#Secure password managers for self-host

[virtualizationhowto]

Best Self-hosted Apps in 2023

Best Self-hosted Apps in 2023 #homelab #selfhosting #BestSelfHostedApps2023 #ComprehensiveGuideToSelfHosting #TopMediaServersForPersonalUse #SecurePasswordManagersForSelfHost #EssentialToolsForSelfHostedSetup #RaspberryPiCompatibleHostingApps

You can run many great self-hosted apps in your home lab or on your media server with only a small amount of tinkering. Let’s look at the best self-hosted apps in 2023 and a list of apps you should check out. Table of contentsWhy Self-hosting?Plex: The Media Server KingJellyfin: Open Source Media FreedomEmby: A Balanced Media ContenderNextcloud: Your Personal Cloud ServiceHome Assistant:…

[ranidspace]

i hope you know, but the most BASIC thing you can do to imporive your online security by well over 100x is simply using a different password for every website.

Every single website where you make an account with the same username/email and password is a security risk. They may store passwords in plain text, they may be a website designed to steal passwords, theres dozens of things that can go wrong, and it only takes ONE for your email and password for everything to be visible to the public permanently, it might even have already happened. If you use a different password eveywhere, and a site leaks your password, you just change that one and you're good.

Use a password manager. KeePass if you're able to self host (though only officially available on windows or linux), or Bitwarden, which has cloud storage, mobile apps, and browser extensions. Generate a new random password and it saves it, and you can Ctrl+L with the browser extension to auto fill it in. all ur passwords are encrypted and its safe in there.

[playstationvii]

#Playstation7 Security backend FireWall Dynamic Encryption, NFT integration CG’s and Online Store, Game download, installation and run processes.

Creating a comprehensive backend system for a console that integrates security, encryption, store functionality, NFT integration, and blockchain encoding is an extensive task, but here’s a detailed outline and code implementation for these components:

1. Security and Firewall System with Dynamic Encryption

The security system will need robust firewalls and periodic encryption mechanisms that update dynamically every 5 minutes and every 30th of a second.

1.1 Encryption Structure (Python-based) with Time-Based Swapping

We’ll use the cryptography library in Python for encryption, and random for generating random encryption keys, which will change periodically.

Encryption Swapping Code:

import os

import time

import random

from cryptography.fernet import Fernet

class SecuritySystem:

def __init__(self):

self.current_key = self.generate_key()

self.cipher_suite = Fernet(self.current_key)

def generate_key(self):

return Fernet.generate_key()

def update_key(self):

self.current_key = self.generate_key()

self.cipher_suite = Fernet(self.current_key)

print(f"Encryption key updated: {self.current_key}")

def encrypt_data(self, data):

encrypted = self.cipher_suite.encrypt(data.encode())

return encrypted

def decrypt_data(self, encrypted_data):

return self.cipher_suite.decrypt(encrypted_data).decode()

# Swapping encryption every 5 minutes and 30th of a second

def encryption_swapper(security_system):

while True:

security_system.update_key()

time.sleep(random.choice([5 * 60, 1 / 30])) # 5 minutes or 30th of a second

if __name__ == "__main__":

security = SecuritySystem()

# Simulate swapping

encryption_swapper(security)

1.2 Firewall Setup (Using UFW for Linux-based OS)

The console could utilize a basic firewall rule set using UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall) on Linux:

# Set up UFW firewall for the console backend

sudo ufw default deny incoming

sudo ufw default allow outgoing

# Allow only specific ports (e.g., for the store and NFT transactions)

sudo ufw allow 8080 # Store interface

sudo ufw allow 443 # HTTPS for secure transactions

sudo ufw enable

This basic rule ensures that no incoming traffic is accepted except for essential services like the store or NFT transfers.

2. Store Functionality: Download, Installation, and Game Demos

The store will handle downloads, installations, and demo launches. The backend will manage game storage, DLC handling, and digital wallet integration for NFTs.

2.1 Download System and Installation Process (Python)

This code handles the process of downloading a game, installing it, and launching a demo.

Store Backend (Python + MySQL for Game Listings):

import mysql.connector

import os

import requests

class GameStore:

def __init__(self):

self.db = self.connect_db()

def connect_db(self):

return mysql.connector.connect(

host="localhost",

user="admin",

password="password",

database="game_store"

)

def fetch_games(self):

cursor = self.db.cursor()

cursor.execute("SELECT * FROM games")

return cursor.fetchall()

def download_game(self, game_url, game_id):

print(f"Downloading game {game_id} from {game_url}...")

response = requests.get(game_url)

with open(f"downloads/{game_id}.zip", "wb") as file:

file.write(response.content)

print(f"Game {game_id} downloaded.")

def install_game(self, game_id):

print(f"Installing game {game_id}...")

os.system(f"unzip downloads/{game_id}.zip -d installed_games/{game_id}")

print(f"Game {game_id} installed.")

def launch_demo(self, game_id):

print(f"Launching demo for game {game_id}...")

os.system(f"installed_games/{game_id}/demo.exe")

# Example usage

store = GameStore()

games = store.fetch_games()

# Simulate downloading, installing, and launching a demo

store.download_game("http://game-download-url.com/game.zip", 1)

store.install_game(1)

store.launch_demo(1)

2.2 Subsections for Games, DLC, and NFTs

This section of the store manages where games, DLCs, and NFTs are stored.

class GameContentManager:

def __init__(self):

self.games_folder = "installed_games/"

self.dlc_folder = "dlcs/"

self.nft_folder = "nfts/"

def store_game(self, game_id):

os.makedirs(f"{self.games_folder}/{game_id}", exist_ok=True)

def store_dlc(self, game_id, dlc_id):

os.makedirs(f"{self.dlc_folder}/{game_id}/{dlc_id}", exist_ok=True)

def store_nft(self, nft_data, nft_id):

with open(f"{self.nft_folder}/{nft_id}.nft", "wb") as nft_file:

nft_file.write(nft_data)

# Example usage

manager = GameContentManager()

manager.store_game(1)

manager.store_dlc(1, "dlc_1")

manager.store_nft(b"NFT content", "nft_1")

3. NFT Integration and Blockchain Encoding

We’ll use blockchain to handle NFT transactions, storing them securely in a blockchain ledger.

3.1 NFT Blockchain Encoding (Python)

This script simulates a blockchain where each block stores an NFT.

import hashlib

import time

class Block:

def __init__(self, index, timestamp, data, previous_hash=''):

self.index = index

self.timestamp = timestamp

self.data = data

self.previous_hash = previous_hash

self.hash = self.calculate_hash()

def calculate_hash(self):

block_string = f"{self.index}{self.timestamp}{self.data}{self.previous_hash}"

return hashlib.sha256(block_string.encode()).hexdigest()

class Blockchain:

def __init__(self):

self.chain = [self.create_genesis_block()]

def create_genesis_block(self):

return Block(0, time.time(), "Genesis Block", "0")

def get_latest_block(self):

return self.chain[-1]

def add_block(self, new_data):

previous_block = self.get_latest_block()

new_block = Block(len(self.chain), time.time(), new_data, previous_block.hash)

self.chain.append(new_block)

def print_blockchain(self):

for block in self.chain:

print(f"Block {block.index} - Data: {block.data} - Hash: {block.hash}")

# Adding NFTs to the blockchain

nft_blockchain = Blockchain()

nft_blockchain.add_block("NFT1: Digital Sword")

nft_blockchain.add_block("NFT2: Magic Shield")

nft_blockchain.print_blockchain()

3.2 NFT Wallet Transfer Integration (Python)

This script will transfer NFTs into wallets or digital blockchain systems.

class NFTWallet:

def __init__(self):

self.wallet = {}

def add_nft(self, nft_id, nft_data):

self.wallet[nft_id] = nft_data

print(f"Added NFT {nft_id} to wallet.")

def transfer_nft(self, nft_id, recipient_wallet):

if nft_id in self.wallet:

recipient_wallet.add_nft(nft_id, self.wallet[nft_id])

del self.wallet[nft_id]

print(f"Transferred NFT {nft_id} to recipient.")

# Example usage

user_wallet = NFTWallet()

user_wallet.add_nft("nft_1", "Digital Art Piece 1")

recipient_wallet = NFTWallet()

user_wallet.transfer_nft("nft_1", recipient_wallet)

4. CG (Computer Graphics) Storage for Cutscenes and Artwork

4.1 Storing and Retrieving CG Assets

This system stores CG assets (cutscenes, artwork, etc.) for later viewing and reminiscing.

class CGStorage:

def __init__(self):

self.cg_folder = "cg_assets/"

os.makedirs(self.cg_folder, exist_ok=True)

def store_cg(self, cg_id, cg_data):

with open(f"{self.cg_folder}/{cg_id}.mp4", "wb") as cg_file:

cg_file.write(cg_data)

print(f"CG {cg_id} stored.")

def retrieve_cg(self, cg_id):

with open(f"{self.cg_folder}/{cg_id}.mp4", "rb") as cg_file:

return cg_file.read()

# Example usage

cg_storage = CGStorage()

cg_storage.store_cg("cutscene_1", b"CG video data")

cg_data = cg_storage.retrieve_cg("cutscene_1")

Summary of the System:

1. Security: Dynamic encryption swaps with regular firewall management.

2. Store: Handles game downloads, installations, and demo launches, including storage for games, DLC, and NFTs.

3. NFT Integration: A blockchain-based system for NFT encoding and wallet transfers.

4. CG Storage: Storing and retrieving game cutscenes and artwork for later viewing.

This framework is scalable and can be extended as the console ecosystem grows. Each component works independently but can be integrated into a larger gaming console backend system.

[brightclothesforwinter]

As an illustration of how effective the Firefox+uBlock Origin combination is: when @x4vn installed our pi hole* I noticed no change at all on this PC. (Massive change on clicky phone games lol. Except for Simon Tatham's puzzles which are proper free-open-source ethical stuff. They don't hide the clock on your phone when you're playing a game!)

Even with the pi hole, uBlock also still blocks a bunch of sites where you click on a link from an email and it's passing through a tracker; it does give you the option to continue (eg: when it's your doctor's secure document site which is tracking you for a legitimate reason) but I find the reminder useful as a 'stop, think, do I want to go to this site or did I just click on something shiny? And if I do, do I want them to know it was because of that email?' to which the answer may well be yes! But it being a choice is good.)

*for the non-technical** - this stops sites, phone apps etc from being able to find the ad-hosts to ask for ads (it's configurable but we just started off with one of the readily available default lists).

**if you do want the technical detail because you're eg: staring at your own raspberry pi going 'ok what next' - there is a pretty good overview from tech journalist Yash Wate on medium.com - a DDG search for "yash wate" "how to set up pi hole on raspberry pi" will bring it up. And if you want to know exactly what @x4vn did you'll have to ask them, my professional reputation as an extremely organised person who has the technical details to hand is based on writing everything down in self-defence against my ADHD, and I try not to treat my spouse like my co-workers. :D

And yes, we should all use a password manager at this point. (I put it off for ages because I thought it was going to be hard and a pain in the backside like bloody Cyberark has been at work, but no, the ones for domestic use are actually much simpler.)

slides im sharing w my family this week bc it pains me to see how they manage their passwords. and also easy steps they can take to protect their privacy (firefox mainly). if u have any questions let me know.

also. uBlock origin is better than adblock plus bc: it allows NO ADS (ABP will allow certain ads and let bigger companies thru - its "acceptable ads" program) + is more lightweight and easier on your computer's resources than ABP.

[govindhtech]

Self Encrypting Drives: Securing Sensitive Data With SEDs

Self Encrypting Drives

Data security is crucial in the digital era, and self-encrypting drives (SEDs) are essential. Advanced storage solutions embed encryption into the hardware, securing data from storage to retrieval. This proactive approach decreases the danger of unwanted access, data breaches, and compliance violations, giving institutions handling sensitive data peace of mind.

SEDs

Self encrypting drives automate data encryption without software, making them efficient and safe. Self Encrypting Drives automatically integrate hardware-level encryption into regular operations, unlike standard drives that may require separate encryption software. Offloading encryption processes from the CPU to the HDD simplifies data protection and improves speed.

Self Encrypting Drives basics are crucial as businesses and consumers prioritize data privacy and security. This article discusses self-encrypting disks’ features, benefits, and installation. If you’re new to data security or looking to strengthen your organization’s defenses, understanding SEDs will assist you choose data storage solutions.

Why Use Self-Encrypting Drives?

Cyber threats and sophisticated hacking have increased the need for effective data protection solutions. By embedding encryption into the hardware, self-encrypting SSDs reduce these dangers. Data is encrypted, preventing illegal access and breaches.

Increased Cyberattack Risk

Cyberattacks are becoming more sophisticated and dangerous to organizations and individuals. Malicious actors exploit data storage and transfer weaknesses with ransomware and phishing attacks. By encrypting data as it is written to the drive and limiting access to it to authorized users or applications, Self Encrypting Drives defend against these assaults. Data breaches are strongly prevented by hardware-based encryption. Even if a drive is physically compromised, encrypted data is illegible without authentication.

Trends in Data Protection

To combat new dangers and regulations, data protection evolves. To comply with GDPR, FIPS, and CCPA, organizations across industries are using encryption technologies like Self Encrypting Drives. Trends also favor encryption by default, which encrypts critical data at rest and in transit. This proactive strategy boosts security and stakeholder confidence by committing to protecting critical data from illegal access and breaches.

