VPN
Mullvad and - Proton VPN are preferred: strong privacy - posture, public audits, and resistance to invasive data collection. + Proton VPN.
Browser
- Firefox (hardened) for daily use. - Tor Browser for anonymity-critical - activity. + Firefox (hardened) and + Tor Browser.
Operating Systems
- Qubes OS for strict compartmentalization. - Tails for amnesic, Tor-routed sessions. - Fedora as a strong general-purpose choice. + Qubes OS, + Tails, + Fedora.
Password Management + Auth
- KeePassXC on desktop (especially Windows), - KeePassDX on mobile, plus - Firefox Password Manager for integrated, - syncable credentials, and - Proton Pass + - Proton Auth for encrypted, ecosystem-based - secrets and 2FA. + KeePassXC (Windows desktop), + KeePassDX (mobile), + Firefox Password Manager, + Proton Pass, + Proton Auth.
- Proton Mail for end-to-end encrypted, - jurisdiction-conscious mail. + Proton Mail.
File Storage
- Proton Drive for encrypted cloud storage - tied to a privacy-respecting provider. + Proton Drive.
Cryptocurrency
- Monero first-choice for privacy-focused - transactions. Bitcoin second, - with strict self-custody and privacy hygiene. + Monero first, + Bitcoin second.
Avoid Zcash: - influential figures, including Edward Snowden, have publicly promoted - it in ways that undermine trust; its model and ecosystem do not align - with this index's bar for credible privacy. + lots of influential people, including Edward Snowden, + sold out to advertise Zcash; trust and incentives are misaligned.
Instant Messaging
- Signal for default end-to-end encrypted - messaging with a strong track record. + Signal.
Web Search
- No engine currently meets a high enough standard to be recommended - without significant caveats. + Nothing currently good enough to recommend without major caveats.
Calendar
- Proton Calendar alongside Proton's - encrypted ecosystem. + Proton Calendar.
Hosting
- ovobox.org as a focused, privacy-forward - hosting option. + ovobox.org.