StartMail
@startmail.bsky.social
Easy-to-use encrypted email provider. ✉️
Protecting your privacy with state-of-the-art security and technology. https://www.startmail.com/signup
Protecting your privacy with state-of-the-art security and technology. https://www.startmail.com/signup
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StartMail
@startmail.bsky.social
· Apr 10
How do we know that Big Tech doesn't care about your privacy? Your privacy isn't profitable to them. You're a product and make most of their money selling your data...which is the case for every "free" product and service out there. They work for their shareholders, not for you.
You may not think that targeted ads are very dangerous, but companies and data brokers pay top dollar to try to catch you when you're at you most vulnerable. But protecting yourself is much easier than you think!
January 31, 2026 at 3:46 PM
You may not think that targeted ads are very dangerous, but companies and data brokers pay top dollar to try to catch you when you're at you most vulnerable. But protecting yourself is much easier than you think!
Stop giving out your real email address! Seriously. It's being used to track your activity and collect your private data in ways that you probably don't even realize. Let us tell you about it and how to protect yourself: https://www.startmail.com/stop-giving-your-real-email
January 30, 2026 at 11:53 AM
Stop giving out your real email address! Seriously. It's being used to track your activity and collect your private data in ways that you probably don't even realize. Let us tell you about it and how to protect yourself: https://www.startmail.com/stop-giving-your-real-email
What's the biggest privacy threat that most people don't know about?
January 29, 2026 at 1:50 PM
What's the biggest privacy threat that most people don't know about?
What's the biggest myth or wrong impression that people have about data privacy?
January 28, 2026 at 3:50 PM
What's the biggest myth or wrong impression that people have about data privacy?
If you could only use ONE privacy tool to protect your data, which one would you choose and why?
January 27, 2026 at 3:54 PM
If you could only use ONE privacy tool to protect your data, which one would you choose and why?
What made you realize it was time to start taking your digital privacy seriously?
January 26, 2026 at 8:15 PM
What made you realize it was time to start taking your digital privacy seriously?
It's officially Data Privacy Week! We want YOUR help teaching people why and how to protect their privacy...and there's a potential FREE YEAR of StartMail in it for you. We'll be asking digital privacy questions all week, and gifting subscriptions to the best responses 👍
January 26, 2026 at 3:09 PM
It's officially Data Privacy Week! We want YOUR help teaching people why and how to protect their privacy...and there's a potential FREE YEAR of StartMail in it for you. We'll be asking digital privacy questions all week, and gifting subscriptions to the best responses 👍
Hundreds of satisfied customers across the globe can't ALL be wrong, can they? True privacy makes a difference, especially when it's coupled with industry-leading features and real life human support!
January 25, 2026 at 3:44 PM
Hundreds of satisfied customers across the globe can't ALL be wrong, can they? True privacy makes a difference, especially when it's coupled with industry-leading features and real life human support!
Researchers have discovered another version of a data pilfering attack that allows them to extract private user information from ChatGPT, even after OpenAI introduced safeguards: https://arstechnica.com/security/2026/01/chatgpt-falls-to-new-data-pilfering-attack-as-a-vicious-cycle-in-ai-continues/
ChatGPT falls to new data-pilfering attack as a vicious cycle in AI continues
Will LLMs ever be able to stamp out the root cause of these attacks? Possibly not.
arstechnica.com
January 24, 2026 at 3:45 PM
Researchers have discovered another version of a data pilfering attack that allows them to extract private user information from ChatGPT, even after OpenAI introduced safeguards: https://arstechnica.com/security/2026/01/chatgpt-falls-to-new-data-pilfering-attack-as-a-vicious-cycle-in-ai-continues/
Windows 11 lags behind older versions in a variety of speed tests, contradicting Microsoft's claims that it's the fastest and most secure version of the OS: https://www.techspot.com/news/110817-windows-11-performs-worse-than-older-windows-versions.html
Windows 11 performs worse than older Windows versions in nearly every benchmark
YouTuber TrigrZolt ran several tests pitting six generations of Windows - from XP to Windows 11 - against one another to see which one can complete a...
www.techspot.com
January 23, 2026 at 2:11 PM
Windows 11 lags behind older versions in a variety of speed tests, contradicting Microsoft's claims that it's the fastest and most secure version of the OS: https://www.techspot.com/news/110817-windows-11-performs-worse-than-older-windows-versions.html
How do you know when someone ACTUALLY cares about your privacy? They don't collect more information than is absolutely necessary. We may need to know your country for tax purposes, but we don't need your address. We have to collect payment info, but your bank doesn't need to know your email address.