SED types

SED kinds have diverse characteristics and functions for different use cases and security needs. Drive encryption implementation and management are the main differences.

Self-Encrypting Drives Work How?

Self Encrypting Drives automatically encrypt all drive data using strong cryptographic techniques since they use hardware encryption. No additional software or configuration is needed to encrypt through this transparent technique. Data from the drive is decrypted on the fly if login credentials are provided. These simultaneous encryption and decryption processes safeguard data at rest and in transit, preventing illegal access.

Software and Hardware Self-Encrypting Drives

The two primary types of self-encrypting disks are hardware and software.

Hardware-based SEDs encrypt and decode at hardware speed without affecting system performance by integrating encryption directly into the disk controller. Software-based SEDs use host-system encryption software to manage encryption tasks.

Although both types offer encryption, hardware-based SEDs are chosen for their security and efficiency.

Seagate Exos X Series enterprise hard drives feature Seagate Secure hardware-based encryption, including SEDs, SED-FIPS (using FIPS-approved algorithms), and fast secure erase.

Lock/Unlock Self-Encrypting Drives?

Set up and manage passwords or PINs to lock and unlock a self-encrypting drive. This ensures that only authorized people or systems can access encrypted hard drive data. Most SEDs offer a simple interface or tool to securely initialize, update, or reset authentication credentials. Self Encrypting Drives protect critical data even if the physical drive is taken by using robust authentication.

Seagate Advantage: Safe Data Storage

Seagate leads in safe data storage with their industry-leading self encrypting drives that meet strict industry security standards. The advantages of Seagate SEDs are listed below.

Existing IT Integration

Seagate self-encrypting disks integrate well with IT infrastructures. These drives integrate into varied IT ecosystems without extensive overhauls in enterprise or small business contexts. This integration feature minimizes operational disruption and improves data security using hardware-based encryption.

Using Hardware Encryption

Seagate SEDs encrypt data with hardware. Encrypting the disk controller or drive directly protects against unwanted access and data breaches. Hardware-based encryption optimizes encryption and decryption without compromising system performance.

Compliant with Industry Rules

Trusted Computing Group (TCG) Opal 2.0 data security and privacy requirements apply to Seagate SEDs. These disks encrypt sensitive data at rest to ensure GDPR, HIPAA, and other compliance. This compliance helps firms secure sensitive data and reduce regulatory non-compliance concerns.

Easy Management and Administration

Seagate’s straightforward tools and utilities simplify self-encrypting drive management. IT managers can easily manage encryption keys, access controls, and drive health using these solutions. Seagate SEDs simplify data security operations with user-friendly interfaces and robust administration tools.

Are SEDs Safe?

The drive’s specific hardware automatically encrypts and decrypts any data written to and read from it, making Self Encrypting Drives safe.

An important feature is that encryption and decryption are transparent and do not affect system performance.

SEDs also use passwords or security keys to unlock and access data, improving security.

SED encryption keys are produced and stored on the drive, making them unavailable to software attackers. This design reduces key theft and compromise.

SEDs that meet industry standards like the Opal Storage Specification are interoperable with security management tools and offer additional capabilities like secure erase and data protection compliance. The SED method of protecting sensitive data at rest is effective and robust.

What’s SEDs’ encryption level?

AES with 128-bit or 256-bit keys is used in Self Encrypting Drives. AES encryption is known for its encryption strength and durability. This encryption keeps SED data secure and inaccessible without the encryption key, giving sensitive data handlers piece of mind.

AES-256 encryption, known for its security and efficiency, is used in Seagate Exos X corporate drives. Governments, financial organizations, and businesses employ AES-256 for critical data protection.

Which Encryption Levels Are Available?

SEDs’ encryption levels vary by model and setup. SEDs with several encryption modes, such as S3, let enterprises choose the right security level for their data. Hardware and full disk encryption (FDE) are standard. Hardware components encrypt and decrypt all FDE-encrypted data on the drive.

Backup encrypting drives

Backup SED data to provide data resilience and continuity in case of drive failure or data loss. SED backups use secure backup technologies to encrypt disk data. These encrypted backups protect data while helping enterprises recover data quickly after a disaster or hardware breakdown. Organizations can reduce data breaches and operational disruptions by backing up self-encrypting disks regularly.

Unlocking SED Power

SEDs’ full potential requires understanding and using their main features and capabilities, such as:

To manage and configure encryption settings, use tools offered by the drive manufacturer, such as Seagate Secure Toolkit. These tools usually manage passwords and authentication credentials.

Security Software: Integrate the SED with Opal Storage Specification-compliant security management software. This allows remote management, policy enforcement, and audit logging.

Enable BIOS/UEFI Management: Let your BIOS or UEFI manage the drive’s locking and unlocking. This adds security by requiring the necessary credentials on system boot to access the drive.

To get the latest security updates and bug fixes, upgrade the drive’s firmware regularly. If available, monitor and audit access logs to detect unauthorized drive access.

With these tactics, your SEDs will safeguard data while being easy to use and manage.

Considerations for SED Implementation

To ensure IT infrastructure integration and performance, SED installation must consider various criteria.

Current IT Compatibility

SEDs must be compatible with IT systems before adoption. OS, hardware, and storage integration are compatibility factors. Self Encrypting Drives have broad platform compatibility and low deployment disruption.

Effects on performance and scaling

When implementing SEDs, encryption may affect performance. SED hardware encryption reduces performance decrease compared to software encryption. To ensure SEDs suit current and future data processing needs, organizations should evaluate performance benchmarks and scalability choices.

Total Ownership Cost

Total cost of ownership (TCO) includes initial costs, ongoing maintenance, and possible savings from data security and operational overhead improvements. SEDs may cost more than non-encrypting drives, however increased security and compliance may outweigh this.

Simple Configuration and Maintenance

SEDs simplify configuration and maintenance, making deployment and management easier. IT managers may adjust encryption settings, maintain encryption keys, and monitor drive health from centralized panels. This streamlined solution reduces administrative hassles and standardizes storage infrastructure security.

Read more on Govindhtech.com

[suportai1]

Help Desk Software: What to Look For and the Must-Have Features

If your company is considering a move from a shared mailbox to a help desk software for small business, then the number of features that most help desk software comes with can be overwhelming. All those tagging features, are they important to you? How much reporting is really necessary when you're just getting started?

While this might seem like an inundation of help desk software choices helpdesk software small business, it is actually not that hard to be distilled for consideration. The actual useful features have differences for each company, and no two firms are the same. Let's look at the important features your company needs in a help desk solution and why.

This post is part of our Ultimate Guide to Setting Up a Help Desk System. You can check other chapters here, too:

Chapter 1: How to set up a help desk: Step-by-Step Guide and Checklist

Chapter 2: How to Track Requests to Keep Coming Back

Chapter 3: 9 Steps to Switching Help Desks

Chapter 4: Take It or Leave It: What Help Desk Data Should You Migrate?

Chapter 5: 19 Actionable Help Desk Metrics for Your Customer Support Team

Chapter 6: Best Practices and Tips for Help Desk Implementation

Chapter 7: The 15 Best Help Desk Software for 2024 - e

Chapter 8: Help Desk Software Features That You Should Look For And Must-Have

Chapter 9: Top 9 Help Desk Software for Small Businesses in 2024

Chapter 10: Why an investment in help desk software will help you achieve greater ROI

Chapter 11: Your Trustable  Mej support AI Help Desk Software

Definition of help desk software

At its core, help desk software is a dedicated instrument that your business can utilize to answer questions from your customers or prospects. Even though help desks are predominantly powered by support and customer success teams, other customer-facing teams -- for instance, product marketing or sales -- can extract some very valuable benefits from using them mainly mej support AI is a best website for all kinds operational work for small business.

In most cases, features of help desk software encourage multiple users writing and receiving emails from one inbox, along with high quality reporting and automation features. 

Why invest in help desk software?

Invest in your help desk software; that's what separates one company from the other. It shall proffer better experiences to the customer. Even as the response is important, the help desk software customizes and enhances the company's journey.

Not only that, it helps to manage your inbox more efficiently with customers who are prioritized. You could easily do that by setting a priority on who has been waiting the longest, or somebody who is more likely to convert to a paid account, and many more other settings.

No matter what kind of prioritization or automation you are using, the investment in a help desk with advanced queue management features will mean that your support staff becomes more effective.

What are the various types of help desk software?

While many features are built into most help desk software solutions, a few different types suit different types of businesses. Depending on your needs and requirements, one probably will suit you better than another:

Cloud-based help desk  software small business

The cloud-based  helpdesk software small business are the most common in use. Constructed on a SaaS model, cloud-run help desks are maintained in the cloud and are totally web-based. Your team will log in with the aid of a web portal using individual usernames and passwords. All updates, maintenance, bug fixing, and issue resolution are taken care of by the help desk software's team. 

On-Premise Help Desk small business help desk software

An on-premise help desk small business help desk software is a self-hosted version of the help desk software. This is great for companies with very high security needs, like hospitals or banks, whereby they lock down functionality and want complete control of what goes in and out. An on-premise help desk is very likely the best choice. Yet, this places the onus back on the buyer for maintenance and updates, not the software company best help desk software for small business .

Open-source help desk

Open-source help desks are usually free and highly configurable. Assimilate that with a solid internal development team, and you can take up an open-source help desk with just the core functionality and develop the features your team needs. In the event that regular updating and maintenance cannot be carried out by your team, an enterprise help desk system would be best.

Enterprise help desks: Developed for large companies, this helpdesk has a lot more functionality and integration. The same features can be seen in other helps desks, but the enterprise ones provide high levels of reports and artificial intelligence. On the negative side, the complexity in the operation of the enterprise help desk can be highly overwhelming for small companies or teams that are starting up.

10 must-have features to look for in help desk software suite:

Selecting help desk software can be nerve-racking due to the existence of too many tools and functionalities in the market these days. It's tempting to daydream about how each of them would be useful to your team, but it's often a good idea to simply find the tool with the features you need, not all the possible ones.

Here's ten essential features that will give you an easy decision:

Overall good customer experience

Your tool should allow for great support. Unfortunately not all helpdesk tools are built to delight customers. Some systems refer to customers as ticket numbers, or require them to create separate logins for support portals. While these may be fine for support, they can create a poor experience for customers.

Have the help desk be friendly to your team. The interface should be easy to use, load fast, and allow easy discoverability for commonly used options. You'd do well to check out a demo or trial of your top options before deciding.

Security is a cause for concern given that the help desk houses private customer information. You want to make sure users have role-based permissions that limit access and see role-based permissions, two-factor authentication, and adherence to certain regulations such as HIPAA or GDPR.

Excellent customer service

A good help desk small business must assure first-rate customer service. Try out the company's customer service by sending in requests or going through some reviews. Some companies offer different levels of customer service depending on the plan, so you may want to consider that when budgeting for your business.

Scalability

If the team, support volume, or company is bound to grow in time, consider scalability. Look out for workflows, AI assistance, and API access for automation in repetitive chores. Also, look out for pricing models that have predictability over future costs.

Options for your preferred support channels

Look for helpdesk software offering tools for your preferred support channels: email, chat, or social media. Consider those that have a vision for what you may do later, such as a knowledge base or social media support.

Third-party integrations

Look for help desks that integrate with other tools you need, like your billing system or CRM. Although custom integrations are always an option, it's easier to just pick software that integrates with must-use tools out of the box.

Collaboration features

Collaboration is a key component to great customer support. Look for features that allow for great collaboration and communication, such as collision detection, notes, and @mentions as well as saved replies.

Metrics and reports are important to track output and success on the part of your support team. Your helpdesk should offer metrics on reply time, usage of the knowledge base, CSAT ratings, etc., along with options for advanced filtering and data export.

Migration options

Migration options come in extremely handy if you are migrating from one help desk to another. It is these very useful APIs, together with automated migration tools or third-party migration services, that will save you from spending hours on it and save you completely from the possibility of data loss.

In conclusion, be careful of the needs of your individual company in your selection of the right help desk software. Emphasize properties of a solution that mean something to your team in the search for service that augments your support, without making the interaction more complicated.

[jainsuyash]

SCIM — Solution for user management with cloud apps

In recent years, the use of cloud-based applications has drastically increased. Any company with 40–50 employees will be using at least 15–20 cloud applications, and in a large enterprise, the number of applications is even higher. This page highlights the problems faced by IT teams and the solution.

Problem

So, the problem is that employees join and leave, and managing their accounts on applications takes time for IT teams and leads to errors and extra costs for the company.

For example, when an employee leaves, the IT team could miss deleting their user account from an application, which is a huge security risk.

These issues could be due to an overloaded IT team or too many off-boarding tasks. Therefore, the company needs to spend more on the IT team.

Let us talk about one more term.

User provisioning/Identity provisioning

User provisioning or Identity provisioning is about creating, maintaining, and deleting user accounts and related identities in one or more applications. It has become a critical factor due to concerns about time consumption, confidentiality, and security of users' data.

Solution

Now, what is the solution? Any guesses? - We can not reduce hiring employees or using applications. So, how do we solve this?

Well, the solution lies in automating user provisioning.

Boom, your mind has exploded - Automation? It is killing the IT team.

No, not at all.

