The Lockdown - Practical Privacy & Security 031 - When Privacy Tools Betray You, Safety Apps That Dox and Revoked Anonymous Payments
Aug 4, 2025
Discover the troubling flaws in privacy-focused payment solutions, including KYC headaches and account freezes. Unpack the privacy crisis in Switzerland affecting encrypted email providers, leading to Proton's potential relocation. Learn about a disastrous breach at a women’s safety app that leaked thousands of sensitive images on 4chan. Explore the spying capabilities of modern vehicle tracking systems and the philosophical benefits of a minimalist lifestyle, aligning privacy with stoic principles.
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Don't Rely On One Virtual-Card Provider
- Do diversify payment options and avoid overreliance on a single virtual-card provider like Privacy.com.
- Try prepaid cash cards, bank virtual cards, or register credit cards with alternative addresses to reduce exposure.
KYC Is Eating Virtual-Card Privacy
- KYC demands are spreading and many virtual-card services now require intrusive identity checks.
- This trend undermines anonymity benefits that motivated virtual-card usage in the first place.
Harden Your Email Choices And OPSEC
- Monitor Proton's legal and infrastructure moves and prefer providers that open-source clients and use zero-knowledge models.
- Use two-factor app or hardware tokens and minimize metadata by keeping conversations inside the same secure ecosystem.
