Category: Security

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Blog Cloud Future Security Server

2025-10-12: Rhineland & Digital Future – IT with Heart and Mind

🧡 The Rhineland – a place of culture, progress, and community
In the Rhein-Erft district, tradition meets innovation. Between vibrant culture, dedicated people, and constant change, the Rhineland is a region where people love to live – and work.

⛰️ A symbol of transformation: the Sophienhöhe
Behind the Sophienhöhe, the Hambach open-cast mine is still in operation. The forested hill shows how nature can return to an area once shaped by industry. It stands for change – just as modern IT creates something new from existing systems.

💡 IT services with a regional touch
As an IT service provider based in the Rhineland, I help companies make their IT infrastructure secure, efficient, and future-proof. My services include:

  • 🔒 Data backup & IT security
  • ☁️ Cloud and remote work solutions
  • 🖥️ Remote maintenance & video conferencing
  • 🌐 Websites & hosting on German servers

🚀 My goal: Technology should work for you – reliably, securely, and without complications.
With personal support and clear communication, I provide IT solutions tailored to your business – modern, sustainable, and people-oriented.

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Blog Backupsolutions Cloud Security

2025-10-03: Day of German Unity: A Good Moment to Think About Your Data Security

On October 3rd, Germany celebrates the Day of German Unity – a moment of reflection and remembrance. Many people use this holiday to pause, get organized, or take care of things that are often neglected in everyday life. It’s also the perfect occasion to think about the security of your digital data.

💾 Why Backups Are Essential

Data loss happens faster than you might think: hardware failures, cyberattacks, theft, or simple human error can result in precious memories and important documents being lost forever.
Just as October 3rd stands for stability and unity, a well-thought-out backup strategy ensures security and peace of mind in your digital life.

📐 The 3-2-1 Rule

A simple yet highly effective approach is the 3-2-1 rule:

  • 3 copies of your data – the original and two backups
  • 2 different storage types – for example, an external hard drive and a cloud service
  • 1 copy off-site – to stay protected even in the event of fire, water damage, or theft
🛠️ Practical Backup Options for Home Users
  • External hard drives or SSDs: quick to set up and affordable
  • NAS systems: centralized in your home network, often supporting automated backups
  • Cloud backups: encrypted, flexible, and accessible from anywhere

The best strategy is often a combination, such as a local external drive plus a secure cloud backup.

⚡ The Risks of No Backup
  • Accidentally deleted files
  • Ransomware or other malware attacks
  • Physical loss through fire, water, or theft

With a backup in place, you gain confidence and resilience – much like a stable society gains strength through unity.

🤝 Professional Support

Beyond these tips, I also offer personalized support.
Whether you are a private user with irreplaceable family photos or a small business with sensitive customer data – I can help you develop a backup solution that fits your needs. I work with modern, GDPR-compliant systems and, if required, storage solutions in professional data centers in Germany or across Europe.

✅ My tip: Use the Day of German Unity not only to celebrate, but also as a reminder to review or set up your data backups. It only takes a little time – but gives you long-term security and freedom.

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Blog Backupsolutions Security Server Uptime

2025-09-27: Backup or Bankruptcy – Why I Pull the Plug on Cyber-Extortionists

Imagine this: It’s Monday morning, the coffee machine is running, your PC boots up – and suddenly, shock. Instead of your usual desktop, a dark message pops up: “Your data has been encrypted. Pay in cryptocurrency XY.”
This scenario happens every single day in companies across the globe – from small businesses to international corporations. Cybercriminals make no exceptions.

🔒 Ransomware – a Growing Threat

A recent example shows how serious this has become: In September 2025, a ransomware attack on IT service provider Collins Aerospace crippled the check-in systems of several European airports – including Berlin. Thousands of passengers were stranded, flights were delayed or canceled altogether. Investigators believe the ransomware group HardBit was behind the attack.

👉 The message is clear: If even critical infrastructures with million-dollar budgets can be knocked out, how quickly could it happen to small and mid-sized companies without a professional backup strategy?