I have been working in IT for 23 years. Automation is not killing IT; it is meant to increase quality, productivity, and the correct use of human skills.

That is another topic. Let us stay consistent and get back to our concerns.

The idea is that, for a new employee, the user account is created automatically on all applications and automatically deleted when they leave the organization in one click or even not that much.

No, no, we are not talking about LDAP and Active Directory. I knew it—your brain.

Then what? The next thing in mind - yes, I can read your mind.

Okay, I confess, they are very much related.

What is it? My answer to your curiosity is SCIM.

I know the heading of this page is SCIM, so you knew I was going to say the same. Clever, huh?

Let us dive into it.

SCIM is a lifesaver for the IT team. It manages user identity in applications and services to make them more accessible, faster, and cheaper.

SCIM stands for "System for Cross-domain Identity Management," an open standard protocol that defines a standard for exchanging identity information across different app and service vendors.

Read again the above paragraph and focus on words in italics. It says everything.

The goal of SCIM is to automate the exchange of user identity information across apps for user provisioning, reducing the cost of identity management and improving security. The automation process will also simplify the user experience.

In SCIM, the user's profiles are managed centrally with identity providers like LDAP and Active Directory.

With an identity service provider, long lists of usernames and passwords are virtually eliminated, administration is simplified, and excellent security is achieved.

There are two parties: the identity provider (IDP), the user account manager, and the SP (Service Provider), the application integrated with IDP.

So, LDAP and Active Directory - back again - what was missing with these?

The simple answer is that they are on-premises products and not supported by most cloud apps.

<aside> 💡 LDAP or AD is used when your app (SP) is primarily deployed on-prem or self-hosted, and you want a smooth user provisioning process tied directly into your customer's user directory. LDAP works best when you primarily serve customers in a legacy ecosystem or if using internal network resources is especially important to your app's functionality.

</aside>

If you know about LDAP or AD, you already understand the SCIM base concept.

Unlike LDAP, SCIM is built explicitly for the web, with a RESTful design and complete flexibility over your authorization methods. Of course, it also works with on-prem applications.

💡 What are some of the IDPs? - AWS, Okta, Ping, Google, CyberArk, OneLogin, Microsoft, IBM, Oracle, Auth0, etc. Okta, OneLogin, and Auth0 are widely used IDP. You can search for IDPs, and believe me, this is not a small list; it keeps growing every day.

Okay, so what's extra with SCIM? I know you're excited now. Let's keep going!!

Let us talk about some key features:

Standardization — SCIM provides a standardized way to manage user identities across different platforms, reducing the complexity of identity management.

Groups Management - Besides user management, SCIM can manage groups and their membership.

Interoperability - SCIM is designed to handle large-scale user provisioning in cloud environments. It can work across different platforms and services, providing a consistent approach to identity management.

**Automation—**It helps automate user provisioning and de-provisioning, ensuring that when a user profile is created, updated, or deleted in one application, the changes are reflected in other connected applications.

APIs - SCIM uses RESTful APIs to create, read, update, and delete user identities and groups, making it easier for developers to integrate SCIM with their applications.

Security - SCIM includes provisions for secure communication and handling of identity data, making it suitable for managing sensitive information.

JSON/HTTP - SCIM typically uses JSON as its data format and HTTP as its communication protocol.

Security - SCIM supports secure communication methods like HTTPS to protect sensitive identity data.

Compliance - SCIM helps organizations comply with regulations by ensuring accurate and timely management of user identities.

SCIM 2.0 is the latest and most widely used protocol version.

How it works

Let us understand this with diagrams.

💡 Zoom and Slack are sample SP applications in the diagram and do not use specific IDP.

Sample implementation diagram (bi-directional sync):

https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/59788073-92cf-4fae-9ffe-4a67c34fd83d/de22bf62-657c-4402-a474-824bed592032/scim-bidirectional.png

Key points:

IDP is the central point of managing users (as well as groups).

IDP and SP integrate using SCIM protocol and bi-directional exchange of user information.

Any changes in the Slack user profile, such as first or last name, are also reflected in Zoom and IDP. Slack updates IDP, and then IDP updates Zoom, so Slack and Zoom are integrated indirectly for user management.

Sample implementation diagram (single-directional sync):

https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/59788073-92cf-4fae-9ffe-4a67c34fd83d/ec0c2cc0-828d-4a59-a762-e82cf6205283/scim-singledirection.png

Key points:

IDP is the central point of managing users (as well as groups).

IDP and SP are integrated using SCIM protocol and exchange user information.

Changes in the SP user's profile are not reflected in IDP. It is beneficial when you want to avoid accidental changes in the user profile at any SP.

Conclusion

Using SCIM, you can automate the provisioning and de-provisioning of centrally managed user profiles, reducing the user management burden on the IT team and achieving security compliance requirements.

I hope you liked this page; please share your feedback through comments.

Thank You.

[liteblue56]

Mastering LiteBlue: Your Key to USPS Success

LiteBlue stands as the quintessential portal for United States Postal Service (USPS) employees, offering a spectrum of tools and resources designed to streamline operations and enhance communication within the organization. From managing work schedules to accessing benefits information, LiteBlue serves as a comprehensive platform tailored to the needs of USPS personnel. This insider's guide delves into the myriad features of LiteBlue, unveiling tips and strategies to harness its full potential.

Understanding LiteBlue: A Holistic Overview

Login Process: Accessing LiteBlue is the initial step towards unlocking its array of functionalities. Employees can log in securely using their Employee Identification Number (EIN) and Self-Service Password (SSP), ensuring confidentiality and data integrity.

Dashboard Navigation: Upon logging in, users are greeted with an intuitive dashboard, serving as a central hub for various tools and applications. From here, employees can seamlessly navigate between different sections, facilitating efficient task management.

Key Features of LiteBlue

PostalEASE: LiteBlue integrates PostalEASE, a platform enabling employees to manage their benefits and payroll preferences conveniently. From selecting health insurance plans to adjusting retirement contributions, PostalEASE empowers individuals to tailor their benefits according to their needs.

ePayroll: Simplifying payroll management, ePayroll within LiteBlue enables employees to view their earnings statements and make direct deposit adjustments effortlessly. This feature promotes transparency and accuracy in financial transactions, fostering trust and satisfaction among USPS personnel.

Employee Directory: LiteBlue hosts a comprehensive employee directory, facilitating seamless communication and collaboration across various departments. By accessing contact information and organizational hierarchies, employees can connect with colleagues efficiently, enhancing productivity and teamwork.

PostalEase: LiteBlue offers access to PostalEase, empowering employees to manage their benefits and payroll preferences conveniently. From selecting health insurance plans to adjusting retirement contributions, PostalEase enables individuals to tailor their benefits according to their evolving needs.

eCareer: Aspiring for career advancement within USPS? Look no further than eCareer on LiteBlue. This feature provides a gateway to explore internal job opportunities, submit applications, and track the progress of job applications seamlessly. By leveraging eCareer, employees can chart their career paths within the organization effectively.

Optimizing LiteBlue for Enhanced Efficiency

Stay Informed with News & Updates: LiteBlue serves as a valuable source of news and updates pertaining to USPS liteblue policies, procedures, and initiatives. Regularly checking the News and Information section ensures employees stay abreast of relevant developments, fostering a culture of informed decision-making.

Utilize Learning & Development Resources: Continuous learning is integral to professional growth and success. LiteBlue offers access to a plethora of learning and development resources, including training modules, courses, and skill-building materials. By capitalizing on these resources, employees can enhance their competencies and adapt to evolving job requirements effectively.

Engage with Employee Engagement Surveys: Feedback is instrumental in driving organizational improvement and employee satisfaction. LiteBlue facilitates the dissemination of employee engagement surveys, enabling individuals to voice their opinions and contribute to organizational enhancement initiatives. By actively participating in surveys, employees play a proactive role in shaping the workplace environment positively.

Explore PostalEase for Benefits Optimization: PostalEase empowers employees to make informed decisions regarding their benefits and payroll preferences. By exploring available options and considering individual needs and circumstances, individuals can optimize their benefits packages to maximize value and coverage. Regularly reviewing benefit selections ensures alignment with evolving requirements and life events.

Security Measures and Best Practices

Protect Personal Information: Safeguarding personal information is paramount in the digital age. LiteBlue users should exercise caution while accessing the portal and refrain from sharing login credentials or sensitive data with unauthorized individuals. By adhering to security best practices, employees can mitigate the risk of data breaches and unauthorized access.

Regularly Update Passwords: Periodically updating passwords enhances account security and reduces the risk of unauthorized access. LiteBlue users should adhere to password complexity guidelines and refrain from using easily guessable phrases or sequences. By incorporating alphanumeric characters and special symbols, individuals can bolster password strength and deter potential threats effectively.

Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Two-factor authentication adds an additional layer of security to LiteBlue accounts, requiring users to verify their identity through a secondary authentication method. Enabling 2FA enhances account protection and reduces the likelihood of unauthorized access, bolstering overall security posture.

Conclusion: Leveraging LiteBlue for Optimal Performance

In conclusion, liteblue stands as a cornerstone of USPS operations, offering a comprehensive suite of tools and resources to streamline processes and enhance employee engagement. By leveraging its diverse features, employees can navigate their professional journey with confidence, from managing benefits to exploring career opportunities within the organization. Embracing LiteBlue not only fosters operational efficiency but also cultivates a culture of empowerment and collaboration within USPS. As technology continues to evolve, LiteBlue remains a steadfast companion, empowering employees to thrive in an ever-changing landscape.

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VPN alternatives

In the digital age, privacy and security concerns have become paramount. Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) have long been the go-to solution for safeguarding online activities. However, VPNs aren't the only option available. Several alternatives offer varying levels of protection and functionality.

Proxy Servers: Proxy servers act as intermediaries between a user and the internet. They can mask your IP address and encrypt data, similar to VPNs. However, they typically lack the comprehensive security features of VPNs.

Tor Browser: The Tor network, known for its onion routing, routes internet traffic through a series of volunteer-operated servers. It provides a high level of anonymity but can be slower than VPNs due to multiple relays.

Secure Browsers: Some web browsers prioritize user privacy by blocking trackers, ads, and scripts that compromise anonymity. Examples include Brave and Firefox with enhanced privacy settings.

Encrypted Messaging Apps: While not a direct VPN alternative, encrypted messaging apps like Signal and Telegram offer secure communication channels. They encrypt messages end-to-end, preventing unauthorized access.

DNS Encryption: Encrypting DNS queries prevents third parties from intercepting and monitoring your internet activity. Tools like DNSCrypt and DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH) provide additional security layers.

Self-Hosted VPNs: For tech-savvy individuals, setting up a self-hosted VPN using open-source software offers complete control over security and privacy. However, this option requires technical expertise and may not be suitable for beginners.

Each alternative has its strengths and limitations, so choosing the right solution depends on individual needs and preferences. Whether it's anonymity, speed, or control over data, exploring VPN alternatives ensures that users can safeguard their online presence effectively.

Privacy tools

Title: Enhancing Online Privacy: A Guide to Essential Privacy Tools

In an age where digital footprints are becoming increasingly pervasive, safeguarding your online privacy is paramount. Fortunately, there's a plethora of privacy tools available to help you navigate the virtual landscape securely. From protecting your personal data to shielding your browsing habits from prying eyes, these tools empower you to take control of your digital footprint.

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) stand as a cornerstone in the realm of online privacy. By encrypting your internet connection and routing your traffic through secure servers, VPNs shield your online activities from eavesdroppers, hackers, and even your internet service provider. With a VPN, you can browse the web anonymously and access geo-restricted content with ease.

For those concerned about third-party tracking, browser extensions like ad blockers and tracker blockers offer a layer of defense. These tools prevent advertisers and data brokers from monitoring your online behavior, thereby preserving your privacy and reducing the onslaught of targeted ads.

Password managers serve as another essential component in fortifying your online security. By generating and storing complex, unique passwords for each of your accounts, password managers thwart hackers' attempts to gain unauthorized access to your sensitive information.

Moreover, privacy-focused search engines like DuckDuckGo prioritize user privacy by refraining from tracking or storing your search queries. By opting for these alternatives to mainstream search engines, you can search the web without sacrificing your privacy.

In conclusion, incorporating these privacy tools into your digital arsenal is instrumental in safeguarding your online privacy. Whether you're concerned about data breaches, targeted advertising, or government surveillance, leveraging these tools empowers you to reclaim control over your digital identity and enjoy a more private online experience.

Secure browsing methods

Secure browsing methods are crucial in today's digital age to protect your online privacy and sensitive information from cyber threats. By following certain practices, you can enhance your security while browsing the internet.

Using a reliable VPN (Virtual Private Network) is one of the most effective ways to ensure secure browsing. A VPN encrypts your internet connection, preventing hackers and other third parties from intercepting your data. It also helps in bypassing geo-restrictions and accessing region-locked content.

Another essential practice is to enable HTTPS whenever possible. Websites that use HTTPS encrypt the data exchanged between your browser and the site, making it more difficult for cybercriminals to eavesdrop on your communication.

Regularly updating your software, including your operating system, browser, and security programs, is also key to maintaining a secure browsing experience. Updates often contain security patches that fix vulnerabilities that cyber attackers could exploit.

Avoiding suspicious links, pop-ups, and downloads can also prevent malware and phishing attacks. Be cautious while clicking on links in emails or websites, especially if they seem too good to be true.

