Privacy—Again, But in Different Words

Privacy: your online identity isn’t masked by using a VPN. A VPN simply redirects your traffic to a private sector—where targeting you becomes easier and more meaningful. Whatever we call a “privacy model” is baked into the nature of the system itself. It can’t be changed or avoided unless you opt out entirely.

If you want to stay anonymous by going to a party wearing a mask, with your whole body covered and even your voice altered—well, you were invited to that party anyway. The public might not recognize you, but the host knows you’re there. So don’t stress over the concept. Go or don’t go. Online or offline—if you do anything online, please forget about privacy 😄

Your digital footprint is everywhere: banking systems, shopping websites, social media. What are you running from? It’s the nature of stepping out and doing things online—just like in the physical world. The moment you leave your house, you leave footprints. So stop worrying about privacy. Either stay offline completely, or accept that you’re leaving something behind.

Now, if your concern is about corporations using your data for free—that’s a different story. I get it. But even that is inevitable. I’m not giving up; I’m just saying this is the nature of these activities. For example, when you go to a library—a real one—to borrow a book, you’re giving them the information they need. So what? Are you not going to read books? The moment you enroll in a university program, you reveal your entire life. So what—are you not going to school?

When you think about privacy, think of it as that pure corner of your life that only you know about—not even your doctor or your spouse. That’s the part you should protect. Everything else? Privacy is an illusion, a misconception, and a misunderstanding of how society works—online or in the real world.

By Kaveh Mofidi

While I enjoy working with electronics, computers, and the fields of information and cybersecurity, I believe our challenges as humans extend far beyond infosec—and even beyond technology itself. The real task, I would argue, is to discover solutions for unlimited clean energy, drinkable water, practical waste management and to address the root causes of hunger, war, and injustice on our beautiful little planet. Our primary goal—each of us—should be to keep Earth livable. That is the true challenge we face.