Staying Safe
If you’ll be taking action online, here are two ways you can make it easier and safer:
Get a VPN and use it on all your devices
If needed, get an anonymous phone number
Get an anonymous email
VPN Services
First, what is a VPN Service and what does it do for you?
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a service that encrypts your internet connection and routes it through a secure server, masking your real IP address and location. This makes it much harder for websites, advertisers, hackers, or even governments to track your online activity.
How a VPN Protects You:
Prevents Doxxing: Since a VPN hides your IP address, it makes it much harder for bad actors to trace your online activity back to your real location or identity.
Blocks Surveillance: VPNs encrypt your data, preventing internet providers, government agencies, or hackers from spying on what you do online.
Protects Public Wi-Fi Use: If you're on public Wi-Fi (like at a coffee shop), a VPN prevents hackers from intercepting your data.
Avoids Geo-Tracking & Censorship: It lets you bypass location-based restrictions and surveillance-heavy networks by routing your traffic through servers in different countries.
In short, a VPN makes you harder to track, keeps your data private, and gives you control over who can see your online activity.
VPN Services
Here are a few VPN services that are located outside of the US, which means they aren’t legally obligated to supply user information if US law enforcement asks for it. That said, you should review their privacy policies:
NordVPN
Based in Panama, NordVPN is renowned for its strong security features, extensive server network, and commitment to user privacy. https://nordvpn.com/
Surfshark
Headquartered in the Netherlands, Surfshark offers unlimited device connections and a suite of privacy tools, making it a versatile choice for users worldwide. https://surfshark.com/
ExpressVPN
Registered in the British Virgin Islands, ExpressVPN is known for its high-speed servers and robust security protocols, catering to users seeking both performance and privacy. https://www.expressvpn.com/
Proton VPN
Operating out of Switzerland, Proton VPN benefits from the country's strong privacy laws and offers a secure, no-logs service to its users. protonvpn.com
Anonymous Phone Numbers
You may or may not want an anonymous phone number. Some services, such as the anonymous email services, may ask for a phone number, at least optionally. Or you may want to make calls in order to disrupt and disobey. Using an anonymous number is safer in that case.
How an anonymous phone number protects you
When you sign up for services, apps, or social media using your real phone number, it becomes tied to your identity—often linked to your personal records, carrier data, and online accounts. A burner or anonymous number keeps your actual phone number out of databases that could be subpoenaed or leaked.
If your phone number gets leaked in a data breach or doxxing attack, harassers can use it to:
Find your name & address via reverse lookup services
Spam-call & threaten you
Hack accounts that use SMS-based 2FA (SIM-swapping attacks)
Using an anonymous number for social media, activism, or online transactions keeps your real number off public records and harder to exploit.
Anonymous phone number services
Hushed – https://hushed.com
Burner – https://www.burnerapp.com
TextVerified – https://www.textverified.com
MobileSMS.io – https://mobilesms.io
Dingtone – https://www.dingtone.me
Anonymous Email Addresses
Did you know you can get an anonymous email? One that is hard to track—and no, just creating a google email without your real name isn’t enough. Why?
Google Tracks You: Even if you use a fake name, Google still logs your IP address, device info, and location whenever you sign in. If authorities or hackers access these logs, they can trace activity back to you.
Account Linking: Google cross-references accounts based on shared IPs, cookies, and login patterns. If you ever sign into your “anonymous” account from a device you've used before, Google can link the two.
Recovery Details Expose You: If you use your real phone number or an existing email for recovery, that data connects back to your real identity.
Using an anonymous email
True anonymity requires an email provider that doesn’t log identifiable data and operates outside surveillance-heavy jurisdictions. But remember when using them, don’t use your anonymous email for social media or services tied to your real identity. Choose services that don’t require a phone number or let you use a burner number. Even an anonymous email can be de-anonymized if you include personal details in messages.
Anonymous email services
Mailfence: https://mailfence.com
Tutanota: https://tutanota.com
Guerrilla Mail: https://www.guerrillamail.com
StartMail: https://www.startmail.com
PrivateMail: https://privatemail.com
ProtonMail: https://protonmail.com
Hushmail: https://www.hushmail.com
CounterMail: https://countermail.com
Posteo: https://posteo.de
Zoho Mail: https://www.zoho.com/mail
AnonAddy: https://anonaddy.com
Tuta: https://tuta.com
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