Hey everyone, I have a free protonmail account for years now and will be losing access to my (main) university mail soon. My proton mail is filling up and I will need a reliable personal mail address going forward. What is the current status with privacy oriented mail providers in the EU? I am willing to pay for my mail service but ideally not too much, protonmail is 4€/mo which is a bit much I think. What is the general opinion now after some months on the protonmail ceo? Will the Swiss privacy laws cause issues soon? What about tuta and mailbox.org? I think I want to switch to my own domain soon so supporting custom domains is definitely something I look for. Also the ability to use imap and not have a separate app would be good. Last time I checked half a year ago I found mailbox to be the best compromise but I decided it’s not worth the hassle yet to deal with my mail provider.

Is it worth unlocking the bootloader on my phone? It's a Samsung with One UI 7.0 (I've been avoiding upgrading to 8.0 since they don't let you unlock it after that). I just want to avoid having Google Services and AI installed. I use my phone to take photos of my art / send it to friends on signal and hate the idea of it being scanned by AI. I use a camera and gallery from fdroid but somehow the default photos app still has access (I know because it makes GIFs of pictures I took even though I marked permissions as "not allowed"). I also would love to get rid of the default apps I don't use. While I can unlock the bootloader (for now), I can't install a custom ROM because there are none compatible with my phone, so will I just be forced into using 8.0 at some point anyway? :( ATP I'm pretty much ready to give up smartphones and get a digital camera for anything I don't feel comfortable feeding to tech companies.

>edit: I changed my location and that seems to have worked for now. still a strange thing that it was localhost and not "site blocked" or something if my location was the issue. my VPN (ExpressVPN) was set to NJ. I switched to Toronto. **___** 🤷 hi all!! has anyone else had this issue and been able to fix it? it happens on any browser (vivaldi, brave, lightning, vivandium...), phone or desktop, if I'm connected to my VPN. I'm using startpage specifically because it's supposed to be privacy-focused... I don't want to keep disconnecting my VPN every time I have to make a search. (internet connection is working perfectly and no issues with other sites) (I have some other search engines I use for specific things, but looking to troubleshoot this if anyone knows the solution...)

I used to run this already sketchy software with its even sketchier crack on my old notebook because I really didn't give a fuck about how syphilitic it was, but now that I need it again and only have my current device, I'm kinda worried. ps: it needs internet connection.

TLDR: 1) I recommend the cyber security related podcast Jack Rhysider's Darknet Diaries. 2) This seemingly (former) normie guy who got hacked and then recovered gave me some insight into how cybercrime can affect people. Probably more related to cyber security and hygiene in general rather than pure privacy. I follow the amazing Jack Rhysider's Darknet Diaries and came across this video in one of his playlists on his YouTube channel. I appreciate and admire people who work with cyber security on either red or blue teams. I am also a huge fan of hackers that use their skills to stand up against oppressive regimes or for instance those hilarious guys that make videos of when they hack scammers. I mean, I obviously realize logically speaking that it must be a truly awful and horrible experience to become the victim of a sinister and malicious cybercrime, but until I saw this video, I had never really felt it. And I still haven't been a victim myself. I've invested a lot of time and energy in learning IT and networking in order to stay safe, both against private individuals but also against state level actors. But that's a different story. It's heartbreaking to hear how the hacker turned his hopes and dreams upsidedown, almost making him want to quit. Hats off for you (young?) man! His dexterity is fucking next level and it's inspirational!

Sorry if this is yesterday's news to you all, but I just found out about this Android app that makes it easier - as in, less steps - to encrypt and send any message in a highlight-copy-paste fashion, with automatic integration in several e-mail front ends. It still receives security updates and the repo is still maintained, but the app is no longer being actively developed to add new features. https://github.com/open-keychain/open-keychain

Smart TVs with an internet connection: Lets grab screenshots and send them to cooperate analysis advertisement department.

I think it is possible to embed invisible information into videos and images. This way peopple could track where you got an image from, the source from which you copied it, and people who copy your image to share it again. https://github.com/ShieldMnt/invisible-watermark Services like youtube or twitter could embed such watermarks into content they serve to specific users without them knowing; Smartphone-cameras could mark images in secret. I guess blurring, rotating or dithering the image could destroy watermarks. Or maybe just sharing a screenshot of an image instead of the original image. Format conversions may help too. Keywords: digital-watermarking. tracking.

I'm gonna delete the account after selling my Quest 2 for the Steam Frame

I don't like Facebook, but my mother and my father-in law both have facebooks. I tried some different social medias but I can't make my mom go because the social medias are from other countries and stuff. Are there any American social medias where my mom would feel comfortable putting her face on? I usually don't put my face on social medias, sometimes I'll put a photo of a guy who kind of looks like me, and choose a photo that's taken from really far away, and people who don't know me that well will think it's me. My mom likes to put a headshot and then pixilated photos of the American flag and quotes from celebrity women she likes. That's kind of a facebook thing. Are there any social medias like that? Merry Christmas to all the Christians. I'm not Christian, so I get to be here. See you after church. I get to enjoy myself, and you're in uncomfortable clothing, hahaha.

