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Privacy Laptop Australia

A privacy laptop in Australia, hardened the same way as our phones.

A privacy laptop Australia buyers can use day-one needs hardware, firmware, OS, network, and operational layers all addressed. A laptop is the device most likely to hold your sensitive material — Privacy Devices is bringing the same hardening playbook our phones use to a privacy laptop Australia range through 2026.

Why a privacy laptop is harder than a privacy phone

A phone has a narrow attack surface: one OS, a small number of radios, a fixed set of sensors. A laptop has dozens of decisions — which firmware, which OS, which boot manager, what to do with Intel Management Engine, whether the microphone and camera can even be physically disabled, whether the disk encryption is hardware-backed or software-only, whether the wireless card has firmware blobs you can audit. None of these are decisions that come standard. All of them have to be made deliberately and configured before the device leaves us.

The result is that a "privacy laptop" is genuinely more work than a privacy phone, and the supply chain for hardware that supports the right configurations is much narrower. For 2026 we are working through the options carefully — better to ship one model done properly than five models done partially.

What "privacy laptop" means at our spec

Hardened firmware

Where the hardware supports it: coreboot or libreboot replacement firmware, Intel ME neutralised (cleaned where possible, disabled where not). No proprietary firmware blobs that we cannot audit.

Hardened OS

Qubes OS for compartmentalisation use cases. Fedora with selinux + hardened kernel for daily-driver use cases. Tails for travel-burner use cases. The choice is per-customer based on threat model.

Full-disk encryption

LUKS with hardware-backed key derivation where the platform supports it. Encrypted swap. Encrypted /boot where supported by the firmware. No "easy recovery" options that bypass the encryption.

Mic / camera options

Hardware kill switches where the model supports them (Purism, Framework). Physical microphone removal as a paid service for ThinkPad and similar. Tape is not an answer.

Network discipline

Mullvad VPN paid licence. WireGuard configured at the OS level (not as an app). DNS-over-HTTPS for all name resolution. No fall-through to ISP DNS.

Boot integrity

Secure boot enabled against the project's signing keys (not Microsoft's), where the firmware permits. TPM-bound disk encryption keys where available. Tamper-evident shipping.

Hardware we are evaluating for 2026

Framework Laptop 13 / 16

Modular, repairable, AU import economics workable. Supports coreboot replacement firmware on the 13. Mainboard is socketed so we can replace components without sending the whole device back. Ships 14 days from order in our build pipeline.

Purism Librem 14

Privacy-vendor hardware with physical kill switches for camera, microphone, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. Ships PureBoot firmware. AU import overhead is real but the hardware speaks for itself. Limited stock in 2026.

Refurbished ThinkPad T-series with libreboot

Older Intel platforms (T440p, T480) where Intel ME can be cleaned. Cheapest entry point. Best price/performance for users whose threat model justifies sacrificing newer hardware.

Apple MacBook (selectively)

For users where the alternative is a stock MacBook, we offer a hardening service: full disk encryption review, telemetry minimisation, Little Snitch + LuLu firewall configuration, FileVault with strong passphrase, secure-boot policy review. macOS is not Linux, but a properly-configured MacBook beats an unconfigured Linux laptop. ThreeCats and PrivacyPros both sell hardened MacBooks; we are evaluating the same path.

Register interest — first access for existing customers

The privacy laptop range is in evaluation. We will publish specs and pricing per model when stock arrives in 2026. Existing Pixel customers get first notification.

Register interest → Browse Phones

Frequently asked

What is a privacy laptop?

A laptop where the OS, firmware, and physical hardware have been deliberately configured to minimise data leakage and resist forensic extraction. Hardened Linux distribution + Intel ME neutralisation + full-disk encryption + mic/camera removal + secure boot relocked.

Why not just use a regular laptop with a VPN?

A VPN solves only the network layer. A privacy laptop addresses hardware, firmware, OS, network, and operational use.

Which laptop hardware do you use?

For 2026: Framework laptops, Purism Librem 14, refurbished ThinkPad T-series with libreboot. Selection depends on supply and AU economics.

When can I buy one?

In evaluation through 2026. Register interest via the contact form. Existing Pixel customers get first access.

Will it be cheaper than a stock MacBook?

No. Expect $2,500–$4,000 AUD depending on model. The value is the hardening, not the price.

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