Privacy, by default

Privacy Tools — ObsidianSignal

Practical picks for staying private across the creator web. No spyware. Clear disclosures. Real trade-offs.

How we choose

Policy over promise: independent audits, transparent governance, sane logging.
No dark patterns: no “free” that sells you out. Paid is fine if value’s real.
Performance matters: tools you’ll actually leave on.

Disclosure: some links may be affiliate. We only recommend tools we’re comfortable using ourselves.

VPN

Recommended: Pick a provider with independent audits, transparent ownership, and clear no-logs policy. Prioritize WireGuard, multi-hop options, and kill-switch reliability.

Use on untrusted Wi-Fi and for country-restricted content.
Expect some CAPTCHAs; rotate exits if needed.

Learn about our disclosures

Secure Email

Use providers that support strong encryption models, custom domains, and 2FA. Avoid inboxes that monetize scanning or “AI summaries” on personal mail.

Create aliases for platform signups.
Enable hardware-key 2FA where supported.

Browsers

Hardened Chromium or Firefox with sane defaults: ETP/Strict mode, sensible anti-fingerprinting, and site-isolation features turned on.

Keep one “clean” profile for financial activity.
Block third-party cookies; allow per-site exceptions.

Extensions (lightweight)

uBlock Origin — baseline ad/track blocking (don’t stack blockers).
ClearURLs — trims tracking params from links.
Cookie AutoDelete — cleans site data on tab close (tune per site).
Temporary Containers (FF) — ephemeral sessions for risky browsing.

Tip: fewer extensions = smaller fingerprint. Install sparingly.

Threat models (pick yours)

Basic privacy: stop ad trackers, reduce cross-site profiling.
Account hygiene: alias emails, unique passwords (manager), 2FA.
Location masking: use VPN with reliable kill-switch.
Operational separation: separate profiles/devices for work vs. play.

Quick-start (10 minutes)

Install a hardened browser profile (block 3P cookies, enable HTTPS-only).
Add uBlock Origin and import default lists.
Enable a reputable VPN (WireGuard, kill-switch ON); set auto-connect on untrusted Wi-Fi.
Create a new alias email for platform accounts; enable 2FA.
Review permissions on extensions; remove anything you don’t use.

FAQ

Will a VPN break sites? Sometimes you’ll see more CAPTCHAs. Switch exit servers or temporarily pause.

Do blockers kill creator revenue? We support ethical advertising. Whitelist sites you trust (including ours) if you’re comfortable.

Is Tor required? Not for most users. Use Tor for high-sensitivity cases; expect slower speeds.

Disclosures

We may use clearly labeled affiliate links to support independent publishing. We do not sell user data. Recommendations are editorial; if a tool changes policy or ownership in ways that harm users, we’ll update this page and remove it.

Questions? contact@obsidiansignal.co