Patrick Townsend
@patricktownsend.bsky.social
Interested in computer security and privacy, native plants and gardening, cats, and peace and justice.
At 27 pages into Gil Durán’s new book “The Nerd Reich” I came full stop at this sentence:
“As many political schools of thought do, these technolibertarians make a philosophy out of a personality defect.”
Simply and elegantly stated. The various techno-optimistic philosophies running around
“As many political schools of thought do, these technolibertarians make a philosophy out of a personality defect.”
Simply and elegantly stated. The various techno-optimistic philosophies running around
August 22, 2026 at 9:56 PM
At 27 pages into Gil Durán’s new book “The Nerd Reich” I came full stop at this sentence:
“As many political schools of thought do, these technolibertarians make a philosophy out of a personality defect.”
Simply and elegantly stated. The various techno-optimistic philosophies running around
“As many political schools of thought do, these technolibertarians make a philosophy out of a personality defect.”
Simply and elegantly stated. The various techno-optimistic philosophies running around
Signal – Don’t forget to configure for additional privacy
Many of my friends and colleagues are concerned about their personal privacy. They ask me about Signal – how secure and private is it for communicating with family and neighbors?
Many of my friends and colleagues are concerned about their personal privacy. They ask me about Signal – how secure and private is it for communicating with family and neighbors?
August 17, 2026 at 4:19 PM
Signal – Don’t forget to configure for additional privacy
Many of my friends and colleagues are concerned about their personal privacy. They ask me about Signal – how secure and private is it for communicating with family and neighbors?
Many of my friends and colleagues are concerned about their personal privacy. They ask me about Signal – how secure and private is it for communicating with family and neighbors?
No Hate in WA State
Washington state has vile anti-trans initiatives on the ballot. You can learn more about these initiatives and donate to defeat them on the No Hate in WA State website:
nohateinwastate.org
Love and respect to my trans friends and colleagues.
Washington state has vile anti-trans initiatives on the ballot. You can learn more about these initiatives and donate to defeat them on the No Hate in WA State website:
nohateinwastate.org
Love and respect to my trans friends and colleagues.
NO HATE in WA State Oppose IL26-001, IL26-638
Learn about opposing IL26-001, IL26-638, two harmful initiatives on the November ballot that threaten student safety.
nohateinwastate.org
July 29, 2026 at 5:10 PM
No Hate in WA State
Washington state has vile anti-trans initiatives on the ballot. You can learn more about these initiatives and donate to defeat them on the No Hate in WA State website:
nohateinwastate.org
Love and respect to my trans friends and colleagues.
Washington state has vile anti-trans initiatives on the ballot. You can learn more about these initiatives and donate to defeat them on the No Hate in WA State website:
nohateinwastate.org
Love and respect to my trans friends and colleagues.
Signal Privacy – Better Than You Thought
If you’ve ever tried to write a secure and private distributed communications protocol, you know how hard it is to get it right. (If you have, you are seriously nerdy!) It is really easy to make mistakes, even for professional security developers.
1/15
If you’ve ever tried to write a secure and private distributed communications protocol, you know how hard it is to get it right. (If you have, you are seriously nerdy!) It is really easy to make mistakes, even for professional security developers.
1/15
May 7, 2026 at 5:56 PM
Signal Privacy – Better Than You Thought
If you’ve ever tried to write a secure and private distributed communications protocol, you know how hard it is to get it right. (If you have, you are seriously nerdy!) It is really easy to make mistakes, even for professional security developers.
1/15
If you’ve ever tried to write a secure and private distributed communications protocol, you know how hard it is to get it right. (If you have, you are seriously nerdy!) It is really easy to make mistakes, even for professional security developers.
1/15
Signal and notifications – Minimizing the privacy risk.
You might have seen the article by Joseph Cox in 404 Media about the FBI retrieving deleted Signal messages on an iPhone:
www.404media.co/fbi-extracts...
1/8
You might have seen the article by Joseph Cox in 404 Media about the FBI retrieving deleted Signal messages on an iPhone:
www.404media.co/fbi-extracts...
1/8
FBI Extracts Suspect’s Deleted Signal Messages Saved in iPhone Notification Database
The case was the first time authorities charged people for alleged “Antifa” activities after President Trump designated the umbrella term a terrorist organization.
www.404media.co
April 20, 2026 at 3:17 PM
Signal and notifications – Minimizing the privacy risk.
