Posts on Axel Segebrecht

Why Microsoft Is Becoming a Security Liability

Sat, 21 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Something has shifted with Microsoft, and not in a good way. What was once a straightforward productivity suite that you bought, installed, and owned has quietly transformed into something far more concerning. If you have not noticed the changes yet, you will soon, and they have real implications for your business. From Office to confusion Microsoft has rebranded its familiar Office apps into something called Microsoft 365 Copilot. If that name sounds confusing, you are not alone.

My Top Censorship-Busting Tools: Stay Private Online

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 22:06:00 +0000

My Top Censorship-Busting Tools: Stay Private Online A quick note before we dive in: this post is for informational purposes only. I am not advising you to circumvent censorship laws in your country. Many of these tools are open source and publicly available — whether or not they are legal where you are is something you need to check yourself. Stay safe. This post is a follow-up to Why Censorship Doesn’t Work — and Australia’s Social Media Ban Proves It.

Why Censorship Doesn't Work — And Australia's Social Media Ban Proves It

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Australia’s social media ban for under-16s came into effect in late 2025, and barely two months in, it’s already falling apart. Platforms have removed 4.7 million accounts — but teens are finding ways around the restrictions just as fast. That’s exactly what happens every time governments try to control what people do online. I want to share why I believe censorship is fundamentally broken, and what we should be doing instead.

Banning Teens from VPNs and Social Media Won't Protect Them

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0000

The UK government wants to ban under-16s from social media and VPNs. On paper, it sounds like a sensible move to protect children. In practice, it’s completely useless — and here’s why. A Ban That Misses the Point Let’s start with the obvious: most teenagers know more about technology than their parents. And, frankly, more than most of the politicians debating these laws. A VPN — short for Virtual Private Network, which is basically a tool that creates a private, encrypted tunnel for your internet traffic — is something a moderately clued-up teenager can set up in minutes.

Why I'm Moving My Websites from WordPress to Hugo

Sun, 15 Feb 2026 21:00:00 +0000

I’ve made the switch. After years of running my websites on WordPress, I’ve moved them over to Hugo — and I think you should at least consider doing the same. Let me explain why. So What Actually Is Hugo? Hugo is what’s known as a static site generator. In plain English, that means it builds your entire website in advance as a collection of simple files — no databases, no server-side processing, no moving parts.

Introducing Static Host UK — Privacy-First Website Hosting, Built in Britain

Sun, 15 Feb 2026 20:00:00 +0000

Static Host UK is live — free, GDPR-compliant static site hosting with built-in analytics and form processing, all on UK infrastructure. No cookies, no US cloud providers, no nonsense. I’ve been banging the drum about technical sovereignty and privacy for years now. Today I’m putting my money where my mouth is. I’m thrilled to announce the launch of Static Host UK — a hosting platform built from the ground up to do things properly.

Is Your Neighbour's Security Camera a Risk to You?

Sat, 14 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0000

You probably don’t think twice about the little camera above your neighbour’s front door. It’s there to catch parcel thieves and keep an eye on things when they’re away, right? But what if that innocent-looking doorbell camera is quietly recording you, learning your routines, and — worst case — giving a bad actor a window into your daily life? It’s a question worth asking, especially after Ring’s recent Super Bowl ad kicked off a proper storm about home surveillance.

Private Security Isn't Just Bodyguards — Your Digital Life Needs Protection Too

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 17:01:46 +0000

When you think of private security, you probably picture close protection officers, armoured vehicles, and someone scanning the crowd while you walk to your car. That’s the physical side, and it’s important. But in the digital world, things are a lot hotter — and a lot harder to protect. If you’ve got something to lose, whether that’s wealth, a business, sensitive deals, or simply your privacy, then your cyber security needs to be taken just as seriously as the bloke standing at your front gate.

What if Everyone Could Vote on Everything?

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 17:01:46 +0000

Imagine a world where politics isn’t about politicians — it’s about people. Where the rules are few, the power is shared, and technology does the heavy lifting to keep things fair. Sound far-fetched? Maybe not. Less Rules, More Freedom The starting point is simple: you should be free to live your life however you choose, as long as you’re not hurting anyone else. We still need rules to stop dodgy builders cutting corners or people getting away with dangerous behaviour.

Is AI Making Cybercrime Easier? The Rise of the Instant Hack

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 10:42:00 +0000

Since the launch of ChatGPT—and arguably even before it became a household name—the world of digital security has shifted on its axis. We are currently living through what I often call the most dangerous era for cybersecurity. While global tensions play their part, the staggering rise of AI as a hacking tool is the real game-changer. It has turned what was once a craft into a high-speed assembly line. From ‘Hand-Crafted’ to High-Speed In the old days (which, in tech terms, was only a few years ago), a successful hack was a long, laborious process.