Not sure if this is the correct place to ask, but I am using GOS on my 9 Pro and getting very mediocre SOT, like 5hrs. And that is WITH the following modifications: - Play Service has unrestricted battery for notifications - Everything else, if applicable, has restricted battery and no background network. I have 2 profiles but only 1 is active, the Owner one. The secondary i rarely use and I make sure to "end session". The main Owner profile runs default launcher, browser, some messaging apps, youtube, some google stuff, proton stuff. VPN is not on. Display is high res (lowest setting). Smooth display is off. All other stuff like wake on lift, tap to check, AOD...etc. are all OFF. What is your SOT and what settings did you make?

I have never liked PayPal and I am still forced to use them. Did you knew the longest password you can use us 20 characters? (I'm located within the European Union) Anyhow, I want something more private, but still quite convenient to use and have something in between my bank details and the site I'm shopping on. Years some companies make virtual temporary cards. I remember I tried getting privacy.com back in the day but couldn't as it was for Americans and Canadians at the time. Suggestions? :P

Just out of curiosity: Why would Graphene OS only choose Pixel phones? I mean, why should anyone shove money down Googles throat just to decouple from Google?

This is a year-old paper but now there is an easy-to-use implementation of the attack: https://github.com/gommzystudio/device-activity-tracker Signal developers' verdict is WONTFIX: https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Android/pull/14463

I'm making my first post here on Leminal Space because I hear it's a better alternative to Reddit. One that's more privacy-oriented, less rage-baity, and less pro-corporate. About 9 months ago, I made the switch from a smartphone to a flip phone, and boy did it make my life so much better. I've become less dependent on technology, and I've become more self-sufficent. Printing maps with MapQuest and MyOSMmatic have been quite a lot of fun. And I also feel smarter because "Googling things" have become much more inconvenient. Carrying a notebook with me has also allowed me to draw more, and I also feel less distracted. Anyone else switched to a flip phone? If so, what are your ways to manage life without a smart phone?

I tried searching for answers as to why these machines are reaching out to numerous locations despite not using PrusaConnect. Location lookup returns the expected Czech, as well as location across the US. I recently also set a friend up with with an Elegoo printer and that was expectedly noisy as hell, but I was surprised with Prusa being the 'privacy pick'. For those curious, here's the logs since about midnight, it seemingly doesn't talk during the day. ``` 209.51.161.238:123 195.113.144.238:123 23.150.41.122:123 193.29.63.226:123 162.244.81.139:123 64.246.132.14:123 172.104.182.184:123 66.85.78.80:123 68.234.48.70:123 129.250.35.250:123 ``` Edit: Midnight brain forgot what ports are for, and that is for NTP, thanks yall

These cameras simply MUST go. This cannot stand. It's constant surveillance and a huge national security attack surface.

I'm considering the switch to GrapheneOS, so I watched this interview with one of the members of the GrapheneOS team, and honestly, I feel it was a great general introduction to it and touched on common features and misconceptions. For those who don't know, it's one of the most secure and private mobile operating systems out there. Some things that I took away: 1. They touched upon MAC randomization. I researched a bit on my own about what the need for it is. Apparently, it's standard practice to randomize MAC addresses when scanning WiFi connections. However, GrapheneOS (and Pixel firmware) are even better at this, as they make sure they don't leak any other identifiers when doing so. They also allow you to get a new random MAC for every connection that you make (not sure whether this is very useful, as this can cause problems). On a related note, even when WiFi/Bluetooth are "off," stock Android can still scan in the background to improve location accuracy (by matching visible networks/devices against Google's database). So basically, even with WiFi/Bluetooth off, Google still knows where you are. In GrapheneOS, this option is off by default. 2. They have their own reverse proxies that they use to talk to Google on your behalf when needed. 3. Apparently, in the USA you can be compelled to provide a fingerprint or Face ID. Courts have ruled this doesn't violate the 5th Amendment because it's physical, not testimonial. BUT you cannot be compelled to provide a password/PIN. That's considered testimonial evidence, protected by the 5th Amendment. GrapheneOS has a two-factor system where, after using your fingerprint, you still need to enter a PIN, so it helps with this. They also have a BFU state after reboot, which is the safest and requires you to enter your full passphrase.

This is in India, but coming soon to a country near you (or the one you are in already).

https://xcancel.com/H1BeesNuts/status/2002194641551307199#m https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_abuse_of_psychiatry_in_the_Soviet_Union?wprov=sfla1

I downloaded the app from the official website but I have to open the folder and open it from there. Is there anything wrong with having it on the dock? Thanks I'm a newb.

