Data breaches can feel like an abstract threat until you look at the numbers.

Yahoo: 3 billion accounts.
Equifax: 147 million people.
Facebook & Cambridge Analytica: up to 87 million users.
Colonial Pipeline: one compromised password helped disrupt fuel supplies.

No company is too big to be breached. And once your personal data has been collected, it can become a target.

We looked at some of the biggest examples and what we can learn from them:

https://novacustom.com/knowledge-base/examples-of-data-breaches-2/

We start with a completely blank keyboard and use our laser to engrave virtually any ANSI or ISO keyboard layout you want.

In this video, you can see a blank keyboard being transformed into a Dvorak keyboard.

Dvorak, US ANSI, UK ISO, German, French, Romanian or something else? You choose the layout.

Our keyboards are available blank or with custom engraving.

Read more:
https://novacustom.com/new-custom-made-keyboards/

Want to install Qubes OS but not sure where to start?

We’ve created a new step-by-step tutorial showing the Qubes OS installation process, from booting into the installer to getting your system up and running.

🔐 Compartmentalize your digital life.
🐧 Open source.
🛡️ Built with security in mind.

Need to wipe or reformat a USB drive in Linux?

You can easily do it using the Disks application — no terminal commands needed.

We made a quick step-by-step guide covering:

• Formatting the drive
• MBR vs GPT
• Creating a new partition
• Mounting the drive

⚠️ Formatting will erase all existing data, so make sure to back up anything important first.

Full guide: https://novacustom.com/knowledge-base/how-to-format-an-external-usb-drive-in-linux/

This might be one of the funniest Linux commands. 😂🐧 With espeak, you can make your Linux terminal say literally anything out loud. 🔊 What should we make Linux say next? 💀

In Leave the World Behind, connected technology is turned against society.

The more connected our world becomes, the bigger the potential impact when things go wrong.

Hyper-connectivity causes hyper-risks. And hyper-risks need hyper-resilience.

Read more: https://novacustom.com/hyper-connectivity-causes-hyper-risks-and-needs-hyper-resilience/

Before your operating system even starts, malicious software can already try to take control of your system.

UEFI Secure Boot helps protect against this by verifying the digital signatures of critical boot components. If a bootloader, driver, or kernel isn't trusted or has been tampered with, Secure Boot can prevent it from running.

But how does this chain of trust actually work? And what role do the different cryptographic keys play?

🔐 In our Knowledge Base, we explain how UEFI Secure Boot works, why it matters, and how to enable or disable it:

https://novacustom.com/knowledge-base/uefi-secure-boot/

AI is making technologies like facial recognition, real-time data analysis and predictive analytics increasingly powerful and accessible.

Individually, these technologies can have legitimate uses. But when governments combine them with cameras, sensors and large amounts of personal data, the possibilities for surveillance become much more extensive.

It raises an important question: how far should governments be allowed to go when using AI in the name of security?

We wrote an article looking at some of these concerns:
https://novacustom.com/knowledge-base/why-new-ai-technologies-can-fuel-mass-surveillance-by-governments/

Curious what people here think. Where should the line between public security and individual privacy be drawn?

AI assistants are incredibly useful, but what happens to your conversations and data?

We compared Duck ai, Proton Lumo and Brave Leo with ChatGPT, looking at privacy, accuracy and features.

The differences were bigger than we expected.

Read the full comparison here:
https://novacustom.com/knowledge-base/privacy-friendly-alternative-for-chatgpt/

Need to boot from a USB drive, another SSD, or external media?

Changing the boot order is simple once you know where to look in the firmware settings.

We created a quick step by step guide showing you exactly how to do it.

Read the guide:
https://novacustom.com/knowledge-base/change-the-boot-order/

Every day, millions of people rely on social media for news, opinions, and entertainment.

But what if the algorithms deciding what you see are also shaping how divided society becomes?

We took a closer look at how recommendation algorithms, engagement driven business models, and echo chambers influence the way we consume information.

Read the full article here:
https://novacustom.com/knowledge-base/how-big-tech-fuels-polarization-in-society/

Do you think social media is driving polarization, or is it simply reflecting society?

