Tag: gpg

GPG Basics: Simple, Safe Encryption for Everyday IT Work

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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 free, open-source, built into every Linux distribution, and works perfectly for encrypting files, verifying downloads, or signing work-related documents.

This guide walks you through a clean, beginner-friendly setup – no advanced OPSEC, no air-gapped machines, no master-key rituals. Just the essentials that anyone at home or at work can start using today.

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The Ciphered Mind – Encrypted Journaling with Org-mode

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By DeadSwitch | The Cyber Ghost

“Your thoughts should never be anyone’s business. Encrypt the silence.”

In a world obsessed with sharing, I write to forget – not to be remembered by others. My journal isn’t a scrapbook for dopamine or a backup for someone else’s algorithm. It’s a log of operations, and operations require secrecy.

So I encrypt mine. With Emacs. In plain text.

This is how DeadSwitch keeps a daily log that even the digital gods can’t peek into.

Why Encrypt a Journal?

Because the mind is sacred.
Because ideas are weapons.
Because tomorrow’s threat often begins with yesterday’s leak.

Encrypted journaling isn’t about fear. It’s about respect – for your thoughts, your process, your silence.

The Setup – Emacs, Org-mode, and GPG

Here’s the toolbox:

  • Editor: Emacs
  • Format: Org-mode
  • Encryption: GnuPG
  • Extension: org-crypt
  • Storage: Offline, local, under your terms

Emacs Configuration

Drop this into your config:

(require 'org-crypt)
(setq org-tags-exclude-from-inheritance '("crypt"))
(setq org-crypt-key nil) ;; uses your default GPG key
(org-crypt-use-before-save-magic)

This tells Emacs to automatically encrypt any headline tagged with :crypt: before saving.
Decryption happens only when you open the file – and stays in RAM.

A Sample Entry

* May 2025 :crypt:

** [2025-05-04 Sun]
- 5k run - 22:18 [2025-05-04 Sun 09:06]
- Cold shower - difficulty: easy [2025-05-04 Sun 09:28]
- New idea: Emacs Lisp for internal ops [2025-05-04 Sun 14:24]

Your operations, encrypted. Your timestamps, precise. Your log, protected.

Timestamps and Logging Shortcuts

  • C-c . – insert date
  • C-u C-c . – insert date and time
  • C-c ! – inactive timestamp
  • C-u C-c ! – inactive date and time

You want traceability without noise. Emacs delivers.

Why Not Notion, Joplin, Obsidian, or Others?

Because I don’t trust clouds.
Because their encryption isn’t mine.
Because their sync means exposure.
Because when I type, I want code – not JavaScript trying to sell me my own thoughts.

Final Note

“Encryption is not paranoia. It is self-respect.”

  • DeadSwitch

Your mind is a fortress. Don’t leave the gate open.

The Silent Channel: Privacy-Focused Email for Small Businesses

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“If your words pass through the wrong gate, they’re no longer yours.”
– DeadSwitch

Email is the first window into your system.
It’s the trailhead of phishing, leaks, impersonation, and silent watchers.
Yet most small businesses still shout through the loudest gates :: Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo.

The servers scan. The ads personalize.
The watchers smile.

You need a quieter way.

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OpSec Mastery: Tools for the Silent Revolution

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DeadSwitch | The Cyber Ghost
“In silence, we rise. In the switch, we fade.”

The art of Operational Security (OpSec) isn’t about hiding – it’s about disappearing. The less you leave behind, the harder it is to find you. It’s a craft, not just a choice. Here are tools that will sharpen your OpSec game, make your operations untraceable, and keep you out of sight.

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The Power of Privacy: Safeguarding Your Data with GPG Encryption

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In today’s digital era, privacy and data security have become paramount concerns. With the increasing threat of cyber crime and unauthorized access to sensitive information, it’s crucial to adopt robust encryption techniques to protect your files and text. One such method is GPG (GNU Privacy Guard), a widely acclaimed encryption tool that ensures the confidentiality and integrity of your data. In this article, we’ll explore the fundamentals of GPG encryption and decryption, empowering you to secure your information and communicate with confidence.

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