Things I build, break,
fix, and write about

28 February 2025
Real Life
Apple’s Capitulation to UK Government Demands: A Grave Threat to Our Digital Privacy and How to Fight Back

Apple Bows to UK Government, Sacrificing User Privacy In an alarming turn of events, Apple has bowed to the UK government’s demands by removing Advanced Data Protection (ADP) for iCloud users in the country. This is not just a policy change—this is an assault on digital privacy. Apple’s ADP feature provided end-to-end encryption, ensuring that […]

Read more
22 February 2025
Home Automation
Reinventing Old Security Devices

Revitalize your outdated security devices into useful tools for your smart home. Discover creative ways to repurpose old tech, saving money and reducing waste.

Read more
7 February 2025
Home Automation
Voice Activation for Smart Homes: Harnessing Home Assistant's Assist

Introduction Ever tried shouting at your house to turn off the lights only to be met with silence? The struggles of getting smart home devices to respond to voice commands can leave you feeling more like a magician casting a spell than a tech-savvy homeowner. As we dive deeper into a world increasingly dominated by […]

Read more
23 January 2025
System Admin
How to Choose the Right MQTT Broker for Your IoT Project

Practical guidance on choosing an MQTT broker for IoT, covering security, scalability, performance and migration.

Read more
14 January 2025
System Admin
How to Set Up Home Assistant Without a Raspberry Pi

Run Home Assistant without a Raspberry Pi: hardware options, HAOS or container installs, networking and maintenance.

Read more
10 January 2025
Home Lab
Managing a Compromised Mailbox on Sophos XGS Firewall

When a mailbox is compromised, it can lead to a surge of spam and harmful emails, threatening your organization's reputation. This guide offers key steps to manage and clear the email spool on your Sophos XGS Firewall, including stopping the SMTP service and optimizing your database. Don’t let a compromised mailbox disrupt your operations—read on to take control!

Read more
18 December 2024
Home Automation
age | v1.2.1

Age v1.2.1 addresses a critical security vulnerability, enforcing new plugin naming conventions. Users should update to ensure system security.

Read more
25 October 2024
System Admin
Configuring Apache2 and PHP on a Fresh Installation

Setting up Apache2 with PHP on a Debian-based server is crucial for hosting websites or applications. Follow these steps for a smooth configuration.

Read more
12 September 2024
System Admin
How to Securely Disable Windows Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) on Windows 10 and 11

Learn how to disable Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) on Windows to minimize security risks. Follow these methods to ensure your system is protected.

Read more
6 September 2024
System Admin
A Step-by-Step Guide to Removing Cached Credentials in Windows 10 and Windows 11

Learn how to remove cached credentials on Windows 10 and 11 to enhance security and resolve login issues with this comprehensive guide for IT professionals.

Read more