🛡️ About ShieldMe
“I help non tech-savvy people take back control of their devices with easy and practical solutions without sacrificing the features they love.”
→ 🤓 Meet the Guy Behind the Publication
The Greatest achievement is to outperform yourself ~ Denis Waitley
Hey curious reader, I’m Tony, an in-the-making cybersecurity specialist and the founder of ShieldMe.
My goal is to share the knowledge I pick up on my journey in a fun and interesting way, while helping newcomers learn more about Privacy and Security.
I got into privacy 5 years ago (Ironically because of the algorithm), and I started my fight against big tech ever since.
I see myself as a forever student, learning daily through life experiences, online courses, articles, peer evaluations, and mentorships.
When I'm not busy with ShieldMe, you can find me painting, trying out new restaurants, or playing some competitive chess.
I'm also a very athletic person, so you might accidentally bump into me on your way to Everest, or in a random football match in a dark alley.
You can also connect with me on LinkedIn, where I share smaller, more regular posts.
I sincerely hope you enjoy my work, happy reading!
→ 🎯 The Mission Statement
A goal properly set is halfway reached ~ Zig Ziglar
Make sure that newcomers to tech can easily improve their privacy and security.
Help consumers to use their devices wisely, mindfully and stay in control.
I believe in making privacy and security accessible to everyone, regardless of their technical expertise, so that you can enjoy a safer digital experience.
Online privacy is a fundamental right, and I want to share my knowledge with the world, to help you protect yourself and your information.
ShieldMe aims to be a safe platform where users can educate themselves about privacy and security while having fun.
Who said that privacy and security should be boring?
I understand that the world of technology can be confusing and overwhelming, which is why I strive to make my content as easy to understand as possible.
I hope I can help you take small but effective steps in your privacy and security journey!
→ 🤔 Why I Made this Newsletter
The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step ~ Lao Tzu
The world of technology is constantly evolving and growing at an exponential rate.
Day by day I’ve noticed more and more people (including myself) getting sucked in a world they understand nothing about and have no control over.
I’ve watched close ones get hacked, and heard stories about people losing their life’s work in seconds.
Yet somehow, these events never woke the masses up to the dangers lurking online.
Companies actively choose to put their customer’s data protection last, and opt to sell that data to the person waving the most dollar bills.
Meanwhile, schools and institutions never highlight the importance of safeguarding your digital footprint.
Creators are forced to drop the topic as “nobody cares about data privacy”, and preaching something to a world that doesn't listen feels like talking to a brick wall.
Additionally, I've discovered that not many online sources effectively explain privacy and security in an interesting way that holds the reader's attention.
Most articles are either too basic or too technical.
And that’s where I decided to step in!
After taking the necessary time to educate myself, I made it my goal to cover a “seemingly boring topic” like data protection and privacy in a fun and easy way so that you would have no excuse to not protect yourself!
→ 💡 Why Should You Care about Privacy?
Privacy is a function of liberty ~ Edward Snowden
Imagine you're at a dinner party and someone keeps interrupting your conversations, listening in on everything you say, and then repeating it back to you later.
That would be pretty annoying, right?
Well, that's kind of what happens when your online activity is tracked and monitored without your knowledge or consent.
Digital privacy is a fundamental human right that is becoming more and more important as technology continues to advance.
The collection, analysis, and use of personal data have become common practice among most companies, who prioritize profit over people.
The consequences of failing to prioritize digital privacy can be severe, including identity theft, financial fraud, and reputational damage.
Additionally, with the rise of AI and targeted advertising, the manipulation of individuals through their personal data has become the norm.
The need for digital privacy is further increased by the fact that governments and corporations are collecting and analyzing vast amounts of data on individuals, often without their consent or knowledge.
The use of personal data for surveillance and control purposes threatens the basic human rights of privacy, freedom of expression, and association which our ancestors fought very hard to keep.
→ 🚨 How Often will I Be Posting?
Always try to update yourself ~ James Stewart
The plan for this newsletter at the moment is to post whenever I feel like it.
I know that’s not exactly the best plan, but since writing here requires a lot of time and effort on my part (in exchange for almost no direct compensation), I believe it’s a fair plan to implement.
I hate spam more than you do, so I promise I won’t be spamming you with posts.
I will only send you emails when new content is up, and a one-time thank you email when you subscribe. That’s all!
If at any time the schedule or the frequency of the posts or the emails changes, I will make sure to let you know beforehand.
Keep in mind you can always check my past articles on the archives page.
→ Anything else on your mind?
If you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to reach me on ShieldMe@substack.com
You can also message me on LinkedIn by connecting with me at linkedin.com/in/tonyziade
