CyberSwaraj: Nostr, Cryptography Basics & How It Actually Works

A beginner-to-intermediate friendly workshop for anyone curious about real digital privacy. Tired of platforms that own your data, shadow-ban your voice, or can disappear overnight? This hands-on session pulls back the curtain on Nostr - a simple, open protocol for decentralized social networking - and the cryptography that makes it possible. No prior technical background required; just curiosity

What You'll Learn Part 1 - Cryptography Basics (Demystified) - Why privacy isn't "having something to hide" - it's about control - Public vs. private keys: the foundation of digital identity - Hashing, signatures, and encryption - what they do and when to use each - How you already use this technology everyday without realizing it - Common myths about anonymity and what actually protects you Part 2 - What Is Nostr? - The problem Nostr solves: platform lock-in, censorship, and identity fragility - How Nostr works: events, relays, keys, and clients - Your keys = your identity. Your data = portable across apps - Practical setup: create your first identity and post your first note Part 3 - Nostr Technicals (Made Approachable) - Event structure and kinds - the grammar of the protocol - Relays: what they are, how to choose them, and why many is better than one - NIPs (Nostr Implementation Possibilities) - the standards that keep the network compatible - Zap (Lightning payments) basics and why they matter for creators - Security habits: key storage, signing devices, and avoiding common pitfall

Who This Is For - Beginners curious about privacy and decentralized tech - Builders, writers, and creators wanting platform independence - Intermediates who've "heard of Nostr" but never really understood it - Anyone who's lost an account, been shadow-banned, or worries about data ownershi

What You'll Walk Away With - A working Nostr identity and your first published note - A clear mental model of cryptography fundamentals - The confidence to evaluate privacy tools critically - Resources and a community to continue learnin

Format Interactive mini-lecture + live demos + guided setup time + Q&A. Bring a laptop or phone. No coding required to participate; code examples available for the curious. Privacy isn't a feature you buy - it's a skill you build. Come learn it with us

Privacy is not about hiding. Most conversations about privacy start by making you feel paranoid. This one won't. Privacy is something ordinary and human. It's the ability to decide what parts of your life get shared, when they get shared, and with whom. In the physical world this feels obvious. You close the door when you change clothes. You lower your voice in a crowded room. You don't hand your diary to a stranger. Online, we've slowly given up all of that, usually without realising we were giving anything up. Each app asks for a small permission. Each service collects a small piece of information. Individually, none of it feels like much. Put together, it forms a surprisingly complete picture of how you live, think, move, and talk to people you love

What is the 'CyberSwaraj' event series about CyberSwaraj is a gathering for anyone interested in digital privacy, open-source tools, and taking back some control over their digital life. We run sessions for beginners, workshops for people ready to go deeper, and occasional deep-dives for the technically curious. Developers, privacy advocates, and people who've simply had enough of being tracked are all welcome

Stay Connected - Join us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CyberSwara

Venue Partner Bitshala Bitspace (https://x.com/bitshala?utm_source=luma), HSR Layout Sector 6, Bengaluru. - Join Our Community: http://discord.gg/atjEPVTdsQ - Subscribe to our Calendar: https://lu.ma/bitspace - Contact: 9118592188 (https://wa.me/919118592188?utm_source=luma)