Plain Language Series

Practical guides written by someone who has actually done it.

No prior knowledge required. No assumptions made. No guesswork.

Plain Language — Straight Answers — Real Experience

Plain
Language — written for complete beginners
Real
Experience — by someone who has lived it
Zero
Assumptions — no prior knowledge needed
The Plain Language Series
Online Privacy — complete guides
Digital Security — plain language
Anonymous Operations — step by step

Knowledge without the gatekeeping.

Most published guides assume the reader already knows something. ShannonGuides assumes nothing. Every guide in the Plain Language Series is written from first principles — starting with why something works, not just how to do it.

The difference between following steps and understanding what you are doing is the difference between succeeding once and being capable forever. That is what these guides are built to deliver.

Topics span a broad and growing range of subjects. Every guide is written by someone with direct, hands-on experience in the subject matter — not someone who researched the topic.

"If a guide cannot be handed to a complete beginner with confidence that they will succeed, it does not get published."
🔒
Digital Privacy & Security10+ years of operational privacy practice — anonymous systems, compartmentalised computing, de-Googling, day-to-day OPSEC
🐧
Linux & Unix15+ years of daily Linux use across multiple distributions — command line, package management, system administration, troubleshooting
🏠
Self-Hosted InfrastructureOwn server, own .onion service, own encrypted stack — running it rather than renting it from someone else
Cryptocurrency Self-CustodyMonero and Bitcoin self-custody, hardware wallets, anonymous payment chains — not just held, used
📚
Teaching & CommunicationProven ability to diagnose and solve complex problems remotely through clear explanation

Guides that start at zero.

The Plain Language Series covers the full stack of digital privacy and computing — from foundational concepts to advanced operational practice. Every guide is written by someone with direct, day-to-day experience in the subject matter.

Privacy & Technology — Featured Guide
The Plain Language Guide to Building a Surveillance-Proof Privacy Stack
Configure a civilian privacy system designed to resist Five Eyes intelligence networks and corporate surveillance. Covers hardware selection, OS configuration, network privacy, and operational security. Top 10% of civilian security setups — fully explained from scratch. No prior knowledge required.
$40USD
Available Now
Privacy & Technology
The Plain Language Digital Privacy Guide
A complete practical guide to digital privacy from first principles. GrapheneOS, encrypted communications, VPN, Tor — explained for someone starting from zero.
$40USD
Available Now
Privacy & Technology
The Plain Language Guide to Escaping Google
Step by step migration away from Google’s surveillance ecosystem. Every service replaced with privacy-respecting alternatives. Written for someone starting from zero.
$40USD
Available Now
Privacy & Technology
The Plain Language Guide to Online Operational Security (OPSEC)
Online operational security in plain language. How to think about privacy, compartmentalization, and protecting your digital identity from someone who lives inside a serious privacy setup.
$40USD
Available Now
Foundation Set — Five Guides
ShannonGuides Foundation Set
Five entry-level guides bundled: Digital Privacy, Escaping Google, OPSEC, Linux & Unix, Home Network Privacy. $200 value for $160 — save $40 (20%).
$160USD
Save $40
Complete Library — All Twenty
ShannonGuides Complete Library
All twenty ShannonGuides in a single purchase. The entire Plain Language Series. $800 value for $500 — save $300 (37.5%).
$500USD
Save $300
Technology
The Plain Language Linux & Unix Guide
Linux distributions, Unix architecture, command line structure, and the history of Linux. Everything a complete beginner needs to understand and use Linux confidently.
$40USD
Available Now
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Why ShannonGuides

The difference is in the approach.

01
Written from experience, not research
Every ShannonGuides publication is written by someone who has directly done what they are describing — not someone who read about it and compiled notes.
02
The why, not just the how
Understanding why a procedure works means being able to adapt when things don’t go exactly as written. That understanding is built into every guide from the first page.
03
No assumed knowledge
No prior experience assumed. No terminology goes unexplained. No step left out because it seems obvious. If a complete beginner cannot follow it, it is not finished.
Consulting Services

Direct answers to specific problems.

Online • Privacy • Security • Technology
Digital & Technology Consulting
Privacy stack setup, security configuration, anonymous operations, digital migration, Linux, self-hosting, and related technology topics. Email consultation with a detailed written response within 48 hours.
Email Consultation
Detailed written response within 48 hours
$75USD
View Consulting Details →