Lastly, using strong, unique passwords for your accounts and enabling two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security to your online activities.

By implementing these secure browsing methods, you can safeguard your digital presence and enjoy a safer and more private internet experience.

Proxy services

Proxy services play a crucial role in enhancing online privacy, security, and accessibility for users across the globe. Simply put, a proxy server acts as an intermediary between your device and the internet. When you access the internet through a proxy server, your IP address is masked, providing you with a layer of anonymity.

One of the key benefits of using a proxy service is the ability to access geo-restricted content. For example, if a website or online service is blocked in your region, you can simply connect to a proxy server located in a different country to bypass the restriction and access the content.

Moreover, proxy services are widely used by businesses to protect their sensitive data and ensure secure communication between employees. By routing internet traffic through a proxy server, companies can prevent malicious attacks, unauthorized access, and data breaches.

Additionally, individuals can utilize proxy services to browse the web anonymously, safeguard their personal information, and prevent tracking by advertisers and other third parties.

It is important to choose a reliable and trustworthy proxy service provider to ensure data privacy and security. Whether you opt for a free proxy or a paid service, be sure to conduct thorough research and consider factors such as server locations, connection speeds, encryption protocols, and customer support.

In conclusion, proxy services offer various advantages, including enhanced privacy, secure data transmission, and unrestricted access to online content. By leveraging proxy servers, users can enjoy a safer and more versatile browsing experience.

Encryption software

Encryption software is a crucial tool in the digital age for safeguarding sensitive information from unauthorized access or theft. This software utilizes complex algorithms to encode data, making it unreadable to anyone without the corresponding decryption key. It is used to secure various types of data, including personal files, emails, financial transactions, and communications.

One of the primary purposes of encryption software is to ensure data privacy and confidentiality. By encrypting their data, individuals and organizations can mitigate the risk of cyberattacks, identity theft, and data breaches. This is particularly important when transmitting sensitive information over the internet, as encrypted data is much harder for hackers to intercept and decipher.

There are several types of encryption software available, ranging from free and open-source tools to premium solutions designed for enterprise-level security. Some popular encryption software programs include VeraCrypt, BitLocker, AxCrypt, and FileVault. These programs offer various features such as file and disk encryption, secure deletion of files, and password management.

In addition to protecting data at rest, encryption software also plays a vital role in securing data in transit. This is essential for ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of communication channels, especially in industries where sensitive information is regularly exchanged, such as healthcare, finance, and government.

Overall, encryption software is an indispensable tool for anyone looking to safeguard their digital assets and communications in an increasingly connected world. By incorporating encryption into their cybersecurity strategy, individuals and organizations can enhance their data protection efforts and reduce the risk of falling victim to cyber threats.

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Setting up VPN server

Setting up a VPN (Virtual Private Network) server can enhance your online security and privacy by encrypting your internet connection and masking your IP address. Whether you're a business looking to protect sensitive data or an individual wanting to browse the internet anonymously, creating your VPN server can offer numerous benefits. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to set up your VPN server:

Choose Your Server Platform: Decide whether you want to set up your VPN server on a cloud platform like Amazon Web Services (AWS) or Microsoft Azure, or if you prefer hosting it on your own hardware.

Select VPN Software: There are various VPN software options available, such as OpenVPN, SoftEther, or WireGuard. Research each one to determine which best fits your needs in terms of security features, ease of use, and compatibility with your chosen platform.

Install and Configure VPN Software: Follow the instructions provided by your chosen VPN software to install it on your selected server platform. During the installation process, you'll need to configure settings such as encryption protocols, authentication methods, and IP address assignments.

Generate Certificates and Keys: To ensure secure communication between your VPN server and clients, generate SSL/TLS certificates and encryption keys. These certificates and keys will authenticate the server and encrypt data transmitted over the VPN connection.

Set Up User Authentication: Decide how users will authenticate themselves when connecting to your VPN server. You can use a username and password combination, client certificates, or integrate with existing authentication systems like LDAP or Active Directory.

Configure Firewall and Routing Rules: Adjust your server's firewall and routing rules to allow VPN traffic to pass through securely while blocking unauthorized access to other services and resources.

Test and Troubleshoot: Before making your VPN server available to users, thoroughly test its functionality to ensure everything is working correctly. Troubleshoot any issues that arise during testing to ensure a smooth user experience.

By following these steps, you can set up your VPN server to enjoy enhanced security, privacy, and control over your online activities. Remember to regularly update your VPN software and server configurations to stay protected against emerging threats and vulnerabilities.

Self-hosted VPN service

Title: Exploring the Benefits of a Self-Hosted VPN Service

In the era of digital privacy concerns and online security threats, individuals and businesses are increasingly turning to Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to safeguard their online activities. While there are numerous VPN services available, self-hosted VPNs have gained traction due to their unique advantages.

A self-hosted VPN service involves setting up and managing your VPN server rather than relying on a third-party provider. This approach offers several benefits:

Enhanced Privacy: With a self-hosted VPN, users have full control over their data, eliminating concerns about third-party involvement or data logging. By hosting the VPN server on your hardware, you can ensure that sensitive information remains private and secure.

Customization: Self-hosted VPNs allow for greater customization to meet specific needs and preferences. Users can configure security protocols, encryption methods, and server locations according to their requirements, providing a tailored VPN experience.

Increased Security: By managing the VPN server independently, users can implement stringent security measures to protect against cyber threats and unauthorized access. This level of control enables constant monitoring and immediate response to any security vulnerabilities.

Cost-Efficiency: While third-party VPN services often require subscription fees, setting up a self-hosted VPN can be more cost-effective in the long run. Once the initial setup is complete, users only incur minimal expenses for maintenance and upkeep.

Reliability: Self-hosted VPNs offer greater reliability and stability since users are not dependent on the infrastructure or servers of external providers. This autonomy ensures consistent performance and uptime for uninterrupted VPN connectivity.

Despite these advantages, it's essential to acknowledge that setting up and maintaining a self-hosted VPN requires technical expertise and ongoing effort. Users must possess adequate knowledge of networking, server administration, and security practices to ensure optimal functionality and protection.

In conclusion, a self-hosted VPN service offers unparalleled control, customization, and security, making it an appealing choice for individuals and organizations seeking to fortify their online privacy and safeguard sensitive data.

DIY VPN solution

Title: Crafting Your Own VPN: A DIY Solution for Enhanced Online Privacy

In an era where online privacy concerns are paramount, many individuals seek effective ways to safeguard their digital activities from prying eyes. Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) have emerged as a popular solution, offering encrypted connections and anonymity while browsing the internet. While numerous commercial VPN services exist, some tech-savvy users prefer to take matters into their own hands by creating their DIY VPN solutions.

Building your VPN may sound complex, but with the right tools and knowledge, it can be a rewarding endeavor. One of the primary advantages of a DIY VPN is the heightened level of control and customization it provides. Users can tailor the VPN configuration to their specific needs, ensuring optimal performance and security.

To embark on this DIY journey, you'll need a few essential components. First and foremost, a dedicated server or virtual private server (VPS) acts as the foundation of your VPN infrastructure. Popular VPS providers like Amazon Web Services (AWS) or DigitalOcean offer affordable options suitable for hosting your VPN.

Next, select an appropriate VPN protocol such as OpenVPN or WireGuard, both known for their robust security features and ease of setup. Install the chosen protocol on your server and configure it according to your preferences, including encryption settings and server locations.

Additionally, consider installing a user-friendly VPN management interface like Algo or Streisand, which streamlines the setup process and provides a graphical interface for managing your VPN.

Once your DIY VPN is up and running, you can enjoy the benefits of enhanced privacy and security across all your devices. Whether you're browsing the web from a coffee shop or accessing sensitive information while traveling, your self-hosted VPN ensures that your online activities remain shielded from prying eyes.

In conclusion, while commercial VPN services offer convenience, a DIY VPN solution empowers users with greater control and customization options. By building your VPN, you not only enhance your online privacy but also gain valuable insights into network security and administration. So why wait? Take control of your digital privacy today with a DIY VPN solution.

Personal VPN server creation

Title: The Ultimate Guide to Creating Your Own Personal VPN Server

In an era where online privacy and security are paramount, setting up your personal VPN (Virtual Private Network) server has become a crucial step in safeguarding your digital presence. A personal VPN server offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, secure data transmission, and unrestricted access to geo-blocked content. Here's a comprehensive guide on how to create your own personal VPN server:

Choose Your Platform: Select a platform to host your VPN server. Popular options include cloud-based services like Amazon Web Services (AWS), DigitalOcean, or using a spare computer at home.

Select VPN Software: Decide on the VPN software to install on your chosen platform. OpenVPN, WireGuard, and SoftEther are popular choices known for their security and performance.

Set Up Your Server: Follow the instructions provided by your chosen platform to set up and configure your server. Ensure to choose a secure password and enable firewall settings for added security.

Install VPN Software: Install your selected VPN software on the server following the provided documentation. Configure the software settings according to your preferences, including encryption protocols and server location.

Generate Certificates and Keys: Generate SSL/TLS certificates and encryption keys required for secure communication between your devices and the VPN server. Follow the instructions provided by your VPN software documentation.

Configure Client Devices: Install the VPN client software on your devices, such as computers, smartphones, and tablets. Input the server details and certificates/key files generated earlier to establish a secure connection.

Test Your Connection: Verify the functionality of your VPN server by connecting to it from different devices and accessing various websites. Ensure that your IP address is masked and your internet traffic is encrypted.

Maintain and Update: Regularly update your VPN software and server operating system to patch any security vulnerabilities. Monitor server logs for any suspicious activity and take necessary precautions.

By following these steps, you can create your personal VPN server, empowering yourself with enhanced online privacy and security wherever you go. Take control of your digital footprint and enjoy a safer browsing experience with your custom VPN solution.

Building custom VPN server

Title: How to Build Your Own Custom VPN Server: A Comprehensive Guide

In today's digitally interconnected world, concerns about online privacy and security have become paramount. Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) offer a robust solution to safeguard your internet activities from prying eyes. While there are numerous VPN services available, building your own custom VPN server provides greater control and customization options. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to set up your personalized VPN server:

Choose Your Platform: Decide on the operating system you want to use for your VPN server. Popular choices include Linux distributions like Ubuntu or CentOS, or you can opt for Windows Server if you're more comfortable with a Windows environment.

Select VPN Protocol: Determine which VPN protocol you want to use. OpenVPN is widely favored for its security and flexibility, although alternatives like WireGuard are gaining popularity for their performance benefits.

Set Up Server: Install the necessary software on your chosen platform. For OpenVPN, this typically involves installing the OpenVPN package and configuring it according to your preferences.

Generate Certificates and Keys: Create cryptographic certificates and keys to authenticate users and secure VPN connections. This step ensures that only authorized individuals can access your VPN server.

Configure Firewall and Routing: Adjust your server's firewall settings to allow VPN traffic and configure routing to ensure seamless connectivity between client devices and the VPN server.

Test Connectivity: Before deploying your custom VPN server, thoroughly test its connectivity and performance to identify and resolve any potential issues.

Deploy Server: Once you're satisfied with the setup, deploy your custom VPN server either on-premises or on a cloud platform like Amazon Web Services (AWS) or DigitalOcean.

Secure Server: Implement additional security measures such as enabling two-factor authentication and regularly updating software to protect your VPN server from potential threats.

By following these steps, you can create a custom VPN server tailored to your specific requirements, providing enhanced privacy and security for your online activities. Remember to regularly maintain and update your server to ensure optimal performance and protection against evolving threats.

[veryutils]

VeryUtils Web File Manager is a best File Sharing and Cloud Storage Management Application

VeryUtils Web File Manager is a best File Sharing and Cloud Storage Management Application.

In today's digital landscape, the efficient management of files and seamless collaboration are essential for individuals and businesses. Introducing VeryUtils Web File Manager, a robust application designed to revolutionize your file sharing and cloud storage experience.

✅ Empowering You to Create Your Own File Sharing Platform

VeryUtils Web File Manager offers you the opportunity to establish your own fully-featured, self-hosted file sharing and hosting website in minutes, without requiring any coding or server management knowledge. With just a few clicks, you can set up your platform using our intuitive installer and comprehensive documentation, providing you with a hassle-free solution to your file management needs.

✅ Key Features for Optimal Performance and Functionality:

Discover a multitude of features tailored to enhance your file management experience:

Effortless Installation: Install VeryUtils Web File Manager within minutes, without the need for coding or server knowledge, thanks to our user-friendly installer.

Exceptional Performance: Experience lightning-fast performance and page load times, ensuring smooth navigation and seamless user experience.

Collaborative Sharing: Facilitate collaboration by allowing users to share files and folders with multiple collaborators, fostering productivity and efficiency.

Real-Time Upload Status: Monitor the progress, status, and estimated time remaining for all current uploads, providing you with valuable insights into your file transfers.

Secure Shareable Links: Create publicly shareable links for files and folders, complete with optional expiration dates, passwords, and permissions, ensuring maximum security for your shared content.

Responsive Design: Enjoy a fully responsive interface that seamlessly adapts to desktops, mobile devices, tablets, and more, ensuring accessibility across all platforms.

Customization Options: Personalize your platform with pre-built light and dark themes or create your own using the appearance editor, allowing you to reflect your unique brand identity.

