Owen, DSc, PhD Student
@theravenswood.bsky.social
Cyber-Science and Cyberpsychology researcher specializing in security and human behavior in digital space. Also, a gaming and whisky enthusiast.
Afternoon with #TheBaltimoreSymophonyOrchestra at #TheStrathmore
November 9, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Afternoon with #TheBaltimoreSymophonyOrchestra at #TheStrathmore
It’s been a minute since I posted a self-hosting update.
After a 2nd spam incident (open relay misfire—my bad), I tore things down and rebuilt.
Now running a lean, hardened Mailu stack on a VPS w/ secure comms routed over WireGuard to my NAS.
Modular. Private. No Google. No Microsoft. Still mine.
After a 2nd spam incident (open relay misfire—my bad), I tore things down and rebuilt.
Now running a lean, hardened Mailu stack on a VPS w/ secure comms routed over WireGuard to my NAS.
Modular. Private. No Google. No Microsoft. Still mine.
May 26, 2025 at 3:03 PM
It’s been a minute since I posted a self-hosting update.
After a 2nd spam incident (open relay misfire—my bad), I tore things down and rebuilt.
Now running a lean, hardened Mailu stack on a VPS w/ secure comms routed over WireGuard to my NAS.
Modular. Private. No Google. No Microsoft. Still mine.
After a 2nd spam incident (open relay misfire—my bad), I tore things down and rebuilt.
Now running a lean, hardened Mailu stack on a VPS w/ secure comms routed over WireGuard to my NAS.
Modular. Private. No Google. No Microsoft. Still mine.
I've been working through getting my mail server back up. Locked down relaying, worked through spam management, currently working on geo-filtering and auto sorting. Recently I heard about Discord going public, so I'm likely to depart that space soon. Blarg! #SelfHosting #MailServer #DataSovereignty
April 26, 2025 at 6:30 PM
I've been working through getting my mail server back up. Locked down relaying, worked through spam management, currently working on geo-filtering and auto sorting. Recently I heard about Discord going public, so I'm likely to depart that space soon. Blarg! #SelfHosting #MailServer #DataSovereignty
#pathfinder2e Played our weekly PF2E game last night. 3 yrs into a planned 5 yr campaign and I still enjoy playing my Amnesiac Magus/Ranger pirate - Washe Seasever. Foul-mouthed family first scallywag. Hates artifacts, undead, and the Grath (fictional) family. #ttrpg
April 19, 2025 at 12:36 PM
#pathfinder2e Played our weekly PF2E game last night. 3 yrs into a planned 5 yr campaign and I still enjoy playing my Amnesiac Magus/Ranger pirate - Washe Seasever. Foul-mouthed family first scallywag. Hates artifacts, undead, and the Grath (fictional) family. #ttrpg
#selfhosting Got my NAS successfully proxied behind my VPS! Learned a ton about Traefik and LXCs. Fixed a mail relay misconfig (they boosted my monthly amount too!), and spun up a private Foundry VTT instance for my Pathfinder GM. Productive night! Next is Spacebar and Nextcloud.
April 17, 2025 at 11:34 AM
#selfhosting Got my NAS successfully proxied behind my VPS! Learned a ton about Traefik and LXCs. Fixed a mail relay misconfig (they boosted my monthly amount too!), and spun up a private Foundry VTT instance for my Pathfinder GM. Productive night! Next is Spacebar and Nextcloud.
#selfhosting Rebuilt my email server from scratch—mostly smooth, but forgot to restrict relaying. Woke up to a maxed-out SMTP relay from spam abuse. Pulled the logs, shut it down fast. Lessons learned: always lock down relays early.
April 13, 2025 at 1:57 PM
#selfhosting Rebuilt my email server from scratch—mostly smooth, but forgot to restrict relaying. Woke up to a maxed-out SMTP relay from spam abuse. Pulled the logs, shut it down fast. Lessons learned: always lock down relays early.
