The Truth About VPNs: Untangling the Hype, the Lies, and the Reality

If you’ve browsed the web lately, you’ve probably seen ads for “life-changing” VPN services: just hit a button and poof—complete online invisibility, ironclad security, and the freedom to roam the web without a care. Except, that’s mostly marketing smoke and mirrors. As a privacy and security researcher, I’ve witnessed the VPN industry explode with bold claims and affiliate-driven hype. While a VPN can be useful, it’s not a magic cloak of anonymity and protection. In this post, we’ll dissect myths, set realistic expectations, and give you a framework to choose a VPN (if you truly need one). ...

6 min · 1244 words · Sooraj Sathyanarayanan

The Vital Importance of Free Speech in a Complex World

Free speech isn’t just an abstract principle tucked away in constitutions or law books—it’s a living, breathing cultural value that shapes how we think, communicate, and grow. Across generations and geographies, open expression has sparked innovation, challenged entrenched prejudices, and paved the way for progress in science, politics, and society at large. When we protect the right to speak freely and resist the urge to silence ideas we dislike, we nurture a healthier marketplace of thought, one where insights evolve through spirited debate rather than top-down decree. ...

7 min · 1355 words · Sooraj Sathyanarayanan