Things I build, break, fix, and write about

25 April 2026
Setting lifecycle tracking for kitchen appliances with Home

I stopped treating appliance failure as a surprise and built a Home Assistant replacement schedule around dates, run counts, and service history. It is plain, slightly dull, and far more useful than trusting memory when a garbage disposal starts sounding like it is chewing gravel.

25 April 2026
Security Advisory – 24 Apr 2026

Daily security advisory summary for 24 Apr 2026

24 April 2026
Network segmentation through VLAN, DNS and firewall strategy

A proper network blueprint is mostly unglamorous discipline, VLANs with a job, DNS that stays in its lane, firewall rules that mean something, and...

24 April 2026
Security Advisory – 23 Apr 2026

Daily security advisory summary for 23 Apr 2026

Latest blog posts you might like

8 November 2025
Booting from recovery media for repairs

You can fix Windows Startup failures by booting from recovery media. Start with the exact error message. Run Startup Repair, then use Command Prompt tools like bootrec and bcdboot. Check firmware mode...

7 November 2025
Measuring quantum advantage with the OTOC method

Use Quantum Computing Algorithms in your homelab to measure quantum advantage with the OTOC method. You will get step-by-step OTOC circuit instructions for simulators and cloud hardware. Learn noise...

7 November 2025
Exploring Safari alternatives with OpenAI Atlas

How OpenAI’s Atlas Browser Could Change Your Online Privacy Settings OpenAI Atlas brings ChatGPT into the browser. That adds convenience and new control points. It also shifts what the browser...

6 November 2025
Using IP blocking to deter AI scraping attempts

AI scraping prevention starts with layered defences you can apply to your site now. Use IP blocking, strict firewall rules, rate limits and tighter privacy settings to stop mass harvesting. Log...

6 November 2025
Mitigating risks from malicious AI sidebar extensions

Mitigating risks from malicious AI sidebar extensions AI sidebar extensions add conversational assistants and research helpers directly to the browser. They speed up work, but they also widen the...

5 November 2025
Configuring software settings for Atlas browser security

I tried Atlas so I could see the security trade-offs first hand. The browser agent that automates browsing is useful. It also expands the attack surface. That makes Atlas browser security a practical...

5 November 2025
Using OpenAI Codex to enhance coding efficiency

Use OpenAI Codex to speed routine coding in your homelab. Set up an API key. Run small prompts in an IDE and test generated code in isolated VMs. Version control generated files, review outputs, and...

4 November 2025
Avoiding common pitfalls in Windows 11 updates

Navigating Windows 11 Insider Previews: Essential Configurations and Common Pitfalls for UK Users I run Insider builds regularly. I use them to test features, scripts and deployment processes before...

4 November 2025
Using ChatGPT to enhance macOS workflows

AI automation Mac helps you remove repetitive tasks on macOS. Use ChatGPT with Shortcuts and shell scripts to automate screenshots, email triage and web scraping. You get clear setup steps, permission...

3 November 2025
Managing AI privacy settings in Microsoft Edge

Manage AI privacy settings in Microsoft Edge: lock permissions, use separate profiles, and enable strict tracking prevention. Clear your browsing data on exit, disable voice input, and log Copilot...