Tooling
Tooling
Practical software for privacy, anonymity and source protection. Choose tools after you have worked out who you are hiding from, never before.
Network Privacy & VPNs
MullvadAccount numbers instead of emails, accepts cash by post, and a no-logs policy verified by repeated third party audits. The default recommendation when the provider should know nothing about you.No identity requiredIVPNTransparent ownership, published audits, and an explicit refusal to run affiliate marketing. Anonymous signup and a hardened multi-hop option for higher risk work.AuditedProton VPNSwiss jurisdiction, open source clients on every platform, and the only reputable free tier with no data cap. The right answer when budget is the binding constraint.Free tierTor BrowserOnion routing across volunteer relays. Slower than a VPN and considerably stronger against traffic correlation. The tool to reach for when the adversary is a state.Anti-correlation
Encrypted Communication
SignalEnd to end encrypted messaging and calls on an open protocol, with minimal metadata retained. Subpoenas to Signal have repeatedly produced almost nothing, which is the only test that matters.MessagingTailsA live operating system that runs from a USB stick, routes everything through Tor, and forgets the session on shutdown. Built for handling material that must leave no trace.Amnesic OSProton MailZero access encrypted email under Swiss law. Not a silver bullet, since metadata still exists, but a serious improvement over mainstream providers.EmailSecureDropThe submission system newsrooms use to accept documents from sources without ever learning who they are. Maintained by Freedom of the Press Foundation.Source intake
No tool substitutes for a threat model. Work out who you are protecting information from before you decide what to protect it with. Organisations that provide legal and emergency support are listed under Resources.