Info & About

I've been collecting bookmarks for years: design resources, tools, articles, things I meant to come back to. They were all sitting in a browser export nobody but me could see or search.

open.Bookmarks is that collection, turned into an actual directory: categorized, searchable, and public, instead of buried in a menu. I keep it updated regularly, so it stays current rather than being a one-time snapshot.

If something here is useful to you too, that's the whole point.

These links point all over the internet, including sites I don't control and can't vouch for on an ongoing basis. None of this is exotic, it's the same handful of habits that quietly keep most people out of trouble no matter whose list they're browsing.

Browser & blocking

Use Firefox with uBlock Origin installed. This isn't a nice-to-have, it's close to mandatory: together they strip out most malicious ads, fake "Download" buttons, and drive-by trackers before they ever get a chance to load, on any browser and any site.

Before you click download

• On file/software sites, the real download link is often small and plain, while the flashy, oversized "Download Now" button next to it is an ad. Hover first and check where a link actually points before trusting it.
• Before running anything from a source you don't fully trust, scan it with VirusTotal first.
• If an installer tries to bundle extra toolbars, "driver updaters," or anything you didn't ask for, cancel and start over. Legitimate installers don't need to trick you into extra clicks.

Antivirus, realistically

Windows Defender on its own is genuinely good enough for casual, everyday use at this point, it runs quietly in the background and doesn't need to be replaced with anything paid. If you want an occasional second opinion, Malwarebytes is a solid choice for manual, on-demand scans, just make sure to fully close it afterward rather than leaving it running, so Defender's real-time protection keeps working uninterrupted in the background.

A few other habits worth keeping

• Use a different password per site (ideally via a password manager), so one leaked site doesn't cascade into your other accounts.
• Avoid uploading personal or sensitive files to random online converters or "free tools" you don't recognize, you don't know where that data ends up.
• Keep your browser and OS updated, and don't disable security warnings just to get past them.