Crypto-Anarchism

Bitcoin activists propose hard fork to keep it anonymous and regulation-free

"The authors are particularly concerned about the Bitcoin Payment Messages system scheduled for release along with version 0.9 of the cryptocurrency. That mechanism would allow merchants to request payment from customers, rather than simply providing them with an address to send payments to. Payments would be completed using digital certificates owned by the merchants, and would contain customer and merchant metadata linked to specific transactions. [The paper] worries that Bitcoin Payment Messages will make it possible – and therefore mandatory – to issue receipts, playing further into the hands of the regulators." Continue reading →

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‘Bitcoin steals power from both banks and gangsters’

"Digital currency Bitcoin is gaining popularity around the globe as people become more and more dissatisfied with the conventional banking system. Instant, safe and nearly anonymous, is what Bitcoin claims to be. It takes no commission for transactions and can be used internationally wherever you have internet access. Is it the currency of the future? We talk to Bitcoin developer from UK Amir Taaki." Continue reading →

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CryptoParty: Party like it’s December 31st, 1983

"Attend a CryptoParty to learn and teach how to use basic cryptography tools. A CryptoParty is free, public and fun. People bring their computers, mobile devices, and a willingness to learn! CryptoParty is a decentralized, global initiative to introduce the most basic cryptography software and the fundamental concepts of their operation to the general public, such as the Tor anonymity network, public key encryption (PGP/GPG), and OTR (Off The Record messaging). CryptoParties are free to attend, public, and commercially and politically non-aligned." Continue reading →

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Cypherpunk (Wikipedia)

"A cypherpunk is an activist advocating widespread use of strong cryptography as a route to social and political change. Originally communicating through the Cypherpunks electronic mailing list, informal groups aimed to achieve privacy and security through proactive use of cryptography. Cypherpunks have been engaged in an active movement since the late 1980s. A very basic cypherpunk issue is privacy in communications and data retention. Such guarantees require strong cryptography, so cypherpunks are fundamentally opposed to government policies attempting to control the usage or export of cryptography, which remained an issue throughout the late 90s." Continue reading →

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PayPal Cuts Off VPN Provider iPredator, Freezes Assets

"PayPal has cut off VPN provider iPredator, an anonymity service launched by Pirate Bay co-founder Peter Sunde. The popular VPN provider is no longer allowed to accept payments and PayPal has frozen all funds for up to 180 days. PayPal didn’t provide any details as to why iPredator was banned, but the action comes after their credit card processor stopped doing business with all VPN services." Continue reading →

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Paul Rosenberg on RT: Online Surveillance in the US

"You will probably be quite familiar with the idea that the government has a nasty habit of spying on Americans who haven't done anything wrong. Until recently, most of us have been called kooks, conspiracy nuts and worse... But, as the scandals keep coming, the general public is starting to wake up to the abuses. One leading voice in the effort to help people recognize and make sense of what's going on is 'outside the Matrix' author Paul Rosenberg. A few days ago, media network RT invited him into the studio to talk about these things. For more information, visit www.freemansperspective.com " Continue reading →

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Commodities Dealer Accepting Bitcoin for Gold

"Agora Commodities is the first gold, silver, platinum, and palladium dealer accepting Bitcoin for bullion. By taking Bitcoin as payment for a physical commodity, Agora is giving high-risk speculative traders one more way to play the market. And the added bonus is that the transaction can be 100% anonymous. But the company is going even deeper into anti-spying territory than that. They are offering their customers encrypted service for all their digital correspondence." Continue reading →

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The Whistleblower’s Guide to the Orwellian Galaxy: How to Leak to the Press

"It is, as one commenter noted, 'a dangerous time to be right when the government is wrong.' We now live in a world where public servants informing the public about government behavior or wrongdoing must practice the tradecraft of spies and drug dealers à la The Wire. Even the head of the CIA can’t email his mistress without being identified by the FBI. And privately collected data isn’t immune, either; highly sensitive metadata is particularly vulnerable thanks to the Third Party Doctrine. So how can one safely leak information to the press, let alone coordinate a Deep Throat-style meetup? Here’s a guide." Continue reading →

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Surveillance Self-Defense International [2010]

"The Internet remains one of the most powerful means ever created to give voice to repressed people around the world. Unfortunately, new technologies have also given authoritarian regimes new means to identify and retaliate against those who speak out despite censorship and surveillance. Below are six basic ideas for those attempting to speak without falling victim to authoritarian surveillance and censorship, and four ideas for the rest of us who want to help support them." Continue reading →

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Mastercard and Visa Start Banning VPN Providers

"There’s an unwritten rule that Mastercard and Visa don’t accept file-hosting sites that have an affiliate program and PayPal has thrown out nearly all cyberlockers in recent months. It now turns out that these policies have carried over to VPN providers and other anonymizing services. Before the weekend customers of the popular Swedish payment service provider Payson received an email stating that VPN services are no longer allowed to accept Visa and Mastercard payments due to a recent policy change. The new policy went into effect on Monday, leaving customers with a two-day window to find a solution." Continue reading →

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