pipedreams Posted June 10, 2021 Share Posted June 10, 2021 In case you didn't know this already. https://www.privacytools.io/ Who is required to hand over the encryption keys to authorities? Why is it not recommended to choose a US-based service? "Services based in the United States are not recommended because of the country's surveillance programs and use of National Security Letters (NSLs) with accompanying gag orders, which forbid the recipient from talking about the request. This combination allows the government to secretly force companies to grant complete access to customer data and transform the service into a tool of mass surveillance." Lot's here to sift through............... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostinTexas Posted June 10, 2021 Share Posted June 10, 2021 (edited) So, don't use the most widely distributed and uses OS in the world, by a 90%+ margin, huh? I agree the thing is a colander for info gathering, but most can be turned off, and none of the alternatives are really all that great. I like Ubuntu, but it is not as user friendly as some would have you believe, and requires constant tinkering if you want to keep it optimal. Some folks like that, and I have to admit i did too. A couple of highly regarded "privacy" oriented browsers were left out of that article (FF has been on the suspect list since the hostile takeover over several years ago but is hanging on), along with every search engine being kind of hidden. They mention StartPage, and it is a solid engine, but is has fallen suspect for several years now. In and out of favor. I doubt it is worse than any other engine that gathers, if it does, but the questions have been around for a while and don't seem to be going away. Not sure if the article is written by Orwell or just an advertisement to sell something. Interesting. Edited June 10, 2021 by LostinTexas 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pipedreams Posted June 10, 2021 Author Share Posted June 10, 2021 Like I said "Lot's here to sift through..............." Some of it is good and some questionable. Maybe it's not your cup of tea but others might glean somethings of interest. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostinTexas Posted June 10, 2021 Share Posted June 10, 2021 (edited) It is still interesting. Maybe interesting isn't the correct word though. They are still promoting/selling a product. Privacy Tools. Cup of tea, isn't exactly the meaning of my comment. MAC isn't my cup o tea, but it is still a worth while pursuit. Just saying it is suspect in many aspects, so don't take any of it as gospel. I would dare that fewer than 10% of the folks here realize MS aka Windows is just under 90% of the worlds machines. The other is the older Windows systems still in use, Apple, Linux, and the big elephant that may actually give Gates a run some day, Android. I really doubt Android will ever take much away from MS, but it is probably the second most used OS now. It also caused a lot of the drop for MS from 97% to just under 90%. Problem is, it is Google, and every bit as bad as MS when it comes to data harvesting. Edited June 10, 2021 by LostinTexas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Historian Posted June 10, 2021 Share Posted June 10, 2021 Ok, the first link from that website i went to was to web browsers. Firefox is not our friend. They were certainly part of the deplatforming of Trump (among other issues) Tor? Tor was invented by the US Navy/Government. So...I'm fairly sure that they know how to data mine you. It's this simple. We all have a digital foot print. If you ever bought anything online, have a credit card, anything...used the internet...downloaded porn...whatever. There is no privacy in the digital world. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minderasr Posted June 15, 2021 Share Posted June 15, 2021 Privacy Tools is a good site. I've been taking privacy minded steps in my digital life. Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) is a good start. Replacing snooping apps where ever I can. Adblocking extensions for your browser, and a VPN (do you homework on this) also help. I realize I can never break totally free from the Amazon/Google/Facebook/Apple/etc. companies for real privacy. But I figure the more difficult I can make it for them, the better off I'll be. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crockett Posted June 15, 2021 Share Posted June 15, 2021 You really need a degree in computer science if you want to make sure that NOTHING leeks through the cracks. And even then its a full time job to maintain that state. You need a port scanner and still see what's transmitted. The better option would be going back to a lifestyle from the early 80s. - no cell phone at all, just a landline - no internet access - computer without wireless and Bluetooth cards - no smart devices, they may still find a connection through a neighbors wifi signal - removal of any GPS / wifi / GSM modules in every car, or simply owning an old car - no credit / debit cards, getting cash at the bank once a month, not using the ATM - no streaming, time to make use of VHS tapes, CDs and DVDs. Actually sounds very inviting. Looking back at the 80s, it was a much healthier time where people spend tons of time in the outdoors, had building projects going, got together with neighbors and friends. Today everybody just sits at home, connected to all those online devices, like a brain dead body in the matrix. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janice6 Posted June 15, 2021 Share Posted June 15, 2021 My son takes care of my computer security. He has a couple of degrees including computer science. He was a director of his company that made computer test beds for computer based commercial electronics customers. I was analog and I hate binary systems. Son's personal like is writing drivers. I prefer "ones, zero's and everything in between"! Anyway, he got tired of my old router and set me up with what he uses. Then he remote monitors my system to keep it out of trouble. My point here, is that he also put in a Raspberry Pi stand along box at the router that intercepts calls by software to download crap. The Raspberry Pi system simply rejects undesirable downloads, unrelated to what I'm doing. It's pretty sweet how the thousands of requests get rejected while my requests go unheeded. The system keeps files on who and what plus the statistics associated with the unwanted requests for downloads. He monitors the status of my system and can re-configure it all the while everything is in background to my use. It's good to have kids that know stuff! He's going to retire soon early, and is now working from home to unwind from the business. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdTracker Posted July 10, 2021 Share Posted July 10, 2021 Rob Braxman on YT speaks a lot on security. He sells "deGoogled" phones and VPN routers. Very educational. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYVU6rModlGxvJbszCclGGw/featured Fairwarning. Watching too much privacy anything will make you paranoid! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostinTexas Posted July 10, 2021 Share Posted July 10, 2021 3 hours ago, EdTracker said: Rob Braxman on YT speaks a lot on security. He sells "deGoogled" phones and VPN routers. Very educational. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYVU6rModlGxvJbszCclGGw/featured Fairwarning. Watching too much privacy anything will make you paranoid! It isn't paranoid when the "Really" are out to get you.? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NPTim Posted July 10, 2021 Share Posted July 10, 2021 On 6/15/2021 at 11:29 AM, crockett said: You really need a degree in computer science if you want to make sure that NOTHING leeks through the cracks. And even then its a full time job to maintain that state. You need a port scanner and still see what's transmitted. The better option would be going back to a lifestyle from the early 80s. - no cell phone at all, just a landline - no internet access - computer without wireless and Bluetooth cards - no smart devices, they may still find a connection through a neighbors wifi signal - removal of any GPS / wifi / GSM modules in every car, or simply owning an old car - no credit / debit cards, getting cash at the bank once a month, not using the ATM - no streaming, time to make use of VHS tapes, CDs and DVDs. Actually sounds very inviting. Looking back at the 80s, it was a much healthier time where people spend tons of time in the outdoors, had building projects going, got together with neighbors and friends. Today everybody just sits at home, connected to all those online devices, like a brain dead body in the matrix. Who has a landline? Who even offers a landline anymore? why have a computer if you don’t have internet? How easy is it to find someone to remove GPS/WiFi/GSM without royally screwing up your vehicle? The credit/debit, one could use a visa/mastercard/amex gift card and recharge it, except some places won’t accept them. I’d worry about airlines, car rentals, and hotels. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT4494 Posted July 10, 2021 Share Posted July 10, 2021 There are GPS/WiFi/GSM phone blockers you can buy for experimenting. Just be careful if you experiment in you vehicle / house because the FCC hates them and will give you a LARGE A$$ fine. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs.Cicero Posted July 10, 2021 Share Posted July 10, 2021 6 hours ago, NPTim said: Who has a landline? Who even offers a landline anymore? why have a computer if you don’t have internet? How easy is it to find someone to remove GPS/WiFi/GSM without royally screwing up your vehicle? The credit/debit, one could use a visa/mastercard/amex gift card and recharge it, except some places won’t accept them. I’d worry about airlines, car rentals, and hotels. Hey, hey now. I still have a landline. And when I got my first computer, there WAS NO INTERNET, and it was still useful. At this point, if I had a computer and no internet, I would still be using it for record keeping (gotta track all these darn expenses to write off on the stupid taxes I would then have to do by hand). and word processing (for all the letters I'd have to write in place of emails). I have no idea how to remove the GPS from my truck, assuming it even has one (it's not new or fancy enough to have had onStar or anything like that. Hell, it doesn't even have a backup camera)... but I'd really like to restore a '47 Chevy pickup... and that would solve that little problem...except one of those on the road is hardly "grey man" style... 