[ #cybersecurity ] LotL cyber-deception uses existing tools to blur the line between real and fake activity, making detection harder for attackers. CTI reports show this CVE is currently being exploited.
Here are some key LotL cyber-deception techniques for defense:
Here are some key LotL cyber-deception techniques for defense:
April 9, 2025 at 12:58 PM
[ #cybersecurity ] LotL cyber-deception uses existing tools to blur the line between real and fake activity, making detection harder for attackers. CTI reports show this CVE is currently being exploited.
Here are some key LotL cyber-deception techniques for defense:
Here are some key LotL cyber-deception techniques for defense:
[ #Selfhosting ] Well my first foray into hosting my email failed, miserably. Email would go out, but incoming wouldn't make it to the mailbox causing an automated notification loop between my mail server and the inbound relay. So Sunday I scrapped the build and went back to the drawing board.
April 8, 2025 at 12:04 PM
[ #Selfhosting ] Well my first foray into hosting my email failed, miserably. Email would go out, but incoming wouldn't make it to the mailbox causing an automated notification loop between my mail server and the inbound relay. So Sunday I scrapped the build and went back to the drawing board.
[Self-hosting] So as a part of my self-hosting journey, I've had to engage with Linux terminals. Now, as a professional IT/Cybersecurity person you'd think "oh no big deal" - fun fact, I have very little experience in Linux. Just never had to use the terminal in my career.
#selfhosting #cyber
#selfhosting #cyber
April 3, 2025 at 3:06 PM
[Self-hosting] So as a part of my self-hosting journey, I've had to engage with Linux terminals. Now, as a professional IT/Cybersecurity person you'd think "oh no big deal" - fun fact, I have very little experience in Linux. Just never had to use the terminal in my career.
#selfhosting #cyber
#selfhosting #cyber
[Self-hosting] So the conversation with ISP didn't go as hoped. SMTP is blocked in/out bound and it would be an additional $480/yr to get a static IP (which opens SMTP). I decided to go the VPS route for a fraction of the cost. Finished the VPN setup and will get the relay up tonight. #selfhosting
April 1, 2025 at 11:08 AM
[Self-hosting] So the conversation with ISP didn't go as hoped. SMTP is blocked in/out bound and it would be an additional $480/yr to get a static IP (which opens SMTP). I decided to go the VPS route for a fraction of the cost. Finished the VPN setup and will get the relay up tonight. #selfhosting
[Self Hosting] Well my self hosted email is ready, just need to chat with Verizon and see if they can allow SMTP through, may have to shift to a business account.
As I wait for that I have fully removed myself from Meta (so called) services. Killed my very little used Snapchat account...
As I wait for that I have fully removed myself from Meta (so called) services. Killed my very little used Snapchat account...
March 30, 2025 at 9:25 PM
[Self Hosting] Well my self hosted email is ready, just need to chat with Verizon and see if they can allow SMTP through, may have to shift to a business account.
As I wait for that I have fully removed myself from Meta (so called) services. Killed my very little used Snapchat account...
As I wait for that I have fully removed myself from Meta (so called) services. Killed my very little used Snapchat account...
[Gaming] My experience of mid-adulthood, while also being just unnecessary, its surprisingly difficult to build and maintain friendships. To help myself with this challenge I started to actively engage those people in my life I want to hang with. My primary weapon - Gaming.
March 27, 2025 at 11:58 AM
[Gaming] My experience of mid-adulthood, while also being just unnecessary, its surprisingly difficult to build and maintain friendships. To help myself with this challenge I started to actively engage those people in my life I want to hang with. My primary weapon - Gaming.
[Self-Hosting] So, as a part of entering into my "Old Man Era", I've decided to do what I can to take control of my data. This mostly involves divesting myself of Google, Microsoft, and Mass Social Media; also (potentially) using DeleteMe. I've recently begun to start with the Social Media...
March 26, 2025 at 11:49 AM
[Self-Hosting] So, as a part of entering into my "Old Man Era", I've decided to do what I can to take control of my data. This mostly involves divesting myself of Google, Microsoft, and Mass Social Media; also (potentially) using DeleteMe. I've recently begun to start with the Social Media...