You might have seen the article by Joseph Cox in 404 Media about the FBI retrieving deleted Signal messages on an iPhone:
www.404media.co/fbi-extracts...
1/8
You might have seen the article by Joseph Cox in 404 Media about the FBI retrieving deleted Signal messages on an iPhone:
www.404media.co/fbi-extracts...
1/8
Signal and Proton Mail – What Private Information Can Law Enforcement Access?
On a regular basis I see questions being asked about the privacy of Signal and Proton Mail in terms of potential law enforcement access.
On a regular basis I see questions being asked about the privacy of Signal and Proton Mail in terms of potential law enforcement access.
April 6, 2026 at 4:57 PM
Signal and Proton Mail – What Private Information Can Law Enforcement Access?
On a regular basis I see questions being asked about the privacy of Signal and Proton Mail in terms of potential law enforcement access.
On a regular basis I see questions being asked about the privacy of Signal and Proton Mail in terms of potential law enforcement access.
Recently The Conversation hosted Anne Toomey McKenna, Guy Kawasaki, and Florian Schaub for a discussion on Internet privacy law (spoiler: it’s not good) and how to improve your privacy.
Watch the recording here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPUP...
(1/5)
Watch the recording here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPUP...
(1/5)
Webinar: How to have some privacy when AI (and big tech) could be watching
YouTube video by The Conversation
www.youtube.com
April 2, 2026 at 5:47 PM
Recently The Conversation hosted Anne Toomey McKenna, Guy Kawasaki, and Florian Schaub for a discussion on Internet privacy law (spoiler: it’s not good) and how to improve your privacy.
Watch the recording here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPUP...
(1/5)
Watch the recording here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPUP...
(1/5)
Starting a Signal Group?
A new guide can help you plan, create and manage your group. Designed for the non-technical person and free to download and share:
mypersonalprivacy.net
H/T to the awesome people of Minneapolis!
#Privacy #Security #Signal #Organizing #Resist
A new guide can help you plan, create and manage your group. Designed for the non-technical person and free to download and share:
mypersonalprivacy.net
H/T to the awesome people of Minneapolis!
#Privacy #Security #Signal #Organizing #Resist
March 12, 2026 at 5:22 PM
Starting a Signal Group?
A new guide can help you plan, create and manage your group. Designed for the non-technical person and free to download and share:
mypersonalprivacy.net
H/T to the awesome people of Minneapolis!
#Privacy #Security #Signal #Organizing #Resist
A new guide can help you plan, create and manage your group. Designed for the non-technical person and free to download and share:
mypersonalprivacy.net
H/T to the awesome people of Minneapolis!
#Privacy #Security #Signal #Organizing #Resist
Signal and Proton Mail won’t go away, but they might be removed from the Apple and Google stores. Remember ICEBlock? Download Signal and Proton Mail and ask your friends to do the same. Free installation and configuration guides:
mypersonalprivacy.net
#Security #Privacy #Resist #Signal #Proton
mypersonalprivacy.net
#Security #Privacy #Resist #Signal #Proton
Home
My Personal Privacy offers easy guides and tools to help non-technical users protect their personal data and stay secure online.
MyPersonalPrivacy.net
January 8, 2026 at 6:27 PM
Cory Doctorow gets it – Time to download privacy apps now
The Dictator/Fascist/Authoritarian playbook is well understood. Surveillance is a key part of the effort to dominate and punish individuals who engage in legal dissent or opposition.
The Dictator/Fascist/Authoritarian playbook is well understood. Surveillance is a key part of the effort to dominate and punish individuals who engage in legal dissent or opposition.
October 21, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Cory Doctorow gets it – Time to download privacy apps now
The Dictator/Fascist/Authoritarian playbook is well understood. Surveillance is a key part of the effort to dominate and punish individuals who engage in legal dissent or opposition.
The Dictator/Fascist/Authoritarian playbook is well understood. Surveillance is a key part of the effort to dominate and punish individuals who engage in legal dissent or opposition.
AI – I am here to help; would you like to chat?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) of one type or another is now a part of most of the applications and services we use on the Internet. In spite of AI’s helpful features, there are hidden dangers in most of the common AI applications and services.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) of one type or another is now a part of most of the applications and services we use on the Internet. In spite of AI’s helpful features, there are hidden dangers in most of the common AI applications and services.
