By Reference was born from a habit we never really managed to outgrow: talking for hours.
A question about cybersecurity turns into a debate on AI. A technical issue becomes a reflection on how technology is reshaping the way we live, build, protect, and think. One link leads to ten more. One idea sparks another. And before we know it, what started as a simple conversation has become a deep dive into the systems, risks, possibilities, and contradictions of the digital world.
At some point, we realized something simple: many of the most interesting things we discovered, questioned, or understood together were staying locked inside those conversations.
So we decided to create a place for them to live.
Let's highlight the hidden logic behind technologies, the security implications behind everyday systems, the opportunities and tensions inside innovation, and the questions that deserve more attention than they usually get.
Because knowledge is more powerful when it circulates.
Because good questions deserve more than quick answers.
Because the most meaningful discoveries often begin with two people saying, “Wait, have you thought about this?”
Founders
Gabriele Mossino and Giuseppe Toscano fare the founders of By Reference.
What brought this project to life is not only a shared interest in technology, but a shared instinct to question, investigate, discuss, and keep digging until an idea becomes clearer. By Reference grows directly from that dynamic: a friendship shaped by long conversations, a common fascination for cybersecurity and innovation, and a desire to transform what we learn into something others can explore too.
As founders, we are involved in every part of the project, from research and writing to editorial direction, technical development, and community building. Every article reflects the spirit that started this platform in the first place: thoughtful exploration, honest curiosity, and the belief that knowledge becomes more meaningful when it is shared.
Contact
For inquiries, collaborations, or contributions, you can reach us at [email protected]. Follow us on social media for updates, featured articles, and upcoming events.
By Reference – Explore, Learn, Share