Integrated Cloud Storage: Easily store user upload files on various cloud services and providers, including Amazon S3, DigitalOcean, and Dropbox, for enhanced reliability and flexibility.

Comprehensive Authentication System: Utilize a fully-featured authentication system, including social login options and account management features, ensuring secure access to your platform.

Granular Permissions and Roles: Employ a sophisticated permission and role system to control user access and actions across your site, ensuring maximum control and security.

Intuitive User Interface: Enjoy a seamless user experience with natural drag-and-drop features, integrated context menus, and advanced search functionality, allowing for effortless file management.

Extensive Documentation: Access in-depth documentation covering installation, features, and customization options, providing you with comprehensive guidance every step of the way.

✅ Tailored Solutions to Meet Your Unique Needs

At VeryUtils, we understand that every business has unique requirements. That's why we offer custom development services based on VeryUtils Web File Manager, ensuring that our solution aligns perfectly with your specific needs and goals. Whether you're interested in purchasing our software or require customized solutions, our team is dedicated to providing you with the support and assistance you need to succeed.

✅ Get Started Today

Ready to elevate your file management and collaboration experience? Visit the VeryUtils Web File Manager website to explore our features, request a demo, or inquire about custom development services. With our intuitive interface, robust features, and unparalleled support, VeryUtils Web File Manager is the ultimate solution for individuals and businesses seeking a powerful yet user-friendly file management platform.

✅ Contact VeryUtils today to unlock the full potential of your file sharing and cloud storage endeavors,

[peoplealsoaskfor]

Securing the Web3 World: Safeguarding the Future of Decentralized Internet

The advent of Web3 has brought forth a new era of decentralized internet, empowering users with unprecedented control over their data and digital interactions. As this exciting frontier unfolds, it becomes imperative to address the challenges of security and privacy in this evolving landscape. In this blog post, we will explore the key aspects of securing the Web3 world and delve into strategies and best practices to ensure a safe and trustworthy digital environment for all users.

I. Understanding Web3 and its Security Landscape

To effectively secure the Web3 world, it is crucial to understand its fundamental concepts and the unique security challenges it poses. Web3, often referred to as the "decentralized web," leverages blockchain technology, smart contracts, and decentralized applications (dApps) to enable peer-to-peer interactions and eliminate intermediaries. However, this paradigm shift introduces new vulnerabilities such as smart contract exploits, identity theft, and decentralized storage risks that need to be addressed with robust security measures.

II. Embracing Strong Authentication and Identity Management

In the Web3 world, strong authentication and identity management play a pivotal role in securing user interactions. Traditional usernames and passwords are no longer sufficient. Implementing multi-factor authentication, biometric verification, and decentralized identity solutions like self-sovereign identity (SSI) can enhance security and protect users' digital identities from unauthorized access.

III. Securing Smart Contracts and Decentralized Applications

Smart contracts are at the core of Web3 applications, enabling automated execution of transactions and agreements. However, they are susceptible to coding bugs and vulnerabilities. To mitigate these risks, developers must adopt best practices like formal verification, code audits, and security testing. Additionally, users should exercise caution when interacting with decentralized Applications, carefully examining the code, and verifying the authenticity and reputation of developers.

IV. Protecting Decentralized Storage and Data Privacy

Decentralized storage platforms such as IPFS (InterPlanetary File System) offer enhanced privacy and resilience compared to centralized counterparts. However, data security remains a concern. Encrypting sensitive data, adopting data access controls, and leveraging zero-knowledge proofs can bolster the security of decentralized storage systems, ensuring that only authorized entities can access and manipulate data.

V. Building Resilient Infrastructure and Network Security

The distributed nature of Web3 introduces a unique set of infrastructure and network security challenges. Implementing robust encryption protocols, utilizing decentralized hosting solutions, and regularly monitoring and auditing network nodes can help safeguard against DDoS attacks, sybil attacks, and other threats that can compromise the availability and integrity of the decentralized network.

VI. Nurturing a Culture of Openness and Collaboration

Securing the Web3 world is a collective effort that requires collaboration among developers, users, and researchers. Encouraging bug bounties, establishing decentralized governance mechanisms, and fostering an open and transparent community can facilitate the identification and resolution of security vulnerabilities, thereby ensuring the long-term security and viability of the Web3 ecosystem.

As the Web3 world continues to evolve, securing this decentralized landscape becomes paramount. By embracing strong authentication, securing smart contracts, protecting decentralized storage, and nurturing a culture of collaboration, we can build a secure foundation for the future of the decentralized internet. Let us seize the immense potential of Web3 while ensuring the safety and privacy of its users, paving the way for a truly decentralized and trustworthy digital world.

[sitegeek-blog]

WordPress plugin flaws leveraged by novel Linux malware

Recently, a security alert revealed that WordPress websites on Linux were targeted by a previously unknown strain of Linux malware that exploits flaws in over two dozen plugins and themes to compromise vulnerable systems. The targeted websites were injected with malicious JavaScript retrieved from a remote server. As a result, when visitors click on any area of an infected page, they are redirected to another arbitrary website of the attacker’s choice.

The disclosure comes weeks after Fortinet FortiGuard Labs detailed another botnet called GoTrim that’s designed to brute-force self-hosted websites using the WordPress content management system (CMS) to seize control of targeted systems. In June 2022, the GoDaddy-owned website security company shared information about a traffic direction system (TDS) known as Parrot that has been observed targeting WordPress sites with rogue JavaScript that drops additional malware onto hacked systems. Last month, Sucuri noted that more than 15,000 WordPress sites had been breached as part of a malicious campaign to redirect visitors to bogus Q&A portals. The number of active infections currently stands at 9,314. January 03, 2023, Bleeping Computer reports thirty security vulnerabilities in numerous outdated WordPress plugins and themes are being leveraged by a novel Linux malware to facilitate malicious JavaScript injections. Dr. Web reported that malware compromised both 32- and 64-bit Linux systems, and uses a set of successively running hardcoded exploits to compromise WordPress sites.

Outdated and vulnerable plugins and themes

It involves weaponizing a list of known security vulnerabilities in 19 different plugins and themes that are likely installed on a WordPress site. These infected themes or plugins prompt the malware to retrieve malicious JavaScript from its command-and-control server prior to script injection. The hacker can deploy an implant to target specific websites to expand the network for phishing and malvertising campaigns, as well as malware distribution initiatives.

Doctor Web revealed the targeted plugins and themes –

WP Live Chat Support

Yuzo Related Posts

Yellow Pencil Visual CSS Style Editor

Easy WP SMTP

WP GDPR Compliance

Newspaper (CVE-2016-10972)

Thim Core

Smart Google Code Inserter (discontinued as of January 28, 2022)

Total Donations

Post Custom Templates Lite

WP Quick Booking Manager

Live Chat with Messenger Customer Chat by Zotabox

Blog Designer

WordPress Ultimate FAQ (CVE-2019-17232 and CVE-2019-17233)

WP-Matomo Integration (WP-Piwik)

ND Shortcodes

WP Live Chat

Coming Soon Page and Maintenance Mode

Hybrid

Brizy

FV Flowplayer Video Player

WooCommerce

Coming Soon Page & Maintenance Mode

Onetone

Simple Fields

Delucks SEO

Poll, Survey, Form & Quiz Maker by OpinionStage

Social Metrics Tracker

WPeMatico RSS Feed Fetcher, and

Rich Reviews

Technical experts always suggest keeping software (theme, plugins, third-party add-ons & WordPress Core) updated and up-to-date with the latest fixes. Always use strong and unique logins and passwords to secure accounts. Hence, it is always suggested to have managed WordPress Hosting, as the provider monitors website security, takes regular backup, and always keep them up.

The companies like WordPress.com have got the expertise to protect hosted websites from cyber attacks, breaches, hacking, Identity and access management (IAM), Malware and Vulnerabilities, and Phishing. They take care of updating WordPress core, themes, plugins, and PHP, disabling external URL requests, and implementing SSL. They keep regular backups which ensure business continuity. A secured website has a good online reputation, thus businesses prioritise security. Every eCommerce store and business website needs protection against cyberattacks, malware, & viruses. Businesses want to protect data as well as sensitive information and thus want to ensure website functionality and online reputation. Hence, asks for crucial security measures. Google penalises or blacklists malwarised or phishing websites.

[worldwideanalysis]

Virtual Mobile Infrastructure Review – 2022

Using a mobile operating system (OS) or virtual machine housed on a distant server, virtual mobile infrastructure (VMI), a technology center around mobile devices, executes mobile applications. This essentially turns the data center into a virtual machine that thin client apps on mobile endpoints may access.

Additionally, the virtual mobile infrastructure market is predicted to grow faster. The primary drivers propelling the demand for VMI worldwide are the rising acceptance of bringing your device (BYOD) policies, rising smartphone penetration, soaring high-speed internet network availability, and increasing fear regarding business data security.

The ideas of VDI are extended by VMI, except this time, mobile apps are remotely controlled via mobile devices like smartphones, tablets, phablets, and wearables.

How Does VMI Operate?

The platform hosts a virtual machine-hosted mobile OS that is tailored to it. A hypervisor operates these virtual machines on a single host system. Each virtual machine can accommodate visitors running various operating systems and many user sessions.

The organization's data and network-connected mobile devices are linked through a connection broker. This system manages the infrastructure's lifetime and user activation and authentication in addition to operating native user sessions.

On the same platform, many user sessions might be active at once. Every user is separated from other users in a sealed sandbox, and every approved program is separated from unauthorized apps in the user sandbox.

Benefits of Virtual Mobile Infrastructure:

Good User Experience: The user experience of the mobile OS is maintained since users may access business data using their mobile devices. Access to the virtual workspace for the company is made simple. Experience a natural screen touch on tablets and smartphones.

Single Sign-On: Minimizes the time required to input passwords again in a virtual workplace. Additionally, it lowers administrative costs because there are fewer inquiries to the IT help desk concerning passwords.

Workspace Customization: Each employee may have their virtual mobile workspace thanks to the administrator. Applications for staff members' virtual workplaces can be centrally customized from the server.

User-Based Profile: Customers may utilize any of their mobile devices to access their virtual workspace. Provides administration of user-based profiles.

Easy Deployment: on-premise implementation is offered. Additionally, for simple Deployment, it offers a self-contained Linux-based operating system.

Application Virtualization

The client application and any virtualized phone applications are provided to the user's mobile device in the form of one thin client app. The thin client software works separately from the virtual platform OS and is compatible with any smartphone and operating system.

The user experience is a virtual representation of the programs operating on the server that is shown as a flat image on the user's device. At the device level, this picture cannot be examined or altered. Screen printing, for example, is disabled. Only visual instructions are sent from the network to the device.

Remote apps deliver pixel information to mobile devices, sending key, motion, location, and device information. No applications or data are stored or kept on the phone itself.

[dirty-holy-things]

The Space Between (your heart & mine)

Chapter 16 has been posted to Ao3, and below to Tumblr.  Catch up on chapters 1-15 on Ao3. 

Notes: 18+, explicit!!!! This chapter is the ‘burn’ of the slow burn we’ve been developing for 15 chapters. We’re finally there, for those of you who have been long-time readers. Please note, I’ve never written this much smut before. It’s A LOT, and I mean a lot of this chapter. M & F, oral receiving and penetration. Unprotected sex for the sake of storytelling, but please wrap it before you tap it IRL. Praise kink, because Din and Reader need validation. Some fun and adventurous positioning and activities. Also, very romantic ending. 

Words: 9.1k update, 75.7k total. 

If you would like to be added to my taglist, please fill out this form!

Having stepped into the dimly-lit club, your eyes took a moment to adjust and take in the scene around you. Low-slung leather chairs and booths were scattered throughout the dark room, their occupants being some of the more fearful individuals in the galaxy. These cruel and cunning men, however, were in varying states of disarray due to the large amounts of alcohol and spice that were brazenly displayed on the tables they were seated at. In addition to the smoke-stained booths, there were several raised platforms that held women who were twisting themselves around metallic poles, their bodies scantily clad as they danced sensually for the crowd of drunken onlookers.

And that was where you would find yourself shortly after being allowed into the club.

They had assumed you were one of the dancers.

A large, burly man grabbed you by the arm and you instinctively threw your elbow back into his gut at the sudden intrusion of your personal space, your arm connecting with a solid expanse of hard muscle. “C’mon, babydoll, don’t be so sensitive,” the man grumbled, hauling you towards the unoccupied pedestal. “Do your fucking job and don’t bitch about it.” He tossed you forward into the velvet-covered platform, and as you caught yourself on your hands, you understood that you had about three seconds to decide what you were going to do next.

Do you confront the man about the mistaken identity, and risk causing a scene? Risk losing the bounty, or possibly getting yourself hurt once they realize you’re not meant to be here?

Or do you get up there and find a way to make this unexpected plot change work for you?

Credit due to @knivesareout​ for the perfect moldboard and for her undying love for me and my fic. 

Also tagging @soyelfuegoquearde​ for beta’ing my project and giving me all of the constructive criticism and positive feedback that has helped me grow as an author. 

And my love @emmikmil​ / @bdavishiddlesbatch​ for her never-ending love and enthusiasm for Din and Reader.

I love you all so very much. 

