What are your privacy practices?

[Kodacho]

In the current state of the internet, everything and everyone tries to track you. That's why I dipped my toes into the ocean called "Privacy". It's not a change you can make in one day, but I try to slowly by surely change my habits and the software/technologies I use. Here is what I use:

• Linux Mint, instead of Windows
• VPN (Proton)
• Mail forwarder, so websites don't have your "real" email address (Proton)
• Password manager to limit the chance of password leaks (Proton)
• Browser with built-in and extendible privacy features (Firefox)
• Replace Microsoft Office with LibreOffice

But I am interested in your privacy setup, my goal is to learn more about the subject. Of course there are various scales of privacy awareness and implementation (for example: living in a country with an oppressing government vs. a casual internet user). What is your privacy setup?

 

[suprisedcrankyface]

Isn't the point of privacy privacy?

 

[NeonSelf]

Its not privacy, you just made it a little harder to trace your actual address.

Every webside you log-in has some history on you. Taxi app, delivery app, shopping apps, social media, messaging apps on your smartphone. Your ISP keeps deeply inspecting all packets you send outside. Even if they cant tell where you are connecting to - they can still see that you are trying to hide someting behind VPN or Tor. Also, days of wild interned are over - now every site has to give away its user data if there is an investigation going on.

The only way to stay hidden is staying offline. And it was ok to have no internet access in the 90s in my country. Sure, software got zero updates, after I've installed it from CD. But it was working: documents were printing, games were playing against AI bots or with LAN connection, music was played from CDs.

Even today I turn off 4G\WiFi on my smartphone to play free games - that way they cannot show annoying banners and ads after clearing every level.

My advice is, if you have anything to hide - keep it offline, on a separate PC. Also, dont forget to make backups.

 

[Hagatagar]

Brand new account asks about user privacy and security measures?

 

[That other person]

If you are online then your info is out there, it's pretty much how it goes. I'm pretty sure more of the terms and agreements out there directly tell you about it, but no one reads those and then they are like "What... You're telling me I'm being watched? Outrageous!

Honestly, the only thing I stay away from is torrents because I've never needed it and I rather not piss off my internet provider lol. Even with a VPN and stuff I prefer to just keep it like this as I've had no issue.

The only way to stay hidden is staying offline

This is pretty much the only way really, unless you're like some hacking wizard or a movie super spy or something... I think.

 

[anne O'nymous]

Brand new account asks about user privacy and security measures?

"Hello, dear sir, can you help me enforce my ban evasion?"

 

[Fzeren]

These questions always makes me wonder what people are doing.

What sort of naughty shit are you getting up to, huh?

 

[Insomnimaniac Games]

Shit, guys. I think the CIA found the site.

 

[Kodacho]

These questions always makes me wonder what people are doing.

What sort of naughty shit are you getting up to, huh?

Yeah, because wanting to have a bit of privacy on the internet equals having something to hide? Privacy on the internet is a consumer's right, and many companies don't respect it. You also shit on the toilet with the door opened, and you also don't have any curtains at home?

 

[Fzeren]

Yeah, because wanting to have a bit of privacy on the internet equals having something to hide? Privacy on the internet is a consumer's right, and many companies don't respect it. You also shit on the toilet with the door opened, and you also don't have any curtains at home?

Brother, have you ever heard somebody use the word 'naughty' when making a serious accusation?

 

[anne O'nymous]

Privacy on the internet is a consumer's right, and many companies don't respect it.

Well, strictly speaking they respect your privacy, it's your intimacy that they don't respect. They know everything about you, but don't know who you are.