The Privacy Tools I Trust
After Everything Fell Apart
I learned the hard way how exposed our digital lives really are — after a layover breach almost cost me everything. So I rebuilt. Every tool below helped me reclaim control over work, travel, family, and everyday privacy.
Some links here are affiliate links. That means I may earn a small commission — at no extra cost to you. I only include tools I’ve personally tested and trust.
💥 20+ tools I personally used to rebuild after a real-world breach. No Google. No fluff. Just what worked.
Want to skip ahead? Privacy Toolkit includes the full stack with setup guides.
🔐 Core Stack
These are the tools I trusted most after the breach. They earned their place through real-world recovery, not hype.
Proton Mail (affiliate)
Proton Mail is the secure base of my communications setup.
🔗 Try Proton MailPart of the rebuild stack I still rely on.
ProtonVPN (affiliate)
ProtonVPN is what I used while traveling immediately after the breach.
🔗 Try ProtonVPNUsed on hotel Wi-Fi during recovery.
KeePassXC (non-affiliate)
KeePassXC became the foundation for encrypted storage.
🔗 Try KeePassXCZero-sync fallback I trust completely.
Tor Browser (non-affiliate)
Tor Browser was my fallback for untraceable access.
🔗 Try Tor BrowserStill unmatched for anonymous search.
Signal Messenger (non-affiliate)
Signal gave me secure calls when email was compromised.
🔗 Try SignalFallback when email fails.
GrapheneOS (non-affiliate)
GrapheneOS gave me a no-Google daily driver with control.
🔗 Try GrapheneOSStill my phone OS today.
Want my full setup with walkthroughs?
🧰 Get the Privacy Toolkit🧭 Tool Finder
Tested tools for email aliases, file sync, and backup VPNs.
✅ Trusted + Aligned
No sponsors. No loggers. Just tools that align with Vault values.
Brave Browser (non-affiliate)
Brave Browser is what I use for daily private browsing.
🔗 Try Brave Browser📋 Watchlist
Tools I’m currently testing or evaluating.
📘 Start the 5-Day Privacy Rebuild Series
Everything I used to rebuild — delivered step-by-step, including fallback options and setup guides.
🧰 Get the Privacy ToolkitNo spam. Aliases welcome.
🔍 How I Finally Browsed Safely in 2025
Incognito failed me. Brave Browser, Mullvad VPN, Quad9, and more helped me rebuild.
Read the Full Guide