[Professional Life] So much of my work revolves around developing more rigorous science around cybersecurity. Interestingly (and frustratingly) cybersecurity is more artform than I think most people realize.
March 25, 2025 at 1:15 PM
[Professional Life] So much of my work revolves around developing more rigorous science around cybersecurity. Interestingly (and frustratingly) cybersecurity is more artform than I think most people realize.
Welp, this is likely to be my primary social media app. The $$-grubby mass social media machine has become a vitriolic cesspool and, in my opinion, is one of the fundamental reasons the U.S. is where it is today.
March 25, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Welp, this is likely to be my primary social media app. The $$-grubby mass social media machine has become a vitriolic cesspool and, in my opinion, is one of the fundamental reasons the U.S. is where it is today.
This beautiful girl gave us a scare a couple months back. We weren't sure if she would still be with us.
Now here we are. She's definitely feeling her 14 years of age. But she's in good spirits, still tries to chase those squirrels, and loves her humans.
Now here we are. She's definitely feeling her 14 years of age. But she's in good spirits, still tries to chase those squirrels, and loves her humans.
November 28, 2024 at 3:08 AM
This beautiful girl gave us a scare a couple months back. We weren't sure if she would still be with us.
Now here we are. She's definitely feeling her 14 years of age. But she's in good spirits, still tries to chase those squirrels, and loves her humans.
Now here we are. She's definitely feeling her 14 years of age. But she's in good spirits, still tries to chase those squirrels, and loves her humans.
#SteamFallSale how much pain are you inflicting on the bank account? 😊
November 27, 2024 at 11:40 PM
#SteamFallSale how much pain are you inflicting on the bank account? 😊
I'm looking to consolidate my family's data into a home NAS (Personal Cloud). I've looked at Synology's DS software and it has a lot of options to bring nearly everything in-house.
Anyone have experience doing this? It's been a long time since I configured a server.
#tech #controlmydata
Anyone have experience doing this? It's been a long time since I configured a server.
#tech #controlmydata
November 26, 2024 at 2:01 PM
I'm looking to consolidate my family's data into a home NAS (Personal Cloud). I've looked at Synology's DS software and it has a lot of options to bring nearly everything in-house.
Anyone have experience doing this? It's been a long time since I configured a server.
#tech #controlmydata
Anyone have experience doing this? It's been a long time since I configured a server.
#tech #controlmydata
November 19, 2024 at 1:07 AM
Wow a significant batch of new followers. Hey all, welcome aboard.
Let's see if we can make social media tolerable again 😊.
Let's see if we can make social media tolerable again 😊.
November 17, 2024 at 4:16 AM
Wow a significant batch of new followers. Hey all, welcome aboard.
Let's see if we can make social media tolerable again 😊.
Let's see if we can make social media tolerable again 😊.
So, I know the federated social media thing has been around a bit, but it feels like peeps are finally ready to really jump in and work with it.
So what are some other federated social apps that are going around?
So what are some other federated social apps that are going around?
November 15, 2024 at 8:42 PM
So, I know the federated social media thing has been around a bit, but it feels like peeps are finally ready to really jump in and work with it.
So what are some other federated social apps that are going around?
So what are some other federated social apps that are going around?
Enjoying some scotch tonight.
November 14, 2024 at 11:53 PM
Enjoying some scotch tonight.
Just sharing some of my personal favorite photos I've taken.
November 14, 2024 at 11:40 PM
Just sharing some of my personal favorite photos I've taken.
It looks like the mass influx of users is testing the system. If you see "Invalid Handle", I think you can ignore, for now.
Let me know if you learn otherwise.
Let me know if you learn otherwise.
November 14, 2024 at 8:29 PM
It looks like the mass influx of users is testing the system. If you see "Invalid Handle", I think you can ignore, for now.
Let me know if you learn otherwise.
Let me know if you learn otherwise.