And this is exactly where I come in: How do I protect your business from this nightmare?

☁️ My Safety Net: The 3-2-1 Principle

I rely on the proven 3-2-1 principle:

  • 3 copies of your data
  • 2 different storage types (e.g., local backup and NAS)
  • 1 copy stored externally in the cloud

This ensures that even in the worst case – if your local IT is compromised – your data remains safe, encrypted, and quickly recoverable.

🚀 My Backup Solutions – Scalable for Your Business

I know every company is different. That’s why I offer packages tailored to size and data requirements:

  • Starter Package: 5 TB of data – ideal for small businesses and startups
  • Business Package: 10 TB of data – perfect for growing companies
  • Enterprise Package: 20 TB and up – scalable for corporations and complex IT environments

All packages include automated backups, bank-level encryption, and cloud storage in European data centers.

💡 More Than Backups – Guaranteed Business Continuity

For me, it’s not just about securing your data – it’s about getting you back on your feet fast in the event of an attack. After all, what good are backups if you’re offline for days? With my solutions, you’ll be up and running again in no time – whether in the office, at home, or on the go.

Conclusion

Ransomware isn’t going away – but your company doesn’t have to be a victim. With the 3-2-1 principle, modern backup strategies, and scalable cloud solutions, I make sure your data is protected and your business keeps moving.

Without a proper backup strategy, the managing director is personally liable – and that’s about as funny as a dentist visit without anesthesia. 🦷

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Blog Security

2025-09-18: HESEKIEL – Protect Your Data, Free of Charge

With Hesekiel, I provide you with a small, lightweight tool that allows you to encrypt text and files quickly and easily.

  • runs in browser
  • no installation
  • completly free of charge

This makes it ideal wherever you need to protect confidential information without effort or overhead.

🚀 Simple & Instant to Use

Hesekiel was deliberately designed by me to be minimalistic:

  • Choose a password 🔑
  • Paste your text or file 📄
  • Encrypt or decrypt – done ✅

It is not a replacement for complex communication platforms, but rather a tool for quick use when other solutions are not available or too cumbersome.

🛡️ Security You Can Rely On

Even though Hesekiel is small and lightweight, it is built on a strong foundation:
AES-GCM 256-bit encryption – the very same standard used by banks and government agencies.

👉 To unleash the full power of this encryption, always choose a strong password (at least 12 characters long).

💼 Recommendation for Professional Use

As an IT service provider, I naturally recommend more mature solutions like Matrix Synapse for professional use in businesses, especially for secure, internal company communication ☁️.

Such systems are far more comprehensive, provide permanent communication channels, and can be integrated seamlessly into existing IT infrastructures.

I am happy to assist you with my IT services when it comes to planning, setting up, and integrating such solutions into your company.

✨ Conclusion

Hesekiel is a small, free tool for quick encryption – practical whenever you need a simple and immediate solution.
For long-term use in everyday business, I can provide you with the right professional solutions and my expertise as an IT service provider.

👉 Try Hesekiel directly here:
https://hesekiel.it-service-commander.de/

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Blog Security

2025-09-11: Cyber Security Day at the Rheinforum Wesseling

Today, I participated as an IT consultant / IT service provider in the 38th Cyber Security Day at the Rheinforum in Wesseling.

Under the motto “Act now – understand cybersecurity and anchor it within your company”, the event offered many practical insights, particularly valuable for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). 🛡️

The workshops and case studies of real cyber incidents were especially insightful. They highlighted the importance of having clear incident response plans:

👉 Who takes on which role in the event of an emergency?
👉 How is internal and external communication managed?
👉 And most importantly: How quickly can backups actually be restored?

Another key focus was on current threat scenarios – from phishing campaigns to ransomware and social engineering. It became very clear: attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and any company can be affected. 🔐

Alongside the expert presentations, the opportunity to exchange ideas with other companies was a highlight. While many SMEs are already aware of the risks, documented processes and regularly tested plans are often still missing.

💡 My conclusion: With relatively little effort, SMEs can significantly strengthen their security – provided they take a structured approach, clearly define responsibilities, and practice regularly.