January 22, 2026 at 3:48 PM
How do you know when someone ACTUALLY cares about your privacy? They don't collect more information than is absolutely necessary. We may need to know your country for tax purposes, but we don't need your address. We have to collect payment info, but your bank doesn't need to know your email address.
Instagram says that it's fixed a bug that left the site vulnerable to attackers, but denies reports of a data breach that allegedly left 17 million accounts exposed: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/instagram-denies-breach-amid-claims-of-17-million-account-data-leak/
Instagram denies breach amid claims of 17 million account data leak
Instagram says it fixed a bug that allowed threat actors to mass-request password reset emails, amid claims that data from more than 17 million Instagram accounts was scraped and leaked online.
www.bleepingcomputer.com
January 21, 2026 at 6:17 PM
Instagram says that it's fixed a bug that left the site vulnerable to attackers, but denies reports of a data breach that allegedly left 17 million accounts exposed: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/instagram-denies-breach-amid-claims-of-17-million-account-data-leak/
Several AI industry insiders have launched a project called "Poison Fountain" that allows website operators to add links to their sites that sabotage AI crawlers: https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/11/industry_insiders_seek_to_poison/
AI insiders seek to poison the data that feeds them
exclusive: Poison Fountain project seeks allies to fight the power
www.theregister.com
January 20, 2026 at 4:11 PM
Several AI industry insiders have launched a project called "Poison Fountain" that allows website operators to add links to their sites that sabotage AI crawlers: https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/11/industry_insiders_seek_to_poison/
Disney has agreed to pay a $10 million penalty to resolve allegations that they've violated children's privacy by covertly collecting their data, according the Justice Department: https://www.reuters.com/world/disney-agrees-10-mln-penalty-injunction-alleged-violations-childrens-privacy-2025-12-30/
Disney agrees to pay $10 million to resolve alleged child privacy law violations, Justice Dept says
Walt Disney has agreed to pay a $10 million civil penalty as part of a settlement to resolve allegations it violated child privacy laws in some videos uploaded to YouTube, the U.S. Department of Justi...
www.reuters.com
January 19, 2026 at 4:46 PM
Disney has agreed to pay a $10 million penalty to resolve allegations that they've violated children's privacy by covertly collecting their data, according the Justice Department: https://www.reuters.com/world/disney-agrees-10-mln-penalty-injunction-alleged-violations-childrens-privacy-2025-12-30/
Some of you already know this, but it's worth repeating for those who don't: there is no such thing as a free email address. If you're not paying for it with money, then you're paying for it with your personal and private data. And who's buying it? There's not many restrictions.
January 18, 2026 at 4:03 PM
Some of you already know this, but it's worth repeating for those who don't: there is no such thing as a free email address. If you're not paying for it with money, then you're paying for it with your personal and private data. And who's buying it? There's not many restrictions.
Despite predictions that AI would allow them to work faster, a new study shows that utilizing AI tools made experienced devs perform tasks 20% slower on average: https://fortune.com/article/does-ai-increase-workplace-productivity-experiment-software-developers-task-took-longer/
Experienced software developers assumed AI would save them a chunk of time. But in one experiment, their tasks took 20% longer | Fortune
As more workers use AI, a recent study adds to growing evidence the tech doesn’t always deliver on promises of boosted productivity.
fortune.com
January 17, 2026 at 2:24 PM
Despite predictions that AI would allow them to work faster, a new study shows that utilizing AI tools made experienced devs perform tasks 20% slower on average: https://fortune.com/article/does-ai-increase-workplace-productivity-experiment-software-developers-task-took-longer/
Australia has begun enforcement of a new rule that requires search engines to conduct ID checks to verify the ages of their users: https://reclaimthenet.org/australia-enforces-age-id-checks-for-search-engine-users
Australia Enforces Age ID Checks for Search Engine Users
Australia’s bid for digital safety inches closer to a license-to-browse internet.
reclaimthenet.org
January 16, 2026 at 1:48 PM
Australia has begun enforcement of a new rule that requires search engines to conduct ID checks to verify the ages of their users: https://reclaimthenet.org/australia-enforces-age-id-checks-for-search-engine-users
One shocking crime has helped illuminate how OpenAI attempted to selectively hide user data after ChatGPT began enabling and fueling their mental illness: https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/12/openai-refuses-to-say-where-chatgpt-logs-go-when-users-die/
Murder-suicide case shows OpenAI selectively hides data after users die
OpenAI accused of hiding full ChatGPT logs in murder-suicide case.
arstechnica.com
January 15, 2026 at 1:49 PM
One shocking crime has helped illuminate how OpenAI attempted to selectively hide user data after ChatGPT began enabling and fueling their mental illness: https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/12/openai-refuses-to-say-where-chatgpt-logs-go-when-users-die/
Having an encrypted inbox is great...but if your recipients don't use encryption, then your data could still be at risk. Luckily, StartMail users can create password protected messages that keep your info private even if your recipients use spymail. Plus they can send your encrypted replies!
