Run Your Own IRC Server (Ergo Chat)

Want a private comms channel without relying on Discord or Slack?IRC is alive, and you can run your own today. A small, well-configured IRC server gives you privacy, control, and minimal attack surface – all in a few commands. Some people think that IRC is dead.Some of them don’t even know what is it.They’re young,…

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The Operator’s WSL Bible

Windows Subsystem for Linux: a practical way to run Linux on Windows. Run Linux GUI applications – through WSLg. There are situations when a powerful Linux desktop is not given. In this case WSL can provide some Linux tooling and flexibility. Operators don’t break. We bend – we adapt.

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The Operator’s LUKS Bible

Sensitive information is everywhere: Names. Password hashes. Emails.Financials. Customers. Quotes.Configurations. Passwords. Every company has their own threat model. Yet – everyone should protect their most sensitive data.

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The Operator’s KVM Bible

When the enterprise behind one of the widespread hypervisors was acquired:many sysadmins decided to move on. Only a very few operators dared to rework their processes and architecture. KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machines) is part of the Linux kernel.It is a stable and fast hypervisor. KVM is not a downgrade. It’s a sideways step.

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Gitea – Ansible Installer Role

Automation and configuration management are not just about comfort.They provide security, auditability and operational freedom. For this reason Tom’s IT Cafe provides an Ansible role that: The role focuses on a small, auditable code base with strong security.

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Gitea – Your Self-Hosted Git Platform

You feel the comfort of the cloud – low maintenance, fast setup.Your source code, configuration and files are safe. Or… are they? You rely on a third party for infrastructure control, security operations and availability.What would your business continuity plan look like if your SaaS provider became unavailable? In this article we investigate a self-hosted…

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The CI/CD Of The Small Business World

DevSecOps is one of the most important shifts in modern systems.It is not DevOps with security added later.It is security designed into the CI/CD pipeline before the first commit.

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Borg Backup – Encrypt And Deduplicate Your Data

If you have any data – backups are not optional.Devices crash. Pendrives disappear. Houses burn down. Your backups are useful only if you can restore them.

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WireGuard – Secret Path In The Shades

Your Virtual Private Network isn’t there to watch geo-blocked content.Once VPNs were used to connect networks, like remote offices of a company.Today they protect your information and privacy.This is why your VPN isn’t an optional tool anymore.It’s your shield against the unwanted attention and passive monitoring.

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AI Agents – The New Corporate Security Holes

The adoption of AI agents has accelerated.More data. Faster hardware. More delegated tasks. AI agents thrive in hidden corners of corporate IT.They wait for work in silence – as privileged users. What happens when an outsider gains access to such an agent?Its privileges become the outsider’s access.

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Suspend Then Hibernate with LUKS and LVM (A Practical Setup)

Linux power management was tricky in the early days.Adding LUKS and LVM to the mix was a suicide combo. Today it’s not just a possibility – it’s a baseline requirement for secure Linux setups.

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How To Avoid And Detect Phishing In 2026

Phishing did not disappear.It evolved. In 2026, phishing emails look real.SMS messages feel urgent.Websites copy everything. The goal is simple.Make you rush.Make you click. This article shows how to slow down and spot phishing before it works.

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GPG Basics: Simple, Safe Encryption for Everyday IT Work

When you hear the word encryption, it often sounds like something only security researchers and intelligence agencies deal with. But in reality, every IT professional – even small teams, freelancers, or home users – should understand the basics of protecting sensitive files. GnuPG (or GPG) is one of the most trusted tools for this. It’s…

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Solo Development Doesn’t Need Corporate Git Workflows

Git is a powerful tool, but solo developers often inherit processes designed for large teams.Corporate branching strategies solve coordination problems that an individual simply doesn’t have.When you’re the only developer in the room, heavy processes become friction.You don’t need gates, ceremonies, or complex merging rules to work effectively.

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Local LLMs for Privacy‑First Workflows A Practical Guide with LMStudio

Why run a language model on your own machine? If you’re a developer, system admin, or just someone who values privacy, these benefits make local LLMs worth a look.

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