September 25, 2025 at 9:34 PM
AI – I am here to help; would you like to chat?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) of one type or another is now a part of most of the applications and services we use on the Internet. In spite of AI’s helpful features, there are hidden dangers in most of the common AI applications and services.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) of one type or another is now a part of most of the applications and services we use on the Internet. In spite of AI’s helpful features, there are hidden dangers in most of the common AI applications and services.
A Case for Urgency
“Gradually, then suddenly.” – Ernest Hemingway
We live in a rapidly developing dictatorship here in the US. We do not know exactly the details on how this will evolve, but we know that surveillance is always core to sustaining a dictatorship.
#Security #Privacy #Resist
“Gradually, then suddenly.” – Ernest Hemingway
We live in a rapidly developing dictatorship here in the US. We do not know exactly the details on how this will evolve, but we know that surveillance is always core to sustaining a dictatorship.
#Security #Privacy #Resist
September 15, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Protect your privacy – browsers and search engines
Surveillance has always been a core part of fascist regimes. This is still true today, but is even more dangerous due to new data aggregation and AI technologies. The Internet sites you visit and the things you search for become a part of the
Surveillance has always been a core part of fascist regimes. This is still true today, but is even more dangerous due to new data aggregation and AI technologies. The Internet sites you visit and the things you search for become a part of the
August 22, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Protect your privacy – browsers and search engines
Surveillance has always been a core part of fascist regimes. This is still true today, but is even more dangerous due to new data aggregation and AI technologies. The Internet sites you visit and the things you search for become a part of the
Surveillance has always been a core part of fascist regimes. This is still true today, but is even more dangerous due to new data aggregation and AI technologies. The Internet sites you visit and the things you search for become a part of the
It is not wise to piss off your partners and allies.
The EU is starting an initiative to define an EU-specific technology stack. There is an impressive set of companies and organizations signing on. Caving in to autocrats has its downsides. More here:
eurostack.eu
#EuroStack #Technology
The EU is starting an initiative to define an EU-specific technology stack. There is an impressive set of companies and organizations signing on. Caving in to autocrats has its downsides. More here:
eurostack.eu
#EuroStack #Technology
Euro Stack | Building Europe’s digital future
A European Industrial Policy initiative bringing together tech, governance and funding for Europe-focused investment to build and adopt a suite of digital infrastructures
EuroStack.eu
August 21, 2025 at 6:21 PM
It is not wise to piss off your partners and allies.
The EU is starting an initiative to define an EU-specific technology stack. There is an impressive set of companies and organizations signing on. Caving in to autocrats has its downsides. More here:
eurostack.eu
#EuroStack #Technology
The EU is starting an initiative to define an EU-specific technology stack. There is an impressive set of companies and organizations signing on. Caving in to autocrats has its downsides. More here:
eurostack.eu
#EuroStack #Technology
Protect your email privacy – Start now with Proton Mail
Just a reminder that autocracies always implement broad surveillance methods in order to identify and punish resistance. Surveillance can take many forms including the capture of your email messages and attachments.
Just a reminder that autocracies always implement broad surveillance methods in order to identify and punish resistance. Surveillance can take many forms including the capture of your email messages and attachments.
July 29, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Protect your email privacy – Start now with Proton Mail
Just a reminder that autocracies always implement broad surveillance methods in order to identify and punish resistance. Surveillance can take many forms including the capture of your email messages and attachments.
Just a reminder that autocracies always implement broad surveillance methods in order to identify and punish resistance. Surveillance can take many forms including the capture of your email messages and attachments.
Protect your privacy – Start now with Signal
Autocracies always implement broad surveillance methods in order to identify and punish resistance. Surveillance can take many forms including the capture of your social media posts and email, monitoring your connections to web sites,
Autocracies always implement broad surveillance methods in order to identify and punish resistance. Surveillance can take many forms including the capture of your social media posts and email, monitoring your connections to web sites,
July 18, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Protect your privacy – Start now with Signal
Autocracies always implement broad surveillance methods in order to identify and punish resistance. Surveillance can take many forms including the capture of your social media posts and email, monitoring your connections to web sites,
Autocracies always implement broad surveillance methods in order to identify and punish resistance. Surveillance can take many forms including the capture of your social media posts and email, monitoring your connections to web sites,
My Personal Privacy - Achieve Better Online Privacy
The right to privacy is a well-established, fundamental human right. It is necessary for a safe and just society. It is especially important in regions where intolerance and discrimination are backed by autocratic regimes.
