How would you write a journal/diary with the adversaries being both the people you live with AND your government?
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True, but then you have bigger problems than just the journal.
Agreed, but that was kind of the premise of the discussion, I think.
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A paper-only journal would defend against the state, but not against people you live with. A digital journal can be encrypted, but an intelligence agency could potentially gain access (like, them reading your anti-government rants that may involve violence... that sort of stuff).
So... how to defend against both threats?
(Also, I just realized, paper journals cannot really be easily backed up...)
Well, there aren't that many people who can read Gregg shorthand. That's more encoding than encryption though
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There are no shortage of encryption software in the market, use one, any one, Veracrypt is fine, so is million other software for this.
Use a note taking app like Joplin, Obsidian, though not open source is just as fine. Sync its data folder to the encrypted vault created with encryption software of your choice, and you are good to go
Finally my moment to shine with incredibly niche knowledge!
Joplin, while it has the ability to encrypt the sync target (even if it's a local folder synced with syncthing) does decrypt the content in the app data folder. The notes are in an unencrypted database while all attachments just hang out in the attachment folder.
This leaves the content vulnerable if the computer is compromised. But then again, apps that keep stuff encrypted at rest still have to decrypt it to memory - leaving the content vulnerable if the computer is compromised.
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All in all, Joplin is definitively one of the great, more secure note taking apps.
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Veracrypt hidden volume attached to an air gapped system. Unless someone kicks down the door and grabs you faster than you can click once, no one is getting at, or will realize that data exists.
Could even put it on a USB drive, so killing it is as simple as yanking the USB. Hell, if the feds come sniffing, you could just toss that bitch in the microwave.
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A paper-only journal would defend against the state, but not against people you live with. A digital journal can be encrypted, but an intelligence agency could potentially gain access (like, them reading your anti-government rants that may involve violence... that sort of stuff).
So... how to defend against both threats?
(Also, I just realized, paper journals cannot really be easily backed up...)
Obsidian stored in Veracrypt. Bonus if you get security keys for veracrypt, either as piv cards or using long passwords only on the key.
Standard notes doesn’t require an email. Just make a private username and password.
Protonmail and mailbox.org support pgp. Protonmail pgp is quantum resistant. Grab a public key and write emails to a free account.
Honestly though, get a fire resistant bag or safe and a notebook. No bit rot. No hacking.
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