 / Alex Linton
Staying safe is the number one priority if you’re a whistleblower. Learn how to tip off journalists while keeping yourself safe.
Session and Australia’s Laws to Circumvent Secure Communications
January 02, 2020 / admin
Governments around the world are seeking backdoors to access encrypted communications. We have kept a close eye on the evolving laws that aim to do this.
Freelance and independent journalism: How do you stay safe?
December 31, 2019 / Alex Linton
Independent journalists often search for and publish things someone wants kept quiet. That's what journalism is for — but it's important for journalists to stay safe and secure.
Onion routing: Private messaging’s missing link
December 26, 2019 / Alex Linton
End-to-end encrypted messaging apps are popping up left and right, but finding the most private and the most secure can feel like a game of Whack-a-Mole.
Centralisation vs decentralisation in private messaging
December 23, 2019 / Alex Linton
Many private messaging apps have a critical flaw: centralisation. Learn why decentralisation is the future of secure private messaging.
What can someone do with your phone number?
December 17, 2019 / Alex Linton
Phone numbers are tied to our online identities: we use them as logins and to secure our accounts with SMS two-factor verification. But how secure are they?