unixviking
Crazy computer freak - 1st was a Sinclair ZX-81 in 1982 at the tender age of 11
Fun fact: In 1987 and 1988, I learned the SSP operating system, its administration and the Cobol language on an IBM S/36 - if I had taken the language seriously, it would make me rich today.
Linux and Unix User since 1997
(It all started with
Red Hat Linux 4.2)
Nerd
Linux & FreeBSD - Fanboy
Classic ThinkPad Lover
Sweden & Volvo-Fan
History and ancient cultures, especially Vikings
Member of the Social Democratic Party of Austria
My Hall of Fame:
Ken Thompson
Dennis Ritchie
Brian Kernighan
Doug McIlroy
Peter Weinberger
Rob Pike
Bill Joy
Linus B. Torvalds
Jon Maddog Hall
Richard M. Stallman
Eric S. Raymond
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My Privacy Setup
(And you can do it too - at least a few things):
- First things first: I NEVER use products and services from Google or Microsoft! Neither privately nor professionally - this is a basic requirement for cooperation.
- I only use Linux or FreeBSD on all my computers
- Phone is a De-Googled Pixel with GrapheneOS
- The only apps on the device are Phone, SMS, Signal, Davx5, Calendar, Contacts, Camera, Gallery, Fennec Browser, Clock, Files, Protonmail, ProtonVPN and a Recorder app to talk me notes and reminders on the go. And yes, that's right, just those 14 apps, nothing else.
- No Bluetooth, no WLAN, no NFC, no location enabled
- Flight mode whenever possible and I don't really need the phone
- No smartwatch, no health data collection (And YES, I am wearing an Apple Watch in one of the profile pictures * but that was many years ago when I didn't take privacy so seriously)
- No Google services, no Microsoft, no WhatsApp, no Facebook, no social media * just Fediverse!
- Openstreetmap & Freetube instead of Google Maps & YouTube
- I only use open source software
- I search only with Qwant and SearX
- Firefox with uBlock Origin, Facebook Container, Privacy Badger and Don't track me Google; Private DNS
- Mullvad VPN/Proton VPN
- Proton Mail instead of Gmail and Outlook
- Signal Messenger and Element
- Own Nextcloud for calendar appointments and contacts synchronization, files only on local NAS
- Strong passwords generated and secured locally with KeePass
- Everywhere 2FA with YubiKey Bio
- Hardware encryption
- No customer cards and only cash instead of card payment
- No smart home, no streaming * but a huge music and DVD collection
- No Amazon * buy local!
Sounds crazy and would limit your options or your zest for life? Well, I can say from my own experience that although the changeover is unfamiliar, you soon realize that you don't really need all these things and everything still works. A little different, but it works. You just have to take a step out of your own comfort zone, because a lot of things are just pure habit and convenience.
Try it out and taste the flavor of freedom...
Fight surveillance capitalism!