What is Privacy Tools Directory?
A curated database of software, services, and hardware that help protect digital privacy, categorized and evaluated for their privacy practices.
Privacy tools directories help people navigate the overwhelming number of privacy products available.
What to Look For in a Privacy Tool
- Open source: Can the code be independently audited?
- Encryption: Does it use end-to-end encryption?
- Jurisdiction: Where is the company based? (affects legal protections)
- Funding: How does the company make money? (ad-supported = you're the product)
- Track record: Has it been independently audited? Any past incidents?
- No KYC: Does it require identity verification?
Categories of Privacy Tools
- VPNs and DNS services
- Encrypted email and messaging
- Password managers
- Browsers and search engines
- Cloud storage
- Operating systems
- Hardware security keys
- Data broker removal services
- Anonymous business formation
Default Privacy's Directory
Default Privacy maintains a curated directory of privacy tools with detailed metadata including open source status, cryptocurrency acceptance, KYC requirements, security audit status, ToS;DR grades, and privacy scores from automated scanning.
Related Terms
Open Source
Software whose source code is made freely available for anyone to view, modify, and distribute. In privacy tools, open source allows independent security researchers to verify that the software does what it claims and contains no backdoors or hidden surveillance capabilities.
Privacy by Design
An approach to systems engineering that takes privacy into account throughout the entire engineering process. Rather than bolting privacy protections onto existing systems, Privacy by Design builds privacy into the architecture from the ground up.
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