Through continuous professional development, I keep my expertise up to date in order to prepare companies for the latest threats and protect them sustainably. I am always available to support SMEs in building or optimizing their IT security strategies.

👉 How about your company – do you already have a clear incident response plan in place?

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Blog Law Security

2025-09-10: EU Chat Control: Why This Plan is Dangerous Nonsense

The European Union is pushing forward with the so-called Chat Control – a measure that at first glance might look like a protective tool, but in reality massively threatens the fundamental rights of millions of EU citizens. What is being presented as a fight against child abuse is in fact a bureaucratic and technical monster that will do more harm than good.

What is Chat Control About? 💬

The EU Commission wants to force internet services to automatically scan all messages, photos and videos for illegal content. This doesn’t just affect public platforms, but also private chats and encrypted messengers like WhatsApp, Signal or Threema. That means every private conversation online could be monitored by default – an unprecedented intrusion into privacy.

Key dates:

  • On September 12, 2025, the next hearing of the EU Commission will take place.
  • On October 14, 2025, the final vote in the EU Council is scheduled.
Why Chat Control is Problematic ⚠️
  1. Mass surveillance of all citizens
    Instead of targeting criminals, everyone in the EU is put under general suspicion. Every WhatsApp message, every picture sent could be screened by algorithms. This is nothing less than digital mail control – and it undermines the principle of presumption of innocence.
  2. False alarms everywhere
    Algorithms are not perfect. Studies already show that automatic upload filters generate huge numbers of false positives – i.e., harmless content flagged as “suspicious.” Family beach photos 🏖️, innocent conversations, or artistic work could all end up being flagged. This not only causes mistrust but could also criminalize innocent people.
  3. The end of secure encryption 🔐
    To scan private chats, end-to-end encryption would have to be weakened or bypassed. But encryption is the backbone of secure digital communication – whether in journalism, business, or personal conversations. Breaking encryption opens the door wide to hackers, intelligence agencies and criminals.
  4. Potential abuse by authoritarian states
    A system like this is easily misused. Today it’s about detecting child abuse material, tomorrow it could be about political content or critical opinions. What starts in the EU could become a blueprint for censorship in countries with weaker democratic standards.
An Attack on Fundamental Rights 🛑

Chat Control turns the relationship between citizen and state upside down. Instead of protecting rights, it undermines them. It directly violates:

  • The right to privacy and confidential communication
  • The presumption of innocence
  • Freedom of expression
Conclusion: More Harm Than Good ❌

Child protection is undoubtedly an important goal – but Chat Control is the wrong way to achieve it. It weakens digital security for everyone, creates massive false alarms, and builds a surveillance tool that has no place in a democracy.

Instead of treating all citizens as suspects, resources should be focused on strengthening law enforcement, improving international cooperation, and consistently applying existing laws.

👉 Chat Control is not a shield, but a sword hanging over our freedom. And that’s exactly why this plan must be stopped.

More Information (Chaos Computer Club / Digitalcourage) is available here:
https://chat-kontrolle.eu/

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Blog Cloud Security Server

2025-09-05: Microsoft Lock-In? Break Free – Build Your Own Cloud!

Let’s be honest: Do you really want to hand over your sensitive data blindly to a corporation like Microsoft?
I don’t. And that’s exactly why I keep advising my clients not to fall into the dependency trap of Microsoft Cloud.

🔒 Control Instead of Dependence

In Microsoft Cloud, it’s not you but Microsoft who decides what happens with your data, where it’s stored, and which features will still be available tomorrow. Once you’re locked into this ecosystem, it becomes very hard to get out.
That’s what I call vendor lock-in – and it’s not a technical feature, but an economic trap.

⚡ Your Own Cloud – Faster Than You Think

Many believe running their own cloud is complicated, expensive, and slow. The truth is just the opposite:

  • With modern open-source solutions, I can set up a high-performance cloud environment for you in no time.
  • A VPN server ensures secure access from anywhere.
  • Your own cloud server takes care of data storage – and you remain in full control.