Chapter 16 - Read More

The things that you had heard in passing about Corellia were too kind in their assessment, and they had been harsh to start. There was a filmy scum that lingered in the air and clung to clothing, surfaces, even to the air in your lungs. The industrial planet was bleak and grim, and you were almost beginning to regret your offer to assist Din with this bounty; would it have really been so bad to hunker down here in the ship, sleep for a while, maybe even pick up a book in town to keep you entertained? However, you also knew that if you had to spend an undetermined amount of time cooped up in the ship, without Din, trying to manage the kid on your own, no view except that of a dirty industrial cityscape, being constantly terrified that Din could get hurt again — you would probably lose your mind. So you decided to step out into the grisly world of Corellia, Din at your side.  

The towers of steel and metal that warped up towards the sky were certainly a departure from the organic beauty of Bardotta that you had grown accustomed to during the last job. You tried to find something appealing in the architecture, your eyes scanning the horizon, and came to the conclusion that there was certainly... dedication and precision in the construction, and that was something that you could appreciate. You needed to find something agreeable within it all. 

The kid was sleeping in his cradle, the wampa having been tucked under his short green arm, left to rest in the ship during the course of what was predicted to be a short job. Din navigated the two of you through the dirty, narrow streets of the city and away from the shipyard. He didn’t seem to notice or mind the filth too much, as he stomped onwards through puddles, mud, trash, splashing it onto his clothing and armor — and being a bit more hygienically minded, you took the extra effort to keep yourself clean as you sidestepped what could reasonably be avoided. It was unnecessary self-preservation as the cleanliness of your boots probably didn’t matter much in the grand scheme of things, but it was just in your nature. 

Din was leading you both to a well-concealed speakeasy, known for hosting an intriguing assortment of characters that preferred to avoid the prying eyes of the galaxy, and partake in... questionable activities. Din had made contact with an acquaintance who was able to provide you with instructions for how to enter into the underground club, including the password that was changed frequently specifically to avoid situations like yours. It was mean to be a safe haven for the rich and powerful; there would be drinking, music, smoking, gambling, bloodshed, prostitution, drugs, fighting, and that was on a quiet night. Gods only knew what else the oncoming evening could hold. You weren’t particularly worried, however, knowing that the towering bounty hunter that stalked along in front of you would keep you safe if worst came to worst. And you didn’t have any significant worries about this job, the nature of it being simple and familiar. 

The setup of this job was similar to the one you had helped with back on Canto Bight; you’d flirt with the target, have a drink, bat your eyelashes, and draw him away from the crowd with a thinly veiled proposition. It wasn’t rocket science, luring a man; there were quite a lot of things in life that were harder, like navigating a ship or even firing a blaster. And yet Din seemed incredibly nervous and stressed on your behalf, holding enough worry for the two of you. While you had grown used to periods of silence from him, this one felt different. This one had an undercurrent of tension that rolled off of him in waves, so thick you could almost see it — or maybe that was just Corellia, and you were reading too much into this. 

The sun was beginning to set along the horizon, reflecting beams of orange and crimson and gold throughout the city’s structure; you remembered how Din had shared with you that his favorite color was orange, and you wondered if he was finding some sort of beauty in this moment as well, or if he had even noticed. He hadn’t said anything to you for quite some time now, having navigated you from the outskirts of the city and its shipyard, to the bustling urban center that housed a variety of species and droids that were frankly quite rude. You had been bumped into on more than one occasion without so much as an ‘excuse me.’ You figured you had just grown used to the niceties that were afforded on a planet like Chandrila, and reminded yourself that you had chosen to leave that place in favor of travel — which would include a change in attitudes and social customs. You still made a point to apologize to those you collided with though. 

Having seen the industriousness of the capitol city here on Corellia, you were increasingly intrigued by what this speakeasy experience would be like. Din had informed you that it was a popular spot for those working with Crimson Dawn, the Hutts, the Pyke Syndicate — violent, ruthless individuals. The target for this evening was a Twi’lek who had been working for the Hutts, who had ‘mysteriously’ disappeared with a large shipment of spice; it was suspected that he had run off with it for himself, feeling brave enough to try and hide. It was a stupid choice, even you knew that — while Orron had never tell you much about the spice dealings, you still knew that double crossing the Hutts was borderline suicidal. The sheer confidence and conceit of such a bold move was intriguing, that couldn’t be denied; but hiding from the Hutts was nearly impossible, and his bold stupidity would be catching up with him today. 

You had worked to prepare yourself adequately for the evening, having brought along a pack of supplies that would transform you into an appealing bait prior to your arrival. You had correctly assumed that dressing for a party before trekking through the city would be a poor decision, and you applauded yourself for your foresight, seeing the grim state that your clothing was now in. The sun was descending lower into the skyline and you knew that you were getting close to the destination, based on the projected timeline for the job. 

Picking up the pace so you were now walking in stride with Din, you tilted your head in the direction of a small shop that would likely afford you some space in a fresher to change and finish preparing. He nodded silently in agreement and you disappeared inside, finding a young boy with mousy blonde hair sleeping behind the counter. He was startled awake by your unexpected entrance, and you tossed him some credits to accompany your question about where you would locate a fresher. He pointed to the back of the store wordlessly and you thanked him before disappearing. 

You closed the door behind you and locked it securely, before stripping out of the clothes that had accumulated a fair amount of muck in the past hour’s journey. You wriggled your way into a sparkling silver dress that just barely skimmed your thighs, admiring the shimmer of the sheer fabric as it clung to your body. The dress choice had been intentional, the versatility of it appealing; you knew it would sparkle like diamonds when caught by bright lights, and would set off a soft, illuminating glow in low light. Either way, eyes would be drawn to you. You slid on a pair of white boots that propelled yourself a good four inches higher into the air, and added a few pieces of jewelry to round out the look. You pulled your hair out of the buns you had tied it up in, as it now fell around your shoulders in casual waves, and you put on just enough makeup to highlight your features. Assessing that you looked enticing enough, you slid back into your dark grey coat that would hide your glamorous appearance from the city-dwellers until your arrival at the club. 

As you stepped out of the shop to rejoin your companion, you readied yourself to say goodbye for the evening, trying to shift your perspective to the job at hand rather than the part of you that was incredibly sad to be parted from Din. Even knowing that the separation was only temporary, you would still be eagerly looking forward to being reunited. Staring up into the visor of the helmet, you stepped closer to him and placed your arms on his hips, wanting to pull him in closely but also understanding that it may not be an appropriate choice as you were out in public. He placed a gloved hand on your shoulder and another on the small of your back, the helmet coming to rest against your forehead. 

“Do you have the blaster? And the knife?” He asked, his voice sounding constricted even with the modulator. You were getting better at deciphering that which the modulator tried to hide. 

“I’ve got the knife, but the blaster doesn’t really go with this outfit,” you joked, reassuring him that you were protected. “This’ll be easy, I promise.” You whispered, trying to build up his confidence and sense of security. “Just like last time. We can get the job over with quickly, and then go home.” 

You heard a soft sigh come through the modulator as he nodded. “I’ll see you soon.”

 “I’ll see you soon, Din.” 

***

Getting into the club had been ridiculously easy, especially once the guard at the door saw the way that you were dressed. For being so secretive of a club, you were shocked at the ease with which you were able to sneak in; you assumed that they just didn’t worry too much when a beautiful young woman turned up at their door. Din was going to take more of a… back-door route into the club, dispatching the guard who protected the service entrance, and he would find a discreet place to hide and watch out for you and the target. You had kept the knife, and the comm that was connected to his, and you would alert him when you had lured the Twi’lek away from the party and the crowd. Din would then join the two of you, disarm and cuff the target, and then you would go home to the Razor Crest. It was a simple plan, with a hefty payout for an evening of easy work. 

... Or so you had thought. 

Having stepped into the dimly-lit club, your eyes took a moment to adjust and take in the scene around you. Low-slung leather chairs and booths were scattered throughout the dark room, their occupants being some of the more fearful individuals in the galaxy. These cruel and cunning men, however, were in varying states of disarray due to the large amounts of alcohol and spice that were brazenly displayed on the tables they were seated at. In addition to the smoke-stained booths, there were several raised platforms that held women who were twisting themselves around metallic poles, their bodies scantily clad as they danced sensually for the crowd of drunken onlookers. 

And that was where you would find yourself shortly after being allowed into the club. 

They had assumed you were one of the dancers. 

A large, burly man grabbed you by the arm and you instinctively threw your elbow back into his gut at the sudden intrusion of your personal space, your arm connecting with a solid expanse of hard muscle. “C’mon, babydoll, don’t be so sensitive,” the man grumbled, hauling you towards the unoccupied pedestal. “Do your fucking job and don’t bitch about it.” He tossed you forward into the velvet-covered platform, and as you caught yourself on your hands, you understood that you had about three seconds to decide what you were going to do next. 

Do you confront the man about the mistaken identity, and risk causing a scene? Risk losing the bounty, or possibly getting yourself hurt once they realize you’re not meant to be here? 

Or do you get up there and find a way to make this unexpected plot change work for you? 

You bit the inside of your lip to the point of bleeding as you quickly came to your decision. You brought yourself up onto the well-worn, blood red platform and into the blisteringly hot stage lights that were turned on you and the other dancers; taking a moment to pretend to bask in the cheers and lewd hollers that followed your entrance, you tried to get a feel for the rhythm of the music that you would now have to dance to. 

Fuck, let’s hope they’re high enough to believe this. 

Closing your eyes, you sank into the rhythm and melody of the music that the band was playing, and you began to move your body in time with it, trying to put on a show despite never having danced before a day in your life. This would be an awfully convenient time for some Force abilities to show up. 

You had no such luck, but the drugged and drunk patrons didn’t seem to mind much; you were there for their amusement and pleasure, to fuel their egos and sense of power. You were also just one of several dancers; subtly turning, you observed the others so you could try and copy their fluid and sensual movements, the muscles in your thighs and core being worked in ways that you had not experienced before. You kept an eye out in the room for the target, and eventually you spotted him sitting about three booths away, a group of nasty looking mercenaries at his side. 

Alright, let’s get this over with before my legs give out. 

Batting your painted eyelashes at him, you winked at the Twi’lek and blew him a kiss before turning your focus back to the dance that you were trying to pull off. 

The band changed songs, and the other dancers kept going, adjusting to the new tempo and you assumed that’s what was expected of you as well. You wondered when this would end, when you would have an opportunity to get this night over with — your legs were burning as you stretched, bent, spun, flexed in different and new ways, all while trying to maintain some semblance of decency — you didn’t want anyone but Din to look at you how these men were. 

Keeping your focus on the target, you saw the Twi’lek man gesture to the burly man who had brought you up here; a quiet conversation took place during which he pointed directly at you, and then you witnessed the Twi’lek hand the man a stack of Imperial credits. 

He was buying you. 

It was a departure from the original plan, but then again everything about this night had been. The original plan had been left in the dust, and you just hoped that Din would be able to keep pace with the changes. Following the men’s transaction, you watched as the Twi’lek disappeared through a hallway into a private room, and the large man made his way to the platform you had been brought to. Coming to a halt in front of you, he grunted something entirely unintelligible over the sounds of the music and the crowd, but the meaning was not lost on you. Your services had been bought. 

You climbed down from the platform, the glow of the hot stage light leaving you, and you sighed in relief; the man pointed in the general direction of where the Twi’lek had gone and you wordlessly took your cue to join him. Slinking your way through the tables, you ran your hand along the knife that had been carefully concealed, hidden underneath your dress and pressed against your ribs; you were suddenly very grateful for Din’s insistence that you carry it. You then retrieved the small comm from the bosom of your dress, having cleverly hidden it there; you pressed the button on the side once, twice, three times, alerting him that you were moving and the final phase of the plan was in action. 

You arrived at the end of the hallway to find the door to the private room; it was one of many discreet doors, but this was the only one that was cracked just slightly to indicate to you where to go. Feeling your heart start to race, you hoped that Din would be close behind you, as the thought of being alone with this man for an extended period of time was admittedly quite terrifying; the thought that he had bought your... services, and would be expecting you to engage accordingly, made your skin crawl. The nervousness that you hadn’t felt previously was starting to catch up with you, and you had a bit more understanding of why Din had been as concerned as he was. 

You could feel an acidic, stabbing pain of nervousness in your gut as your feet carried you closer and closer to the dark walnut door. Taking a deep breath to steady yourself, pushing that nervousness and fear away, you knocked softly on the door to indicate your arrival. You stepped into what was a surprisingly clean and relatively quiet room; it was free from the colorful and flashing lights of the rest of the club, instead being dimly lit with candles that illuminated comfortable-looking furniture, and a table with a bottle of sparkling wine. 

You turned your gaze to the Twi’lek in front of you; he wasn’t unattractive, but the fact that he had the audacity to try and purchase sex from a woman — no, he wasn’t even purchasing sex from a woman, it was from a fucking pimp — was nauseating, and the smugness that rolled off of him threatened to make your nose turn up in disgust. Forcing aside your personal assessments, you smiled at him and took a seat next to him before pouring you each a glass of wine. You knew you needed to focus on playing your role and getting the job over with. 

Taking a sip of the wine you had poured, the carbonation tickled your nose and you giggled instinctively, not accustomed to the sensation. The man took it as an indication of interest, however, and his hand moved to your upper thigh, pushing the hem of your dress to the side. He downed the rest of his drink quickly before turning to place his other hand on your shoulder — and then his body was moving closer and closer towards yours, and your heart pounded, your head screamed at you to get the fuck out of here, where is Din, fuck, should I kill this guy? 

