Field notes

The web should work for you.
We write about getting it there.

Privacy thinking that earns its place in your inbox. Posts about what we build, what we learn, and the data landscape you're navigating.

◆ FeaturedApril 16, 2026
Launch

We Built Masquerade Because Password Managers Solved the Wrong Half of the Problem

Every website knows your real name. Password managers protect your credentials, but they don't protect your identity. Masquerade does. Here's why we built it.

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Cedric Gordon
April 16, 2026
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Family

The Ten Minutes That Protect Your Parents from Scammers

Scammers use leaked personal data to sound credible. Your parents' real name and email are scattered across dozens of sites, but that doesn't have to stay true. Here's what you can do.

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Cedric GordonApril 15, 2026
Breach

Your Data Was in the Basic-Fit Breach. Here Is Why That Keeps Happening.

Basic Fit lost data on 1 million members. Names, emails, phone numbers, addresses. But the real problem isn't Basic Fit, it's that you show up as the same person everywhere.

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Cedric GordonApril 14, 2026
Privacy

How Many Companies Have Your Real Name?

Someone counted once: 312 services had their real name, email, and sometimes address. Email aliases help, but they solve half the problem. Here's the other half.

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Cedric GordonApril 13, 2026
Privacy

Identity Masking Is What Comes After Password Managers

Your passwords are unique per site. Your name isn't. Your email isn't. Your address isn't. Password managers did something brilliant, and then stopped halfway.

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Cedric GordonApril 12, 2026
Field notes, monthly

Smart thinking on privacy, in your inbox. Obviously, on an alias.

One email a month. Essays on privacy, the odd product note, and nothing else.

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privacy is the default◆one user · many masks◆you are not your email address◆nothing traces back◆every site gets a different you◆real you · never leaves the room◆new mask · same you◆privacy is the default◆one user · many masks◆you are not your email address◆nothing traces back◆every site gets a different you◆real you · never leaves the room◆new mask · same you◆privacy is the default◆one user · many masks◆you are not your email address◆nothing traces back◆every site gets a different you◆real you · never leaves the room◆new mask · same you◆privacy is the default◆one user · many masks◆you are not your email address◆nothing traces back◆every site gets a different you◆real you · never leaves the room◆new mask · same you◆