Over on Truth Social, someone posted the "smash with a hammer" story about Hillary Clinton and her cellphones. What was the fascination with BlackBerries? Here's a possible reason: VPN-like encryption
Can you please write an article about Virtual Private Networks? In particular how we can understand them and make better choices on which VPN providers to use currently available on the market?
It's helpful, yes in the sense that Linux-based OS's are open source software. So there are lots of knowledgeable eyes looking for weaknesses, vulnerabilities, and back-doors in the code.
The right way to form the question is: why should you trust that Vendor X's implementation is secure? Is their software open source? Who are the owners and backers? There's no easy answer to the trust problem here. How secure is that tech? Best answer I can give is ... its largely unknowable, and those who loudly proclaim that you MUST have one often don't know on what basis they hold the strong opinions that they do...
I am looking to move from iOS Mac in basically everything I do towards desktop Linux-based system. It’s just very daunting and I could easily get myself into some trouble as I am proficient with computers but Apple makes things very user friendly. So what is your suggestion in making the leap to less reliance on Apple and more on security for me and my family coupled with not having to become a Network IT expert. 
I have a few dual-booted PCs at home (you can do that with Macs too) and I use Elementary OS. There are lots of "distros" to choose from and each has its adherents. Elementary OS will look familiar to a MacOS user, so its a decent place to start.
Totally understand. Given the backdoors that the providers (ATT, etc) have via CALEA, why wouldn't people still use Blackberry? Maybe I missed that in the article. The phone might be "old fashioned" but the use of a local server is a tremendous advantage. Also, how difficult is it to break the public/private key using up-to-date industrial / government strength computers? I've often wondered that. I realize that its dependent on key length which used to be 128. I also realize it can't be done for real time, but to crack something for evidence, you can allow for a month or so. Thanks CC - very informative article, especially for non-IT guys.
there were rumors of a phone that looked like an amped up Android made by Tesla. I've heard other rumors that such a phone may eventually connect using the StarLink network. Nothing more tangible than rumors, that I'm aware of yet. If you find anything substantive, let me know.
I often thought how curious it was that RIM just...went away. My boss and I were talking not too long ago about this and he admitted to missing his BB.
Fun aside - my local Brewery has a distillery for their own bourbon. One of my favorite drinks there is called a Blackberry Smash. Never thought about that perspective.
It is curious, isn't it. They were really popular devices and its odd how they just disappeared from the market (surface stories about why being laid aside.) The fact that the parent company was Canadian probably caused some backroom posturing; I'm sure there were some in the intel community who didn't like that fact.
Can you please write an article about Virtual Private Networks? In particular how we can understand them and make better choices on which VPN providers to use currently available on the market?
Great article. What about using a phone using Linux-based OS. Does that change anything when looking for more secure communication? 
It's helpful, yes in the sense that Linux-based OS's are open source software. So there are lots of knowledgeable eyes looking for weaknesses, vulnerabilities, and back-doors in the code.
So about a VPN. Really how secure is that tech. Do you use one?
The right way to form the question is: why should you trust that Vendor X's implementation is secure? Is their software open source? Who are the owners and backers? There's no easy answer to the trust problem here. How secure is that tech? Best answer I can give is ... its largely unknowable, and those who loudly proclaim that you MUST have one often don't know on what basis they hold the strong opinions that they do...
I am looking to move from iOS Mac in basically everything I do towards desktop Linux-based system. It’s just very daunting and I could easily get myself into some trouble as I am proficient with computers but Apple makes things very user friendly. So what is your suggestion in making the leap to less reliance on Apple and more on security for me and my family coupled with not having to become a Network IT expert. 
I have a few dual-booted PCs at home (you can do that with Macs too) and I use Elementary OS. There are lots of "distros" to choose from and each has its adherents. Elementary OS will look familiar to a MacOS user, so its a decent place to start.
Excellent. Thx for the direction! Any insight is welcomed. leightonking@gmail.com.
Totally understand. Given the backdoors that the providers (ATT, etc) have via CALEA, why wouldn't people still use Blackberry? Maybe I missed that in the article. The phone might be "old fashioned" but the use of a local server is a tremendous advantage. Also, how difficult is it to break the public/private key using up-to-date industrial / government strength computers? I've often wondered that. I realize that its dependent on key length which used to be 128. I also realize it can't be done for real time, but to crack something for evidence, you can allow for a month or so. Thanks CC - very informative article, especially for non-IT guys.
Is the Starlink phone owned by Elon Musk?
there were rumors of a phone that looked like an amped up Android made by Tesla. I've heard other rumors that such a phone may eventually connect using the StarLink network. Nothing more tangible than rumors, that I'm aware of yet. If you find anything substantive, let me know.
I often thought how curious it was that RIM just...went away. My boss and I were talking not too long ago about this and he admitted to missing his BB.
Fun aside - my local Brewery has a distillery for their own bourbon. One of my favorite drinks there is called a Blackberry Smash. Never thought about that perspective.
It is curious, isn't it. They were really popular devices and its odd how they just disappeared from the market (surface stories about why being laid aside.) The fact that the parent company was Canadian probably caused some backroom posturing; I'm sure there were some in the intel community who didn't like that fact.
I liked my Crackberry because of the keyboard and the thumb ball.