The result: super fast, flexible, and free from artificial limitations.

🛠️ Multiple Paths to Success

There isn’t just one way to do it – there are several great options that can be tailored to your needs:

  • Nextcloud: One of the most popular open-source platforms for files, calendars, contacts, and more.
  • Synology DiskStation: Ready-to-use hardware solutions with built-in cloud software, easy to administer.

Whether you prefer maximum flexibility or a convenient turnkey package – both are possible, without falling into Microsoft’s grip.

💡 Why It’s Better
  • No license fees: Stop paying monthly for unused accounts.
  • Full data sovereignty: Your data stays where it belongs – with you.
  • Transparency: Open solutions, no black box.
  • Flexibility: Adapted to your business, not to a corporation’s rules.
🚀 My Offer to You

As an IT service provider, I specialize in freeing companies from the Microsoft Cloud straitjacket and setting up powerful alternatives.
You don’t need to understand the hardware or software in detail – I take care of the setup, security, and operation.

👉 The result: Your own cloud. Independent, fast, and secure.

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Blog Bitcoin Future Security

2025-09-02: Bitcoin vs. Big Tech: Who Has More Computing Power?

When most people think of Bitcoin, they picture digital money, speculation, or blockchain technology. But there’s another aspect that often gets overlooked: the massive computing power that keeps the Bitcoin network running. By now, this power even surpasses the capacities of the largest technology companies in the world.

⚙️ What Does “Computing Power” Mean in the Bitcoin Network?

Behind the scenes of the Bitcoin system, millions of specialized computers – called “miners” – are working nonstop. They continuously solve small mathematical puzzles. By doing this, they secure the Bitcoin blockchain and make sure no one can fake or manipulate transactions.

The speed at which these tasks are solved is called the hashrate. Think of it like the RPM of a huge engine: the faster it runs, the more work gets done.

📈 The Current State – A Superlative

In September 2025, the Bitcoin network reaches over 1005 exahashes per second. That’s a number almost beyond imagination. To put it into perspective:

  • 🔢 The network performs trillions upon trillions of calculations every single second.
  • 🖥️ Even the fastest supercomputer in the world looks tiny in comparison – it only manages a fraction of this output.
🏢 How It Compares to the Tech Giants’ Data Centers

Big cloud providers like Amazon (AWS), Google (Cloud), and Microsoft (Azure) also run enormous data centers. These house millions of servers that power almost everything we use online: search engines, streaming, cloud storage, artificial intelligence, and much more.

But even if you add up all their raw capacity, they don’t come close to the sheer processing force of the Bitcoin network. With one major difference:

  • ⚡ Bitcoin miners can only perform one type of task – solving their cryptographic puzzles.
  • 🌐 Data centers from Google, Amazon, and Microsoft are versatile. They can handle countless different tasks and form the backbone of today’s digital world.
🔒 Why So Much Power?

This enormous computing power isn’t for show – it’s for security. The higher the hashrate, the harder it becomes for attackers to manipulate the blockchain. In other words: the stronger the engine, the tougher the system.

⚡ Electricity Use – Wasteful or Worth It?

Headlines often claim that “Bitcoin wastes energy.” But this argument misses the bigger picture:

  1. ✅ Energy always has a purpose.
    Bitcoin uses electricity to maintain a secure, global, decentralized financial network. That’s not waste – that’s the cost of security and independence.
  2. 🏦 Compare it to the banking sector.
    Traditional finance consumes massive amounts of energy:
    • Bank branches, office buildings, ATMs, and data centers
    • Millions of employees, worldwide logistics, transport, and infrastructure
      Studies suggest that the global banking system consumes far more energy than the Bitcoin network – but this rarely makes the headlines.
  3. 🌱 Bitcoin is becoming more efficient.
    Miners actively seek out cheap or surplus electricity: hydro power during oversupply, unused wind and solar energy, or natural gas that would otherwise be flared. In this way, the network can even help put renewable energy to better use.