Right at the moment that you had moved to make a grab for your knife, the heavy wooden door you had walked through opened quietly and you breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of the beskar that glowed in the lamplight. The Twi’lek kept his hands where they were on your body, but turned from you to speak to the intruder, growling, “Hey buddy, get the fuck outta here, can’t you see we’re busy?”

You winced and concealed a laugh, knowing that while this man may not die tonight, he would not be feeling too great once Din was done with him. The door closed and the three of you were concealed from the party, contained in the privacy of the room together. Before the man had time to touch you any further, Din reached out to grab the Twi’lek and roughly hauled him off of you, only slightly throwing his body into the glass table that shattered on impact. 

You didn’t need to see Din’s face to know that he was absolutely livid. Having been removed from the unwanted grasp of the Twi’lek, knowing that you and Din were both safe, there was a part of you that got a sort of thrill from the protectiveness that Din displayed for you. It was also shockingly and undeniably attractive watching him rough the guy up, and your biological, hormonal  response to the sight caught you a bit off guard.

The Twi’lek was unconscious, but thankfully not dead; after having been thrown through a glass table by your protector, he was... quite easy to disarm and handcuff. After Din had thoroughly secured the situation at hand, he stomped over to you angrily, the force of his steps echoing around you, and you could feel the rage and possessiveness that was positively boiling underneath the armor. “Are you alright?” He asked brusquely, pulling your scantily clad body into his heavily covered one.

“Yes, Din, I’m fine — things didn’t go exactly to plan, but I’m—“ 

He cut you off as he brought his hand down to cover your eyes— surprised, you started to recoil on instinct, until you heard the click of his helmet being removed; and then his lips were on yours, kissing you greedily and intensely in a way that you had never experienced before. Instinctively, your hands reached out to pull him closer into you and you were hit by an absolute tidal wave of need for him. You bit down on his lip, an animalistic drive taking over your body, and he growled underneath you. “Fuck,” he grunted, pulling away from you but keeping his hand securely over your eyes. “Fuck, fuck, not here — get you home —“ 

You weren’t sure if he was talking to you or not, but you whined as your body screamed out for more contact, more attention than what you were receiving. You heard the helmet click back into place and your chest deflated, knowing that you would not be getting what you needed; at least not yet. His hand moved away from your eyes and you saw Din standing in front of you, breathing heavily and roughly. You clearly weren’t alone in your own desires, but Din at least had the foresight to know that this was not the time or place. 

He wordlessly turned to grab the unconscious man and haul him out, being rougher than you had expected as the man’s head knocked into the door frame with a thud. You followed along behind him, trusting him to know what he was doing despite the adrenaline and the hormones that were rushing over you both like Naboo’s waterfalls. He navigated you carefully out of the speakeasy, until the two —no, three— of you were back into the cool, muggy evening air of Corellia. You saw a guard had been dispatched by Din at the back door, and a M-68 Landspeeder that was presumably stolen was waiting for you. Din lifted the unconscious body into the back seat and allowed it to slump over before he was then reaching out to grab you, his hands planted tightly on your waist as he lifted you up, as though your weight was nothing for him, and set you down into the passenger seat of the speeder before climbing in next to you. 

The journey back to the ship was blessedly short compared to the initial journey into the city, thanks to Din’s questionable acquisition of a vehicle, but it was just as silent as the day’s earlier journey had been. You weren’t sure of what was going on in Din’s head, but you knew that you were aching to get back to the security of the ship and to be able to be alone with him. You felt excitement blooming within you as the Razor Crest came into your line of sight, but Din remained maddeningly silent. 

He got the limp body securely sealed into carbonite with impressive speed, before picking your tense and wanting body up and out of the vehicle. Much to your surprise, he didn’t set you down on the ground, but rather carried you up the ramp and into the ship you both knew as home. 

You could feel the adrenaline and desire pumping through your body as you felt Din’s strong arms wrapped around you, carrying you gently but with a force and determination that was a bit nerve-wracking. You were fairly certain that you could hear his heart hammering against the beskar chest plate that you were pressed against, and his gloved hands just barely dug into your skin, making your heart race in anticipation for what was undoubtedly about to come next. 

The lights in the cabin of the ship had already been turned off, and your sense of anticipation heightened with the deprivation. Din takes his helmet off in the dark. He placed you down unexpectedly, your feet fighting to keep you upright, and that coupled with the darkness was momentarily disorienting. He stepped closer into you, his frame eclipsing yours as you were backed into the wall of the cabin and you could feel the steel paneling against the skin that your silver dress had left exposed. The cold steel coupled with the desire that was burning through you, radiating from your core, gave you an intense sensory overload that left your chest rising and falling rapidly as your breaths became more shallow, a soft whine arising from you. 

Your hands reached out, grasping for any bit of Din that they could reach, and you somewhat forcefully dragged him into you, using his body to pin yourself against the wall of the ship. You heard a grunt come through the modulator and the fire inside you crawled up your chest as you told him in no uncertain terms to “Take that off, right fucking now.” 

You heard the helmet drop to the floor not a second later, with no regard for its integrity — but honestly, it was beskar, you’d be more worried about the integrity of the floor than the helmet — and the impulsiveness of the gesture only fueled the scorching fire that was running through your veins, setting every nerve ending alight. Finally having been freed from the restrictiveness of the helmet, Din growled your name under his breath as he leaned in to kiss you, echoing the fierce desperation with which he had kissed you in the speakeasy. His arms wrapped around you in a vice as his hands grabbed your ass, and he licked into your mouth, the heat and the taste of his tongue making you moan underneath him reflexively. You kissed him deeper, needing to be as close to him as possible — the cool beskar pressing into you made him feel even more domineering, powerful, but you resented its presence and the way it barricaded you from Din’s body. 

“Never doing that again — not going on another job with me —“ Din grunted, his words partially lost in the heavy, bruising kisses he was trailing up your neck. “Saw you— saw you dancing, saw that motherfucker pay — should’ve killed him —“ 

God, the possessiveness and the protectiveness was fucking hot. There was something within you that reveled in his intense desire to protect you and keep you to himself. Memories of the fresher came back to you, how he had called you his good girl, and the prospect of hearing those words spoken into your soft skin again made you achingly wet for him. You sighed into him, your body melting underneath his touch as he kissed and harshly bit at the soft skin of your neck, loving the way his teeth felt scraping and sinking into you. It felt as though there was a storming, angry ocean of desire and desperation crashing into you ceaselessly, so overwhelming that you worried you might drown in it before Din would be able to give you what you needed. 

You tangled your hands into the hair that you noticed was growing even longer, the curls feeling so real and so human, despite the forced disconnect of armor and anonymity. “Din,” you sighed, tugging his curling hair gently, trying to pull him out of the smoldering anger he was experiencing, and back into this moment with you. You didn’t want to hear any more about the job, the club, any of it — you wanted to hear Din tell you that you look so pretty taking his cock, you’re his good girl, your pussy feels better than anything in this galaxy. 

“My girl,” he whispered roughly, digging his fingers into your exposed skin, the warm baritone of his unfiltered voice setting off butterflies — and for a moment you wondered if he could actually read your mind.  

You nodded in agreement —you’re his girl, always — whimpering as one of his hands moved from your backside to roughly cup your breast; you felt the aged leather of the glove against your skin and realized he was all too clothed in comparison to your exposed form. Your dress had shifted to bunch around your waist as Din had pressed you into the wall, progressively revealing more and more of you to him. You reached out to grab his gloved hand, bringing it up from your chest and to your flushed face. He paused for a moment, waiting to see what you were doing; and then you brought his hand up to your soft mouth, gently biting down on his thumb and pulling the glove off with your teeth. The taste of gunpowder and leather lingered on your tongue, and there was some small piece of you that got a thrill from it. 

It had been an experimental move, one that you weren’t sure how he would respond to, but the groan that echoed through him shot your adrenaline and confidence sky high, knowing that you made that happen, knowing that you were giving him what he wanted. And although he had you pinned against the wall, you still tried valiantly to remove some of the layers that separated you — you needed to feel his skin against yours, needed to be able to kiss him all over, wanted to taste him, wanted to feel him in new ways. 

He took your cue and backed up slightly, allowing your chest the room to expand with much-needed deep breaths as he rushed to pry the armor and equipment off of himself, each thud and clang of beskar on the floor sending stronger and stronger waves of heat through your body; you wondered if this is what it was like to catch fire under the unforgiving suns of Tattooine. 

You heard something soft and distinctly not-beskar land next to the two of you, and assumed that he was finally beginning to work his way out of his underclothes. You hooked your fingers into the waistband of his pants and yanked him back towards you forcefully, needing to feel the heat of his body pressed against yours. You could feel the defined muscles of his abdomen, the assorted scars that scattered his frame, the broad shoulders and thickly muscled arms; you kissed down his neck and to his chest, biting down harshly and then soothing the area with your tongue, loving the way that he writhed and moaned against you as he held you against himself.  

Your hand moved down from the wide expanse of his shoulders to palm at the rock hard erection that was unfortunately still barricaded by Din’s pants; and as you curled your fingers around his cock, Din growled and gathered the sheer fabric of your dress in his hands, pulling it down rapidly and aggressively, leaving you to try and extricate your arms from the delicate straps before he ripped it entirely off of your body. Eventually shimmying yourself free of the dress that had blessedly remained intact, you felt the pile of tulle and sequins fall to your feet. You kicked the garment away from you, a subtle hint to make Din distinctly aware of how exposed you now were. You pulled at the rough utility fabric that concealed the lower half of his body, that concealed his throbbing erection that you so desperately needed to feel within you — and Din stepped out of the clothing, the two of you breathing heavily at the amount of skin to skin contact you now shared; you wondered if he had ever been this bare, this exposed, with anyone before. 

Although it was dark within the cabin of the ship, you knew each other’s bodies well, having spent several nights sleeping together, and your previous interactions during the shower having brought you closer than ever before. Your breath hitched in your throat as you had a sudden feeling of nervousness; you couldn’t understand why you were suddenly anxious, as this was something you had wanted for so long — but apparently you weren’t the only one with some nerves. Din’s breath shook as he pulled your body into his, whispering your name. “I don’t know that the bunk will be, ah... comfortable, or, you know, enough... space.” 

That was a fair consideration, remembering how close you slept next to him; it wouldn’t offer enough space for anything other than sleeping. 

An idea occurred to you; you leaned forward and kissed his shoulder, before you pulled away from his grasp, the chill of the cabin catching up with you as you crossed to retrieve the well-loved blankets from the bunk as you placed them onto the floor, creating a makeshift bed for the two of you. “Problem solved,” you whispered, grabbing his hand and guiding him onto the softened surface with suddenly confident steps. 

He laughed gently, and you could feel a smile working its way to his face as you kissed him. He swung you up into his arms with ease, and you wrapped your legs around his waist as he carefully brought both of your exposed and nude bodies down to the floor. You were acutely aware of how his muscles flexed and contracted as he held you closely, his sculpted and scarred body feeling incredible as it laid on the floor next to yours. Now, being able to effectively move and maneuver yourself around him, you were emboldened to try something you had never done before, feeling confident as your adventurous ideas had been well-received so far. 

Your soft and gentle hands pressed Din’s wide shoulders down into the unyielding floor and he complied, willing to let you have the control right now. You positioned yourself over his body so that your head was pointing in the direction of his feet, while you propped yourself up above his impressive, large frame on your palms, the arch of your back offering him a perfect view of how wet you were for him, damn near dripping onto his chest. He groaned explicitly as you bent forward to take his cock into your mouth, and you could feel the tension moving through his body as you took him deeper into your throat, your tongue swirling around him and tasting every exquisite, velvety inch of him. 

You were relieved when Din’s broad and calloused hands came up to rest firmly on your ass, understanding what you were needing from him, and he pulled your aching center down to his stubbled jawline, to allow his tongue to trace gently over your clit, finally offering you the pleasure and stimulation that you had been needing since Din had kissed you feverishly in the club. You felt your eyes roll back with a wash of pleasure and relief as he sucked gently on the bundle of nerves, flicking his tongue across it in rhythmic circles, occasionally allowing his tongue to explore further into your body and enjoy all of the wetness you offered him — and you hummed in satisfaction against his thick cock, as you moved your mouth up and down his length, enjoying the wet sounds sounds it produced as you continually swallowed around him, loving the deep grunts and animalistic groans you received in response. The humming must’ve added some enjoyable stimulation for him, as you tasted his precum on your tongue; and then he slid two fingers into your tight cunt, working to open you up to be able to take the considerable length of his cock. You loved the deliciously wet and sloppy sounds that came from the two of you; your mouth, as you continuously drug your tongue along the underside of the cock that was hitting the back of your throat, and your pussy as Din finger-fucked you on the floor of the ship. 

He added a third finger to your tight entrance and you instinctively cried out at the stretching sensation, your body writhing as his thumb moved to tweak continuously over your clit with varying levels of pressure. 

“Oh, sweetheart,” Din sighed with a laugh. “If you think three fingers is a lot, you’re in for a surprise.” His voice sounded like gravel, rough and breathy and cracking beneath you, sending you higher and higher with his cocky assessment. Well, you were never one to shy away from a challenge. 