The Rise of Open Claw - Brilliant Bot or Security Nightmare

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 19:10:00 +0000

Explore Open Claw (aka Clawd Bot, aka Molt Bot): the powerful local AI agent. Learn how it works, why a “bot social network” called Moltbook went viral, and how to stay secure while testing it. It’s been a wild week in the world of AI. If you’ve been scrolling through tech Twitter (nay X) or Reddit lately, you’ve likely heard the buzz surrounding Open Claw (previously known as Clawd Bot or Molt Bot).

Event: Axel talks about AI-Powered Cyber Threats at Biztech Roundtable

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 22:49:07 +0000

In the world of cybersecurity, the barrier to entry for criminals has effectively collapsed. While tools like ChatGPT and Claude are revolutionising our productivity, they are also handing bad actors a massive upgrade. From grammatically perfect phishing emails to sophisticated deepfake impersonations, the threats facing small businesses in 2026 are more convincing—and more dangerous—than ever. I’ve been tracking these developments closely, noting a disturbing 3,000% surge in deepfake fraud and a massive spike in credential-stealing malware.

Beyond the “Click”: Why Digital Hygiene is Your Best Weapon Against AI Phishing

Sat, 24 Jan 2026 10:30:00 +0000

Protect your SME from AI-driven scams. Learn how digital hygiene, passkeys, and robust password managers build a defensive shield against modern cyber threats. In my last article, we looked at Defence in Depth—the idea of building an “onion” of security around your business. But there is a critical ingredient to that defensive posture that often gets overlooked: Digital Hygiene. As AI tools become more sophisticated, the “traditional” red flags of phishing are vanishing.

AI-Powered Cyber Threats: Why Your Small Business Needs to Wake Up Now

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 11:37:00 +0000

AI-powered cyber threats are targeting small businesses. Learn how deepfake scams, AI phishing, and credential theft work—and how to protect your company. Look, I’m not trying to scare you, but we need to talk about something that’s fundamentally changed the cybersecurity landscape in the past couple of years. AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude? They’re brilliant for legitimate work. But they’ve also handed criminals a massive upgrade. KEY FACTS AT A GLANCE The Scale of the Threat: Deepfake fraud incidents surged by 3,000% in 2024 [4] 84% increase in phishing emails delivering credential-stealing malware [2] Deepfake creation services now available for $60-$500 per video [1] Face-swapping tools range from free to $249/month subscriptions [1] Real-World Impact: Hong Kong company lost $25 million to a deepfake video call scam [1] 30% of all cyberattacks in 2024 used stolen credentials as entry point [2] 70% of cyberattacks targeted critical infrastructure organisations [2] The Barrier to Entry Just Collapsed Here’s the thing: you used to need serious technical skills to create convincing malware or phishing campaigns.

The Power of Compartmentalisation

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 12:05:14 +0000

Stop mixing business with pleasure. Learn how digital compartmentalisation protects your family photos and business data from hackers and compliance risks. As an entrepreneur or freelancer, your brain is effectively always “on.” But just because your thoughts are a constant mix of business and pleasure doesn’t mean your digital life should be. In the security world, we call the solution to this overlap compartmentalisation. Think of your digital life like your home.

Data Minimisation Audit: A Checklist for Businesses

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 13:06:00 +0000

Streamline your security posture with our Data Minimization Audit Checklist. Learn how to identify “liability data,” audit third-party trackers like Facebook Pixels, and reduce your regulatory risk by collecting only the customer information you truly need. Before you collect your next data point, run through this audit to ensure you aren’t inadvertently building a “liability time bomb.” 1. The “Purpose” Pressure Test [ ] Identify the “Why”: For every piece of PII (Personally Identifiable Information) collected, can you name the specific business process it supports?

The Liability of Knowledge: Why Data Minimisation is Your Best Defence

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 15:36:33 +0000

Data is a liability, not just an asset. Learn why “knowing less” about your customers through data minimization can protect your business from catastrophic breaches, regulatory penalties, and spear-fishing attacks. In the modern gold rush of digital marketing, “data is the new oil” has become a tired cliché. Sales and marketing teams are under constant pressure to harvest every scrap of user behavior, from browsing habits to home addresses, in a bid to optimize conversion.

The Onion Strategy: How SMEs Can Build a Bulletproof Defence in Depth

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 08:49:03 +0000

Protect your SME with the “Onion” strategy. Learn how DNS filtering, endpoint security, and the 3-2-1 backup rule create a multi-layered defence against hackers. If you run a small business or work as a freelancer, you’ve likely heard the term “cybersecurity” and felt a mild sense of dread. It sounds expensive, technical, and frankly, a bit like something that only happens to giant corporations. The reality? Small businesses are often the preferred targets because they tend to be “softer” targets.