So the real question isn’t “Does Bitcoin use energy?” but rather: What value does society get in return for that energy?

🏁 Conclusion

The Bitcoin network is likely the largest decentralized computing system in the world. With its enormous strength, it outpaces even the combined capacities of the biggest tech companies – at least if you measure raw calculations.

But it’s important to understand the difference:

  • 💪 Bitcoin miners are like millions of elite athletes, each trained to perform just one move perfectly.
  • 🤹 Data centers from Google, Amazon, and Microsoft are more like decathletes – not always as extreme in a single discipline, but highly versatile across many.

And when it comes to energy, Bitcoin does consume a lot – but so does the existing financial system, often much more. Instead of framing it as “waste,” we should ask what value a secure, independent, and global digital currency brings to the table.

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Blog Bitcoin Finance Future Security

2025-08-26: Bitcoin: Are Banks Becoming Obsolete in the Future?

ince its introduction in 2009, Bitcoin has often been described as the “money of the future.” Unlike traditional currencies, Bitcoin is not issued by governments or managed by banks, but instead runs on a decentralized computer network. This makes it unique: money that anyone in the world can use without relying on a bank in between.

Bitcoin is more than just a new form of digital money – it represents a completely new financial system, one that could fundamentally transform the role of banks.

🔗 How the System Works

At the core of Bitcoin lies the blockchain: a public, immutable ledger that records every transaction. Unlike banks, which maintain their own closed databases, this ledger is open to all. Thousands of computers worldwide – called “nodes” – validate and confirm each transaction using cryptography.

✔ Every transaction is transparent and verifiable
✔ Manipulation is virtually impossible
✔ No one can block transfers or freeze accounts

In short: everyone becomes their own bank. 🏦

🚀 Where Bitcoin Shows Advantages

1. Faster and Cheaper Payments

International bank transfers often take several days and come with high fees. With Bitcoin, money can be sent worldwide within minutes – regardless of borders, bank holidays, or business hours.

Example: In 🇸🇻 El Salvador, Bitcoin became the world’s first official legal tender in 2021. Citizens saved millions in remittance fees. However, since January 29, 2025, the mandatory acceptance rule has been repealed: Bitcoin may still be used voluntarily, but it is no longer legal tender.

2. Inflation Protection Through Scarcity

Bitcoin’s supply is limited to 21 million coins. This scarcity protects against inflation, as no authority can “print” more of it.

Example: In countries suffering from high inflation 📉 such as Venezuela or Turkey, people increasingly use Bitcoin as a store of value to protect their savings.

3. Financial Inclusion

More than 1.4 billion people worldwide remain unbanked. With Bitcoin, all they need is a smartphone 📱 and internet access to participate in the global financial system – to save, receive, and send money.

Example: In Nigeria and Kenya, Bitcoin adoption is booming as young entrepreneurs use it to receive international payments when traditional banks are costly or restrictive.

4. Independence and Freedom

Banks can reject transactions or freeze accounts. In the Bitcoin network, this is impossible. Anyone can send or receive money at any time, without needing approval.

5. Integration Into the Global Economy

Bitcoin is no longer a niche phenomenon – major companies are adopting it:

  • 🚗 Tesla invested about $1.5 billion in Bitcoin in 2021. In 2022, the company sold roughly 75% of its holdings, but as of Q2 2025 still holds about 11,509 BTC, worth around $1.2–1.24 billion.
  • 💳 PayPal allows millions of users to buy, hold, and spend Bitcoin
  • 🏦 Even major banks such as JPMorgan now offer Bitcoin-related services

🌍 A Glimpse Into the Future

If Bitcoin adoption continues, the financial world could look very different:

  • 💸 Payments would be instant, global, and peer-to-peer
  • 🔐 Savings would be kept in secure digital wallets instead of bank accounts
  • 📊 Loans and investments could run through decentralized finance platforms (DeFi), eliminating banks as middlemen
  • 🌐 Equal access for all: anyone, anywhere, can take part in the financial system

In this scenario, banks would no longer serve as gatekeepers. Instead, they might evolve into service providers, offering security, advice, or integration between traditional and digital finance.