January 14, 2026 at 5:15 PM
Having an encrypted inbox is great...but if your recipients don't use encryption, then your data could still be at risk. Luckily, StartMail users can create password protected messages that keep your info private even if your recipients use spymail. Plus they can send your encrypted replies!
A pioneer of AI has now issued a warning that, because bots are showing signs of self-preservation, humans need to be ready to pull the plug: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/dec/30/ai-pull-plug-pioneer-technology-rights
AI showing signs of self-preservation and humans should be ready to pull plug, says pioneer
Canadian computer scientist Yoshua Bengio warns against granting legal rights to cutting-edge technology
www.theguardian.com
January 13, 2026 at 3:52 PM
A pioneer of AI has now issued a warning that, because bots are showing signs of self-preservation, humans need to be ready to pull the plug: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/dec/30/ai-pull-plug-pioneer-technology-rights
AI Data Centers are forcing dirty "peaker" power plants back into service, poisoning surrounding communities and raising questions of the technology's viability: https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/ai-data-centers-are-forcing-obsolete-peaker-power-plants-back-into-service-2025-12-23/
AI data centers are forcing dirty ‘peaker’ power plants back into service
In Chicago’s working-class Pilsen neighborhood, a 60s-era oil-fired power plant rises up from an industrial lot behind Dvorak Park, which in warmer weather is packed with children climbing on its colo...
www.reuters.com
January 12, 2026 at 4:45 PM
AI Data Centers are forcing dirty "peaker" power plants back into service, poisoning surrounding communities and raising questions of the technology's viability: https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/ai-data-centers-are-forcing-obsolete-peaker-power-plants-back-into-service-2025-12-23/
We get the same question from so many GMail users: "why would I go through the trouble of switching away from an email that's already free and convenient?" Thing is, no email is free. And we have SO many former GMail users who wish they had made the switch sooner...so why not give us a try?
January 11, 2026 at 4:04 PM
We get the same question from so many GMail users: "why would I go through the trouble of switching away from an email that's already free and convenient?" Thing is, no email is free. And we have SO many former GMail users who wish they had made the switch sooner...so why not give us a try?
Thanks to the EU's Digital Markets Act, the upcoming version of iOS 26.3 will allow non-Apple accessories to pair and sync as easily as Apple's own accessories. https://www.macrumors.com/2025/12/22/ios-26-3-dma-airpods-pairing/
iOS 26.3 Brings AirPods-Like Pairing to Third-Party Devices in EU Under DMA
The European Commission today praised the interoperability changes that Apple is introducing in iOS 26.3, once again crediting the Digital Markets Act (DMA) with bringing "new opportunities" to Europe...
www.macrumors.com
January 10, 2026 at 2:10 PM
Thanks to the EU's Digital Markets Act, the upcoming version of iOS 26.3 will allow non-Apple accessories to pair and sync as easily as Apple's own accessories. https://www.macrumors.com/2025/12/22/ios-26-3-dma-airpods-pairing/
This photo essay documents the surveillance systems that governments around the world are using to violate the rights and privacy of their citizens...along with its victims: https://apnews.com/photo-essay/chinese-surveillance-silicon-valley-tech-photo-essay-2da6d9ae5c29d973955e761fa42f7798#
PHOTO ESSAY: Invisible infrared surveillance technology and those caught in its digital cage
When you unlock a phone, step into view of a security camera or drive past a license plate reader at night, beams of infrared light - invisible to the naked eye -- shine onto the unique contours of your face, your body, your license plate lettering.
apnews.com
January 9, 2026 at 12:26 PM
This photo essay documents the surveillance systems that governments around the world are using to violate the rights and privacy of their citizens...along with its victims: https://apnews.com/photo-essay/chinese-surveillance-silicon-valley-tech-photo-essay-2da6d9ae5c29d973955e761fa42f7798#
When it comes to online surveillance, you've got more to worry about than Big Tech. Spy agencies have back doors built into some of the biggest data repositories in the world, and they also buy information from data brokers to circumvent warrants. Never let them collect that data to begin with...
January 8, 2026 at 1:48 PM
When it comes to online surveillance, you've got more to worry about than Big Tech. Spy agencies have back doors built into some of the biggest data repositories in the world, and they also buy information from data brokers to circumvent warrants. Never let them collect that data to begin with...