In light of recent revelations about warrantless surveillance of American citizens, it has become more important than ever for individuals to take the necessary precautions to protect their sensitive data from prying eyes. Most online security threats can be mitigated through the use of readily available encryption technologies. However, these technologies can often be difficult to understand and even more difficult to implement correctly. A CryptoParty is a laid-back, informal gathering for those who wish to learn about these tools, including which are most suitable to a given situation, and how to install and use them properly. Bring your laptop (or don't if you're extra-paranoid) and get yourself up and running with proxy servers, VPN, PGP, OTR, hard disk encryption and other methods that will help keep your data safe. And drink a brew. Cuz it's a party.