✨ Conclusion

Bitcoin is far more than a digital currency. It is a tool for financial self-determination and a step toward a more open, decentralized economy. Examples from El Salvador, inflation-stricken nations, and large companies like Tesla and PayPal show that Bitcoin is already reshaping the financial world.

The future may hold a financial system that belongs to everyone – while banks adapt to entirely new roles. 🌍

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Blog Android Security

2025-08-19: Android System SafetyCore: For Your Safety?

I recently heard in one of my tech groups on the Matrix network about a new app suddenly appearing on many Android devices: Android System SafetyCore. ?
At first, there was a lot of confusion – some suspected malware, others thought it was a buggy update. But it quickly became clear: this isn’t some shady download, but rather an official Google system app silently installed on devices without any visible announcement.

And that’s where the problem begins: when a company like Google rolls out background features that deeply integrate into the system, the question inevitably arises – is this really about safety, or also about control?

What does the app actually do?

SafetyCore is an invisible system service, embedded deeply within Android. It acts as infrastructure for on-device machine learning. According to Google, the app is initially being used in Google Messages – where it automatically detects images that may contain sensitive content such as nudity.

Here’s how it works:

  • If you receive an image with possible “sensitive content,” it’s first blurred.
  • A warning ? appears with information and support resources.
  • You then decide whether to view the image or block it.
  • The same applies when sending images – if nudity is detected, you’ll be warned before sending.

Google stresses that this analysis happens only on your device (on-device), and images are not uploaded to servers. Technically, SafetyCore provides the recognition modules that apps like Messages can call upon.

Planned future functions include:

  • Detecting dangerous links in chats
  • Blocking messages from unknown international senders
  • Classifying content as spam, fraud, or malware
Why I find this problematic ⚠️
  1. Installed without consent
    SafetyCore was rolled out automatically, with no prior request or notification.
  2. Lack of transparency
    Google only mentioned the app in a blog post. Most users discovered it when digging through their system app list.
  3. Potential for abuse
    Even if Google currently claims no data is sent to servers, the technical groundwork is there. This could change in the future.
  4. Undermining end-to-end encryption
    In theory, apps like SafetyCore can weaken the concept of end-to-end encryption. Why? Because content is scanned before it is encrypted and sent. The encryption remains intact, but if messages or images are analyzed on the device prior to encryption, the real protective value is compromised.
  5. Erosion of personal freedom
    My phone belongs to me. I shouldn’t be forced to accept hidden apps that inspect my content – even if they are supposedly “for my protection.”
  6. Privacy law concerns
    Under European GDPR rules, installing apps that process sensitive data without clear consent is questionable at best.
What the community says

The reactions are divided:

  • Some see SafetyCore as a useful tool to fight scams and unwanted content.
  • Others compare it to spyware, since it installs silently and integrates deep into the system.
  • Most interestingly, GrapheneOS – an alternative Android system for Google Pixel devices focused on security and privacy (see this blog post) – does not install SafetyCore at all. Its developers emphasize that SafetyCore is designed for classification tasks (spam, malware, phishing) but not for reporting illegal content. They stress that making such a distinction is crucial to protect privacy and prevent false positives.
What you can do ?️
  • Locate the app: Settings → Apps → Show all apps → Three-dot menu → Show system apps → search “SafetyCore”
  • Disable it: In many cases, you can at least disable the app or remove updates.
  • Stay alert: SafetyCore can reappear with future updates.
Conclusion ✍️

I believe security is important – but not at the cost of freedom and privacy.
SafetyCore might be well-intentioned, but its silent rollout breeds mistrust.

While systems like GrapheneOS deliberately avoid hidden installations and give users full control, Google silently installs an app that inspects your content – no matter how “local” the analysis may be.

Even more worrying is the fact that such a system can effectively weaken end-to-end encryption: if content is analyzed before encryption, the core principle of secure private communication is undermined.

Your smartphone should remain your space of self-determination – not a black box where hidden functions run without your knowledge or consent.