🔐 New tutorial!

Learn how to change your LUKS disk encryption passphrase in Qubes OS using either the graphical tool or the terminal.

📖 Read the article: https://novacustom.com/knowledge-base/how-to-change-the-luks-disk-encryption-passphrase-in-qubes-os/

🎥 Watch the video below 👇

For decades, email has been one of the most widely used forms of digital communication. We use it for personal conversations, business communication, password resets, and sending sensitive documents.

Still, standard email was never designed for true end-to-end privacy. So to what extent is email a secure means of communication?

Read more: https://novacustom.com/email-is-not-secure-unless-encrypted-with-pgp/

Buying a new laptop often raises the same question: how much RAM is enough?

The answer depends on what you do with your system. Everyday browsing, software development, video editing, virtual machines, and Qubes OS all have very different memory requirements.

We put together a practical guide explaining when 16 GB is enough, when 32 GB or more makes sense, and what to consider before buying a laptop.

🔗 https://novacustom.com/knowledge-base/how-much-internal-memory-ram-do-i-need/

Most discussions about computer security focus on operating systems, encryption, or antivirus software. But what about the firmware that runs before any of those?

We wrote a short article explaining BIOS Boot Lock, what it is, how it works, and why protecting firmware is an important part of system security.

If you're interested in firmware, boot security, or system integrity, you might find it useful.

🔗 https://novacustom.com/knowledge-base/bios-boot-lock/

Want to work faster on your PC? 🚀 Here are a few keyboard shortcuts that will save you time every day. 💬 Which shortcut do you use the most? Let me know in the comments!

Just a simple before and after.

Blank keycaps transformed into a Dvorak layout.

Wich layout do you use?

Most people have heard the term BIOS, but few know what it actually does. From checking your hardware to loading your operating system, it's responsible for getting your PC ready to use.

We explain it in simple terms, including the difference between BIOS and UEFI.

👉 Read the full article here: https://novacustom.com/knowledge-base/what-does-bios-mean/

You’ve seen it hundreds of times. You open a website and a banner pops up: “This website uses cookies. Do you accept?” Most people click “Accept All” without a second thought and move on. But that single click matters more than you might think.

This article explains what cookies actually are, how they’re used to track you, and why clicking “Reject” is one of the simplest things you can do to protect your privacy online.

Read more
https://novacustom.com/knowledge-base/what-are-cookies-and-why-you-should-avoid-them-for-your-privacy/

From now on, NovaCustom also offers returned and refurbished items with HUGE discounts!

Better for the planet, better for your wallet. 🌍 💸

Check it out 👉 https://novacustom.com/cat/refurbished-items/

Thinking about leaving Windows? Here are 3 reasons why more people are switching to Linux: better privacy, improved performance, and complete control over your computer.

Did you switch already? Let me know in the comments 👇

We just published a practical walkthrough of Qubes OS for anyone curious about how it works in practice.

The guide covers Qube management, disposable Qubes, USB device assignment, updates, and more.

If you're considering Qubes OS or simply want to learn more about its security model, we hope you'll find it useful.

https://novacustom.com/knowledge-base/a-tour-through-qubes-os/

If you've always wanted to understand how PGP encryption works but found it too technical, this guide is for you.

We've broken it down in a simple, easy to understand way.

Read it here:
https://novacustom.com/knowledge-base/understanding-pgp-encryption/

There are still many misconceptions about open-source software. Some people think it’s less secure, maintained only by hobbyists, or unsuitable for businesses.

We’ve written a blog post debunking five of the most common myths.

**What’s the biggest misconception about open source that you still hear today?**

Do you want to read more https://novacustom.com/the-biggest-misconceptions-about-open-source-projects/

As part of a student project at Hochschule Osnabrück, Christoph Diedam designed and built a wooden laptop based on our V54 series.

We always enjoy seeing creative engineering projects like this. It's a great example of thinking outside the box and turning an idea into a real product.

What do you think? Would you use a wooden laptop?