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostinTexas Posted July 10, 2021 Share Posted July 10, 2021 7 hours ago, NPTim said: Who has a landline? Who even offers a landline anymore? Every single phone company out there. You just have to stay out of cell phone stores. We have a land line and just recently changed phone companies when a new one moved into the area. Kept our number and everything. Cell service is leaps and bounds better than it used to be, but it still isn't reliable, and still has too many holes in coverage. They did seem to solve the 911 problem, IF you decided to not skip the step of having it at your house address. We live near a three way county line. It could cost valuable time if we chose to use cell and didn't opt for that feature. I agree, that very few have land lines any more, but they have a place, even though it is shrinking rapidly. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crockett Posted July 10, 2021 Share Posted July 10, 2021 8 hours ago, NPTim said: Who has a landline? Who even offers a landline anymore? why have a computer if you don’t have internet? How easy is it to find someone to remove GPS/WiFi/GSM without royally screwing up your vehicle? The credit/debit, one could use a visa/mastercard/amex gift card and recharge it, except some places won’t accept them. I’d worry about airlines, car rentals, and hotels. Frontier and Spectrum offer landlines in my area. Write and print letters, play offline games, maintain a personal balance sheet of your finances etc. You can do it yourself. In almost all vehicles, the GSM / GPS / WiFi module is separate from the ECM and head unit. It is often close to the head unit or in the trunk. Below the module from my truck. Keep in mind that the vehicle can't notify or call 911 / emergency services after a crash anymore. I value privacy higher than the last bit of "security". Especially after it was proven that they can listen to your conversations at any time, while knowing where you are heading. Any banking card leaves behind an electronic trail. Only way to keep this private is by using cash. You can book travel in travel agencies, the way it used to be. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NPTim Posted July 10, 2021 Share Posted July 10, 2021 6 hours ago, LostinTexas said: Every single phone company out there. You just have to stay out of cell phone stores. We have a land line and just recently changed phone companies when a new one moved into the area. Kept our number and everything. Cell service is leaps and bounds better than it used to be, but it still isn't reliable, and still has too many holes in coverage. They did seem to solve the 911 problem, IF you decided to not skip the step of having it at your house address. We live near a three way county line. It could cost valuable time if we chose to use cell and didn't opt for that feature. I agree, that very few have land lines any more, but they have a place, even though it is shrinking rapidly. Don’t get me wrong, I like the idea of a landline, the kind that functions normally when the power goes out, not the VOIP crap the cable companies push. I looked into getting a landline a few years ago and came up goose eggs. We have been cell phone only for more than a decade I believe. I rarely use mine, I have a smartphone mostly for the medical apps, not much else. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NPTim Posted July 10, 2021 Share Posted July 10, 2021 5 hours ago, crockett said: Frontier and Spectrum offer landlines in my area. Write and print letters, play offline games, maintain a personal balance sheet of your finances etc. You can do it yourself. In almost all vehicles, the GSM / GPS / WiFi module is separate from the ECM and head unit. It is often close to the head unit or in the trunk. Below the module from my truck. Keep in mind that the vehicle can't notify or call 911 / emergency services after a crash anymore. I value privacy higher than the last bit of "security". Especially after it was proven that they can listen to your conversations at any time, while knowing where you are heading. Any banking card leaves behind an electronic trail. Only way to keep this private is by using cash. You can book travel in travel agencies, the way it used to be. Where do you find travel agencies? The Chinese market has a limited one, but I haven’t seen one like the one I used for my trip to Australia since the 90’s. I LOVE travel agencies and would prefer to use them over the online crap. Yes, the online crap may offer lower prices, but I guess I’m incompetent to use them to get exactly what I want. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crockett Posted July 10, 2021 Share Posted July 10, 2021 16 minutes ago, NPTim said: Where do you find travel agencies? The Chinese market has a limited one, but I haven’t seen one like the one I used for my trip to Australia since the 90’s. I LOVE travel agencies and would prefer to use them over the online crap. Yes, the online crap may offer lower prices, but I guess I’m incompetent to use them to get exactly what I want. Just searched on Google maps for travel agency in Miami. They are still around. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NPTim Posted July 10, 2021 Share Posted July 10, 2021 1 minute ago, crockett said: Just searched on Google maps for travel agency in Miami. They are still around. Dude, you are awesome, thanks. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmohme Posted April 7, 2023 Share Posted April 7, 2023 Privacy is an illusion. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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