SparkForge

Tech Hunt! Vehicle Privacy Edition. I’m looking for capabilities that help protect the privacy of people who use vehicles. I’ve had a lot of questions myself and from clients. I’d like to share with my community of people what’s out there. Accepting slick sheets, white papers, or POC for someone who can help protect people from invasive data collection in cars. #vehicleprivacy Thanks!

SparkSearch is Back! Thanks to a surge in signups, I’m excited to announce that the SearXNG instance is back online for everyone to use! What is SparkSearch? SparkSearch is a free, privacy-focused MetaSearch Engine powered by SearXNG. Unlike traditional search engines that track and profile users, SearXNG combines results from multiple search engines—like Google, Bing, and DuckDuckGo—without storing your search history, logging your IP address, or displaying ads. Key Features of SparkSearch (SearXNG): o Privacy First: Your searches remain anonymous, as SparkSearch doesn't track or store your data. o Aggregated Search Results: Instead of relying on one provider, it queries multiple sources (news, images, videos, academic databases, and more) and presents the results in one unified list. o Customizable Experience: You can fine-tune your searches by choosing specific sources or categories, such as general search, science, social media, or file search. o Open Source: SearXNG is open-source, meaning anyone can review its code to ensure transparency and security. ------ By using SparkSearch as your default search engine, you create a buffer between your search habits and corporations that track your data. I use SparkSearch daily—it’s an easy and effective way to enhance privacy without sacrificing search quality. Try it and experience a more private way to search the web! https://sparkforge.pro https://lnkd.in/eWBc3A2F

Website Update! After years of self-hosting, SparkForge has transitioned to a new platform. This move was driven by several factors: cost, effort, and enhanced security. Protecting our readers has always been a priority, but with an increasing number of visits from AI bots and web crawlers, additional measures were necessary. To better safeguard our content, some material is now behind a free and paid subscription model. ? Free Subscribers will still enjoy access to valuable insights and updates. ? Paid Subscribers gain exclusive access to in-depth how-to guides designed to help protect your privacy and secure your digital life. What to Expect: ? New how-to guides added monthly, thoroughly tested for ease of use and effectiveness. ? Articles posted as needed to keep you informed. ? Paid subscribers can request specific guides they’d like to see covered! Thank you for your continued support as we work to deliver the best resources to empower your digital privacy journey.

Website Update! After years of self-hosting, SparkForge has transitioned to a new platform. This move was driven by several factors: cost, effort, and enhanced security. Protecting our readers has always been a priority, but with an increasing number of visits from AI bots and web crawlers, additional measures were necessary. To better safeguard our content, some material is now behind a free and paid subscription model. ? Free Subscribers will still enjoy access to valuable insights and updates. ? Paid Subscribers gain exclusive access to in-depth how-to guides designed to help protect your privacy and secure your digital life. What to Expect: ? New how-to guides added monthly, thoroughly tested for ease of use and effectiveness. ? Articles posted as needed to keep you informed. ? Paid subscribers can request specific guides they’d like to see covered! Thank you for your continued support as we work to deliver the best resources to empower your digital privacy journey.

For years, we’ve danced around the edges of Net Flow Surveillance and Logistics and Shipping Surveillance, but it’s time to recognize them as independent vectors in the Ubiquitous Technical Surveillance (UTS) framework. These vectors expose critical risks: o Net Flow Surveillance: Tracks internet traffic to undermine privacy and anonymity. o Logistics Surveillance: Monitors global supply chains, revealing vulnerabilities in trade, security, and infrastructure. Understanding these as standalone threats is a huge step forward in addressing the risks of data aggregation. The power of surveillance continues to grow—now is the time to act. Read the article and share your thoughts. #UTS #DataAggregation #PrivacyMatters #SurveillanceRisks #GlobalSecurity

Your online clicks, your daily routes, even your spending habits—everything is being tracked. Ubiquitous Technical Surveillance (UTS) threatens your privacy, autonomy, and freedom of movement like never before. Discover the 5 threat vectors—Online, Electronic, Visual-Physical, Financial, and Travel—and how the devices and services you trust may be exposing you. Knowledge is power. Knowledge is for all. #PrivacyMatters #DigitalFreedom #UTSRisks

IOS 18 Update is out! Recheck your privacy settings after update. Little known fact. The reset function on an Apple iOS device allows you to target specific areas. Go To: Settings -> General -> Transfer or Reset iPhone -> Reset “Reset Location & Privacy” This will remove all permissions to important areas to include Facial Recognition, Microphone, Camera… and then prompt for permissions back to each area. Will save you a significant amount of time and effort after an update wrecks your privacy settings. Also go back and manually turn off “Allow Apps to Request to Track” in Privacy and Security -> Tracking. P.S. This also worked on older versions of iOS.

Surveillance Watch is an interactive platform that exposes the intricate connections between surveillance companies, their funding sources, and affiliations. The site features an interactive map that allows users to explore these relationships and understand the extensive network behind global surveillance efforts. For more detailed information, you can visit the website https://lnkd.in/gp7bBpDZ A great resource to bookmark.

Two elements are critical in building a solid digital privacy plan: DNS and Search. Over the years, I've investigated these two aspects and find they contain the most information about us that we regularly allow to be seen and collected on. I often start with search when helping people protect their privacy. It's the easiest fix technologically but the hardest in terms of convenience. We're all so used to the effectiveness of Google Search that anything else seems inferior. I don't think a law will simply fix it. It will take a culture shift and dedicated users to protect their privacy. Some of the ideas on support to alternative search engines has merit. Efforts such as Freesoke, Startpage, and self-hosted options such as SearXNG can help users break free of the data vacuum that is Google. I encourage you to check them out. Freespoke Search Startpage The article from Ars Technica explores various strategies to dismantle Google's monopoly in the search engine market. It discusses potential regulatory actions, such as antitrust lawsuits, breaking up the company, or enforcing data-sharing mandates. The article also considers market-based solutions like encouraging competition through support of alternative search engines and improving user privacy protections. Additionally, it examines the role of technological advancements and user behavior changes in reducing Google's dominance. https://lnkd.in/eADzYdmT

Two elements are critical in building a solid digital privacy plan: DNS and Search. Over the years, I've investigated these two aspects and find they contain the most information about us that we regularly allow to be seen and collected on. I often start with search when helping people protect their privacy. It's the easiest fix technologically but the hardest in terms of convenience. We're all so used to the effectiveness of Google Search that anything else seems inferior. I don't think a law will simply fix it. It will take a culture shift and dedicated users to protect their privacy. Some of the ideas on support to alternative search engines has merit. Efforts such as Freesoke, Startpage, and self-hosted options such as SearXNG can help users break free of the data vacuum that is Google. I encourage you to check them out. Freespoke Search Startpage The article from Ars Technica explores various strategies to dismantle Google's monopoly in the search engine market. It discusses potential regulatory actions, such as antitrust lawsuits, breaking up the company, or enforcing data-sharing mandates. The article also considers market-based solutions like encouraging competition through support of alternative search engines and improving user privacy protections. Additionally, it examines the role of technological advancements and user behavior changes in reducing Google's dominance. https://lnkd.in/eADzYdmT