#Security #Privacy
The right to privacy is a well-established, fundamental human right. It is necessary for a safe and just society. It is especially important in regions where intolerance and discrimination are backed by autocratic regimes.
#Security #Privacy
July 10, 2025 at 6:46 PM
I've been pretty quiet here lately, but I've not been goofing off. I am leveraging what I've learned about security and privacy over the last two decades to create guides for the non-technical person.
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June 30, 2025 at 6:18 PM
I've been pretty quiet here lately, but I've not been goofing off. I am leveraging what I've learned about security and privacy over the last two decades to create guides for the non-technical person.
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CECOT in El Salvador is a concentration camp. We should call it what it is:
encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/a...
I've walked the grounds of Dachau. No one should have any doubt about the direction and intent of this administration.
#Holocaust #ConcentrationCamp #Trump #Resist
encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/a...
I've walked the grounds of Dachau. No one should have any doubt about the direction and intent of this administration.
#Holocaust #ConcentrationCamp #Trump #Resist
Nazi Camps
Nazi Germany and its allies established over 44,000 concentration camps and incarceration sites during the Holocaust. Read about the Nazi camp system.
encyclopedia.ushmm.org
April 15, 2025 at 6:01 PM
CECOT in El Salvador is a concentration camp. We should call it what it is:
encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/a...
I've walked the grounds of Dachau. No one should have any doubt about the direction and intent of this administration.
#Holocaust #ConcentrationCamp #Trump #Resist
encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/a...
I've walked the grounds of Dachau. No one should have any doubt about the direction and intent of this administration.
#Holocaust #ConcentrationCamp #Trump #Resist
The stories about SignalGate are funny, sad and infuriating. But let's not forget that Signal is the most secure and private message, file sharing, and video application publicly available to at-risk individuals and groups. Meredith Whittaker and her team at Signal are awesome.
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March 31, 2025 at 6:57 PM
The stories about SignalGate are funny, sad and infuriating. But let's not forget that Signal is the most secure and private message, file sharing, and video application publicly available to at-risk individuals and groups. Meredith Whittaker and her team at Signal are awesome.
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@resistancerangers.bsky.social
Awesome group at the Resistance Rangers protest at Mt. Rainier National Park! We love our national parks and our dedicated rangers!
Awesome group at the Resistance Rangers protest at Mt. Rainier National Park! We love our national parks and our dedicated rangers!
March 24, 2025 at 4:33 PM
@resistancerangers.bsky.social
Awesome group at the Resistance Rangers protest at Mt. Rainier National Park! We love our national parks and our dedicated rangers!
Awesome group at the Resistance Rangers protest at Mt. Rainier National Park! We love our national parks and our dedicated rangers!
Now is the time to get a secure email account that you can trust. I suggest Proton Mail which you can get here: proton.me. You don't have to give up your Gmail or other email account, but those are not going to be dependably private. Google just caved to political pressure. Proton won't.
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Proton: Privacy by default
Over 100 million people use Proton to stay private and secure online. Get a free Proton account and take back your privacy.
proton.me
January 29, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Now is the time to get a secure email account that you can trust. I suggest Proton Mail which you can get here: proton.me. You don't have to give up your Gmail or other email account, but those are not going to be dependably private. Google just caved to political pressure. Proton won't.
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My IT security background is in encryption for data protection and I am learning my way into other areas of online security and privacy. I am impressed with the security and privacy of Proton Mail for email, and Signal for messaging. They are in a class of their own when it comes to protecting you.
January 5, 2025 at 10:25 PM
My IT security background is in encryption for data protection and I am learning my way into other areas of online security and privacy. I am impressed with the security and privacy of Proton Mail for email, and Signal for messaging. They are in a class of their own when it comes to protecting you.
Whelp, I stumbled around and found my way to BlueSky. Still active on Mastodon. Left Twitter when you-know-who took over. Still figuring out how this works (sorry).
December 23, 2024 at 11:29 PM
Whelp, I stumbled around and found my way to BlueSky. Still active on Mastodon. Left Twitter when you-know-who took over. Still figuring out how this works (sorry).