After some consideration, I've decided to replace my consumer router at home with an OpnSense box I control, and use the consumer router as just an access point. The model I have doesn't seem to support OpenWrt but the default firmware supports access point mode complete with mesh functionality, otherwise I would have just installed OpenWrt on it. I still like the consumer router's mesh Wi-Fi capabilities, especially the wireless range extender, but don't trust it enough to let it be the actual root device separating my home network from the open internet. My reasoning is that by having it behind the OpnSense router, I can monitor and detect if it's exfiltrating any "analytics" data and block them. Worst case scenario I realize it's too noisy with the analytics and buy a proper business grade access point, or an M.2 Wi-Fi 6 card with some beefy antennas. Now I'm trying to decide if I should use one of my old mini PCs or if I should get a brand new one with an up to date processor and microcode. The biggest reason I don't want the consumer router to be the root device anymore is because I don't know how well they patch their firmware against attackers constantly scanning the internet for vulnerable devices. I imagine an open source router OS with tons of eyes on it and used by actual professionals would inherently be more secure than whatever proprietary cost cut consumer firmware my current router has. I've already picked out a suitable mini PC I'm not using and the reason I even started down this rabbit hole is because I have it, but after thinking more about it, I'm worried that whatever security I gain might be undermined by the underlying hardware being old and outdated, especially since the processor is definitely pre Spectre/Meltdown and I doubt it's still getting microcode or firmware updates. Again, the reason I ask is because the internet really wants me to think old disused computers are perfect for converting into routers, and I really don't want to buy a new computer if I don't have to. How important is the hardware for a router? Can I expect OpnSense to have sufficient security on pretty much any hardware or will a sufficiently old computer completely defeat the purpose of even switching away from the consumer router? Alternatively, I also have another mini PC with a Ryzen 5 from 2020, and I can reposition it from its current job to router duty, though it would definitely be overkill and wasting the hardware capabilities. Would that be substantially more secure than an older Intel processor? I also have a Raspberry Pi 4 I can put OpenWrt on, would that somehow be more secure than an x64 computer?

I haven't finished watching it, but it has some very interesting data points on privacy and how your privacy is being exposed even when you think it isn't.

> Want to buy online without handing over all your personal details? This sketch shows how to use privacy tools so you do not share unnecessary details with every merchant you interact with. Think email aliases, VOIP numbers, PMBs, and masked cards. > NBTV is a project of the Ludlow Institute, a 501c3 non profit whose mission is to advance freedom through technology. Ordering without revealing your name? With a PO box, virtual card, temporary email, etc.

cross-posted from : https://lemmy.zip/post/55281885 > EU ministers have agreed to launch negotiations on an agreement that would grant US border agencies direct access to personal data stored in EU member state databases, and give EU agencies similar access to US data. The US is demanding access to the databases of all states that are part of its Visa Waiver Programme, for “immigration screening and vetting activities.” This is part of a broader plan to massively increase the amount of sensitive data gathered on travellers.

> Mozilla Corporation has named its new CEO in replacing interim CEO Laura Chambers. > > Anthony Enzor-DeMeo has been named the new CEO of Mozilla Corporation. Anthony Enzor-DeMeo was SVP of Firefox from 2004 to July 2005 and then from July until now was the GM of Firefox at Mozilla. He's written a public message today in his first day serving as the new chief executive for Mozilla. >> Third: Firefox will grow from a browser into a broader ecosystem of trusted software. Firefox will remain our anchor. It will evolve into a modern AI browser and support a portfolio of new and trusted software additions."

https://www.phreeli.com/

Okay, here we go: I woke up to a scam message on my WhatsApp. I just blocked the number, before starting to wonder how they got my number. And guess what I found out? They got a data breach and didn't tell their users a singular thing. And when asked about it, they tried to deny it. ------------------ (In Portuguese for whoever can/wants to read it): https://itshow.com.br/hacker-vende-dados-clientes-infraestrutura-aws-claro/ -------------------- So, here I am to ask: What can I do to avoid getting my phone number "less breacheable"? Is there a specific company that supports brazillian phone numbering I should switch to now?

So far, I'm familiar with T.H.O, Closed Network, and Side Of Burritos on YouTube. Thank you for your recommendations

I have a 4K 120Hz TV that I have blocked from internet access on my router (because it is spyware with no way to turn off the built in microphone) and I have a desktop that supports 4K but I don't want to run my desktop into the ground streaming on it all the time. I'd like one that isn't American I guess if that really matters (seems like it kind of does) but I noticed options are limited unless you want to spend $600 on a mini PC which I don't. I'd like to spend like $200 max if possible for this if possible.