You could feel the weight of your orgasm building within you, the heady and hot tension that had coiled at your center spreading its way out to your stomach, your thighs, threatening to break at any moment. Your muscles constricting, you chased that peak, that high, and your mouth slid off of Din’s cock as you gasped for air — “Din, fuck, Din, I’m gonna cu—“ 

And then he quickly pulled himself away from you, right as you were right there, and you cried out in exasperation and frustration at having been denied your orgasm; your entire body was screaming with anger and deprivation, and you felt as though you might shatter with all of the tension. 

His body moved away from underneath you as you came to rest against the makeshift bed of blankets, and in the dark, you had absolutely no idea what was going on or why he had done this to you. “Din, what the fuck?” You hissed angrily, your hands reaching out to try and grab him and bring him back to you. But then you suddenly felt two strong, familiar hands grasp your waist from behind, and you were abruptly yanked upwards by your waist and onto your knees, the blankets ruched up underneath you; the disorientation of the darkness was intimidating but also incredibly exciting — although you were still somewhat pissed at Din for his asshole move. 

You were on all fours, desperately waiting for Din to do something, anything. 

“Look at my pretty girl, waiting so nicely for me.” 

You felt Din’s muscled thighs and his thick cock press up against your exposed backside; you were able to determine that he was on his knees behind you. You whined in anticipation, not minding the hint of desperation that crept in with it. 

“Gods, look at you. Fucking dripping wet, making a mess for me. Is that all for me, sweet girl?” He hmmed confidently, dipping his finger inside of you and bringing your wetness up to his mouth for a taste. “Bet you’re just dying to take this cock, to cum on it for me, aren’t you?”

You whined once more, a small, needy sound that would’ve been embarrassing had you not been so desperately wanting to cum after your earlier denial; your muscles still quaked and tensed as you hovered right on that edge. You pressed your ass further back into him, trying to get some sort of stimulation against your aching cunt, but Din just cupped your ass and pressed your shoulders down into the floor; you felt the wool blanket against your cheek as you writhed against him in frustration. 

“Please,” you whispered. 

“Please... what?” There was a somewhat maniacal edge to his voice and you felt a thrill of anticipation shudder through you. 

“Din, please!”

“Please what?” His voice cut through you like steel. 

You could feel the blunt and swollen head of his cock pressed against your throbbing entrance, and fuck, while you didn’t want to beg you couldn’t help it any longer, the unyielding desperation coursing hotly through you as you just gave in to what Din wanted. “Fuck, Din — please, please fuck me, please let me cum for you —“ 

A satisfied chuckle coming from deep within his chest, Din finally pressed forward into you with a ragged, shaking moan — and the resulting moan that came from your body echoed his own, as he buried himself impossibly deep into your tight and soaking cunt, while effectively pinning your shoulders to the floor and rendering you immobile. You had thought you would be prepared for the sheer size of him, the girth, the length that you had taken in your mouth and throat, but it was unlike anything you had ever experienced before — he really had been right in saying that three fingers wouldn’t compare. 

For a brief moment you wondered if you would even be able to take all of him inside you — and your question was quickly answered as he pulled back from you, dragging his cock along your inner walls, before his hips snapped forward to slam into you with a shocking and devastatingly incredible force. Feeling his cock sink deeper and deeper into you, your body offered little resistance to this pleasure as you cried out at the stretching and filling sensation, hurting but in a good way that just made you crave him even more. 

Din’s hands found their place along the bend of your hips as he pushed and pulled your willing body into his; and with each thrust forward penetrating you even deeper, you felt the edges of your mind starting to go white-hot with pleasure once more. You reveled in the sounds he made, needy and wanting, loving that he wasn’t one to shy away from letting you know just how fucking incredible this felt for him, too. 

This was unlike anything you had ever experienced with a man before, Din was unlike anything else in this galaxy, and you knew that even if you spent a hundred years with him you would never get enough of this feeling — the feeling of his throbbing, veined cock dragging against your sensitive walls, hitting spots inside of you that you never even knew existed. You could feel the ever-increasing slickness of your cunt that allowed for him to slide in and out of you repeatedly, while the lower half of your body started to constrict with that same heat of pleasure that he had ripped away from you just moments ago — but that didn’t matter anymore, you had no room for grudges as he completely filled both your body and mind. 

He said your name over and over, the sound spilling from his lips like a prayer, like a curse, like a promise — and you reveled in the sheer adoration of each utterance that tumbled from him. You wished that you could give him the same verbal adoration and praise that he offered you, but you were completely incapable of doing anything except making lewd, high-pitched, unintelligible sounds that echoed and radiated through the walls of the ship, becoming more desperate with each powerful thrust into your clenching and tight cunt. 

“Gods, I knew you’d take my cock so f-fucking good, look at that — such a pretty girl, such a g-good girl — fucking knew you’d feel incredible from the m-moment I saw you, wanted to fucking split you in half on my cock —“ 

The praise and dirty words Din offered you tickled a previously-repressed, unexplored part of yourself and after this awakening you wanted more of it. Seeking out that praise and reinforcement, you decided to take back some control in this situation and initiate something more — Din had you fairly well pinned against the floor, his hips ramming his cock into you relentlessly, but you were able to shift your arms in a way that allowed for you to reach around the back of your thighs and spread yourself open even further for him. Your movement caught him off guard as his hips snapped into yours forcefully, his cock penetrating so far into you that you thought you may never recover from it — and the force of his thrust collapsed both of your bodies into the floor as a guttural fuck escaped from him. 

You felt his broad chest and the heaviness of his frame crushing you into the floor, but you didn’t mind, loving the pressure of his full body weight against you while his cock was buried inside you so deeply that you could feel him twitching inside of you, could feel each beat of his heart pulsating through his body. 

“Fuck, fuck, fuck” he gasped, pushing himself up off of your body and off of the floor. “I don’t know what the fuck you just did, but I’m going to need you to do that again for me.” 

You grinned, somewhat delirious from all of the stimulation and physical sensations you had experienced here on this makeshift bed. And yet for all of the wonderful, amazing, beautiful things you had felt — you still hadn’t cum, and your very skin felt as though it was crawling with a fire that left you aching with every second that passed by. You wanted to cum, wanted Din to make you cum; and you wanted to make him cum in return, giving each other the release and bliss you had been wanting since your first meeting on Chandrila. If you were to tell the truth, you’d tell Din that you had wanted him from the very first day, even though you had fought so hard to quell those feelings. 

You couldn’t see well in the darkness that shrouded the cabin — couldn’t see anything, to be honest — but you could feel your hands connect with Din’s shoulders and you shoved him back down onto the floor, appreciating his willingness to follow your lead. Your hands traced gently down his body, feeling every hard line and ridge of him, feeling every scar, and loving every inch of him that he had allowed you to see, at least in this way. You swung your legs over his waist and positioned yourself above him, guiding his thick and still-wet cock back inside of your tight and enveloping cunt; the two of you gasped at the sudden, clenching contact and rush of adrenaline, and you began to ride him in earnest, loving the sound of your skin slapping against his as you crashed into him over and over and over again. 

“Gods, you just love it when I ride your thick cock like this, don’t you, Din?” You said with a malicious grin, hoping to draw out the same kind of dirty words he had given you earlier. “Just falling apart for me so easy—“

“Fuck, yes, I do love it my sweet —“ He choked out, his hands finding their way up your body and coming to rest at your breasts, tweaking your hardened nipples with his rough touch. “Love watching that tight pussy take my cock, love how you feel on me, love how you taste — you’re just so fucking incredible—”

“Show me how much you love it,” you challenged, an edge creeping into your voice. “Cum for me.” 

His groans turned into irregular grunts of pleasure as he moved to hold your body in place, restricting your movements as he fucked up into you, sounds spilling forth from him. “Believe me, I will cum for you — I’ll cum inside that sweet, perfect pussy. But you’re gonna cum for me first, sweet girl.” 

Din’s threat— or promise, depending on your perspective — echoed through you and a crashing tidal wave of need threatened to collapse your chest and inhibit your very breathing. Your body was positively aching with tension and strain now, your muscles screaming out in exhaustion — you needed to cum, you needed the release, you needed to fall over that peak and then rest next to Din. “Yes, please, please, please,” you cried, each word becoming more and more deranged and desperate than the last. 

“Tell me what you need, sweet girl,” Din panted roughly, continuing to hold your shaking body in place as he fucked into you relentlessly. 

You weren’t sure what you needed except more of Din, and you didn’t even know how to ask for that as he was clearly giving you everything he had, thrusting up into you and offering up each and every groan of pleasure that your pussy wrung from him. More. You just needed more. 

“Kiss me, Din Djarin.” 

He laughed softly and you could hear the smile in it; for all of the dirty words and debased, debauched actions, this sweetness was what you wanted and what you needed. He pulled your body in close to his, planting a soft kiss on your cheek before rolling the two of you over so you were now laying against the blankets. His cock never left your center, even in the transition; and then his hands brought your legs up to rest on his shoulders and he began drilling into you with an unholy force, crumpling your body in half with each thrust as he bent downwards to kiss you. He was panting and you could feel a bead of sweat drip from his forehead as he worked to get you there, fighting off his own orgasm, needing to get you there first. 

As his lips pressed repeatedly into your soft and hot flesh, you could feel it coming on; that tense and aching heat coiled within you, your back arched up from the floor, and your hands rose up to pull Din in closer to you, gripping his hair forcefully. You couldn’t see anything in the blackness of the ship but your vision was changing regardless, as your body readied itself to jump from that cliff, giving you the release you needed. “Din—“ you gasped out, your muscles constricting. 

“Yes, yes, cum for me sweet girl — wanna feel you cum on my cock,” Din grunted, thrusting into you with each word. He leaned in to kiss you once more and it was everything you needed. 

It felt as though a seismic charge went off inside the small ship, your muscles contracting and quaking as your body was taken over by wave after wave of undulating pleasure. Your skin felt like it was vibrating at a new frequency, each nerve ending heightened and feeling overstimulated as you cried out in unintelligible but unmistakeable pleasure. Your cunt clenched around Din’s cock, spasming with each new wave of pleasure that overtook your body. 

Din snarled at the feeling of you clenching and coming undone around him and you knew that he was close; you drug your nails against his scalp, his hair tangling between your fingers, and you leaned up to gently capture his earlobe between your teeth, tugging slightly. “Want you to cum for me, Din. Want you to cum inside me.” 

The rapid movements of his hips became increasingly irregular until you felt the heat of his release within you, his body collapsing on top of yours as he inhaled deep and ragged breaths, you could feel him shaking on top of you, could feel his muscles and his cock twitching as he was lost to the overwhelming pleasure of his orgasm. Hot ropes of Din’s cum coursed through your pulsing and throbbing cunt, coating you and filling you in a way that made you writhe in pleasure and self-satisfaction; you couldn’t help but think of the way you’d be left dripping from him, a mix of both of your orgasms coating you in a messy, magnificent bliss. When he finally pulled away from your feverish and trembling body, you felt the mix of fluids cascading down your thighs in a way that almost made you want to climb on top of him again. 

You were both left entirely breathless, every ounce of energy spent in giving the other what they needed and had been denied for so long. Din’s body rolled off of yours, allowing you to breathe deeply and you inhaled lungfuls of cool air, quieting the fire that coursed through your body. His chest taking deep and ragged breaths, he pulled you in close to his chest, his arms wrapping around you securely as he sighed and kissed every inch of exposed skin that he could reach. You were utterly wrecked, entirely devastated, and more blissfully happy than you ever could have imagined you could be. 

This life was turning into everything that you had ever wanted, and feared you would never get. You felt tears of happiness pricking at the corner of your eyes, and you smiled into Din’s chest, never wanting to leave this moment. 

He must’ve felt the tears that had slipped out and onto him; bringing your face up to his, his hand cradling your cheek gently, he kissed your forehead. “Sweet girl, what’s wrong?” 

“Nothing,” you whispered, a brilliant grin spreading across your face. “Everything is perfect. You’re perfect. This life here, with you, is perfect.” 

You would later blame it on the rush of dopamine and oxytocin, but truth be told, you could no longer deny the truth to either yourself or to Din. Feeling emboldened and safe in this space with him, the truth tumbled forward from your lips, unable to be concealed any longer. 

“I love you, Din Djarin.” 

It felt beautiful and exhilarating to speak it out loud, to acknowledge the truth of your feelings. You didn’t even necessarily need for Din to say it back; that’s how secure you felt in this moment, in this feeling of love. You would love him endlessly, would love him through hell or high waters, would love him whether you were right next to him or lightyears away. You couldn’t hold back the truth, and nor did you want to. You loved Din Djarin, more than you had ever loved anything in existence, and while it was exhilaratingly terrifying, it also felt like the safest, most comforting thing in this galaxy. 

And  it was a whole new kind of bliss that was revealed to you when he spoke to you in response.

“And I love you.” 

[debian-official]

not a great poll for opsec but eh. I think you missed Googles password manager I dont really know anythign about it though and ew google, ofc

also wasnt lastpass the one that turned out to handle a security incident really badly?

I usually recommend people bitwarden, not self hosted. flame me

if one more service denies a new password for being "not strong enough" and then requires "8 characters" and some bullshit i will start burning down server racks at random