Psychedelic Affirming Education Newsletter

Protecting Your Privacy in a Digital World

Hello Reader,

You might be wondering why a psychedelic education platform is discussing digital security. When exploring personal growth, healing, or consciousness—whether through psychedelics or other modalities—we often share our most vulnerable thoughts online. I've spent over a decade in healthcare and research settings where protecting sensitive information was paramount. I've come to see privacy not just as a technical issue but as fundamental to creating safe spaces for personal exploration. In the same way we carefully create Set and Setting for transformative experiences, we need to create secure digital environments for our everyday lives.

Why Your Digital Privacy Matters

In today's digital world, companies we interact with online constantly collect, track, and sell our personal information. This reality affects all of us, regardless of what we do online or what services we use.

Every time you search online, send an email, or carry your phone, you're creating a digital trail that can reveal intimate details about your life:

• Your interests, concerns, and questions (through search history)
• Your personal communications (through unencrypted emails and messages)
• Your physical movements (through location tracking)
• Your relationships and connections (through social media and contact data)

This information isn't just used for ads—it's compiled into detailed profiles that can be accessed by various companies, data brokers, and potentially other parties.

Simple Steps for Better Digital Privacy

I recently discovered an excellent resource called Activist Checklist that offers straightforward security practices anyone can implement. Here are some of the most important steps I've personally adopted:

1. Switch to encrypted messaging using Signal for important or sensitive conversations
2. Use a privacy-focused search engine like DuckDuckGo to avoid search tracking
3. Be mindful of app permissions, especially location access on your phone
4. Create strong, unique passwords with a password manager
5. Enable two-factor authentication on your important accounts
6. Keep your devices and apps updated with the latest security patches

My Privacy Journey

I've noticed significant improvements after implementing these changes in my digital life. Switching to DuckDuckGo as my default search engine has given me cleaner results without the endless tracking that follows you around the internet. There's less spam and no AI unless I specifically want it, and I feel more in control of my online experience.

Another game-changer has been using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) when connecting to public Wi-Fi. As someone who frequently works from coffee shops, knowing my data is protected even on untrusted networks gives me tremendous peace of mind.

Protecting Your Digital Communications

Standard email services like Gmail scan your messages to serve you targeted ads and store your communications in ways that don't prioritize privacy.

A Privacy Solution I Personally Use and Trust: After being a paying customer for over seven years, I'm happy to recommend Proton's suite of privacy-focused tools, which include encrypted email, secure storage, calendar, and VPN—all designed with privacy as the foundation.

What makes Proton special:

• End-to-end encrypted email that no one (not even Proton) can read
• No scanning of your messages for advertising purposes
• Protected by strict Swiss privacy laws
• Secure VPN for protecting your connection on public Wi-Fi
• User-friendly interface that makes privacy accessible

​Try Proton Unlimited for just $1 for your first month →​

Taking Control of Your Digital Life

Privacy isn't about having something to hide—it's about having the freedom to be yourself without constant monitoring. It's about reclaiming ownership of your personal information in a world where data has become the new currency. By taking control of your digital privacy, you can shape your online experiences and protect your personal information.

Just as we seek safe, supported spaces for personal growth and healing journeys, we deserve digital spaces that respect our privacy and autonomy. True freedom to explore consciousness, wellness, and personal development requires both physical and digital safety.

Consider taking these simple next steps:

1. Look through the Security Essentials Checklist​
2. Implement at least one new privacy practice this week
3. ​Explore Proton's privacy tools as an alternative to surveillance-based services

Remember, every small step toward better privacy makes a difference.

Wishing you digital well-being,

Peter H. Addy, PhD.

​Psychedelic Affirming Education​

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