Under the hood · Journal
Curiosity,
open to everyone.
What our devices reveal, how our data travels and what our tools can protect.
In this edition
11 articles
What your browser reveals before the first click
Even a brief visit leaves traces. What do your IP address, cookies and browser fingerprint reveal, and which can identify you?
Security keys: protecting your accounts from fake login pages
A fake login page can steal a password and a temporary code. How does a FIDO security key resist this attack, and how do you set one up without losing access to your accounts?
Your home network: follow a connection’s journey
Wi-Fi, routers, DNS and guest networks: map what happens at home and know where to look when something stops working.
Proton VPN vs ExpressVPN vs NordVPN vs IVPN: who protects what?
Retained data, audits, WireGuard and post-quantum encryption: a technical comparison of four VPNs, with privacy as the starting point.
“I have nothing to hide”: an argument that deserves more than a comeback
Convenience, advertising and safety: take the objections seriously. What privacy protects even when you are hiding no wrongdoing.
The smartphone: the biggest spy in your pocket?
Permissions, location, advertising and histories: understand the flows and reduce collection on iPhone and Android without giving everything up.
Encrypting your data: on your computer, in the cloud and when sharing
Protect a lost computer, restrict access to a cloud folder or send an encrypted archive: five situations that explain where encryption helps and how to recover your files.
Self-hosting or cloud: who protects the data, who maintains the service?
NAS, VPS or managed service: what self-hosting changes for security, privacy, backups and maintenance time.
AI Act and CLOUD Act: which rules, whose access to our data?
The position on 2 October 2026: the updated European timeline, CLOUD Act scope, Swiss implications and the actual role of encryption.
What does a home firewall actually protect?
A home firewall: incoming connections, smart devices, IPv6 and self-hosted services. What it protects, what it misses and what to check.
Pi-hole vs AdGuard Home: which should you choose for privacy?
Pi-hole or AdGuard Home: encrypted DNS, logs, groups, DHCP and maintenance. The differences that matter when you choose a filter for your network.