Session messenger android client currently feels unpolished while simplex seems to require it to run in the background for instant notifications. Is there an alternative that is better than those 2?

In recent weeks, I’ve noticed a rise in censorship regarding SMS communication that’s not being discussed. At all. I’m concerned that it may become a slippery slope that eventually effects us all. I don’t have any dramatic, prose-ridden introduction this week. Just some news, facts, and observations I wanted to share. So this week, follow me down the rabbit hole as I explore an existing but rising threat to our free speech and what we can do about it.

Our garage flooded last night (not the first time) and so I want to install some water sensors in the garage and basement. There's dumb ones that look similar to a smoke detector, but all they do is make noise, which I'm willing to bet I won't hear since I can barely hear the smoke detector in the kitchen when I'm upstairs. thats why I want a smart system so it rings an alarm on my phone as well, though if there was something with like a repeater I could install upstairs that would work too. thanks all

A friend of mine is helping me with setting up a Linux-based homebrew security system set up. He's currently using Wyze cameras, but they are faulty and have ads on them, so I'd like to find something more open-source/closed system that I can control completely. Any recommendations or pointers in the right direction would be great.

I wanna know if MATRIX recipients know my IP, and more globally what the recipients know about me (how the matrix protocol works). THX

Hi there,

I'm currently going through some significant changes in my life. I'll be making a professional transition soon by leaving Paris for a more rural area, but I won't bore you with all the details.

My issue is that I really value my privacy and dislike big tech companies like gafam. To protect myself, I use Pihole and only allow an old phone to have access to meta products.

I recently caved in and reactivated my old Facebook and Instagram accounts to help with advertising, along with using a platform similar to Hootsuite to streamline things. When responding to private messages on Instagram, I use Aeroinsta to block ads and telemetry.

I'm managing okay so far, but I've seen the success some people have on TikTok and feel tempted to create an account. The thought of it turns my stomach, though.

If you're in a similar situation where online communication is vital, how do you navigate it? Have you found any alternative apps for TikTok like Aerosinsta ?

I'd really appreciate hearing from you and getting some insights. Thank you for your input.

Is the Google Services Framework ID (GSF ID) visible and accessible to all apps downloaded on mobile device running on Android 10 or higher? Or is the GSF ID only visible and accessible to privileged apps on the device?

I don't know if this is the correct community to post this. I have a Smart TV from a Greek manufacturer named TurboX. Not Android TV, Smart TV. This means that it has Internet access, has some pre-installed apps, but I can't install any other apps on it. The menus thankfully don't have any ads. However, the Youtube app has. I highly doubt there is any way to remove those, but if you guys know or found any, can you let me know?

Thanks.

I was watching Eric Murphy's video on "Privacy faigue" and it certainly provided some food for thought. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ab6ryHD_ahQ)

I like how he conceptualizes privacy as multilevelled, with no one-size-fits-all solution, which should be tailored based on the individual's threat model.

So, with that in mind: what would y'all consider your threat model?

As far as I'm concerned I suppose my main goal is to avoid advertisements, particularly targeted advertisement. Additionally I would obviously like to avoid getting hacked, but I know I'm not being targeted particularly (and wouldn't be a worthwhile target anyway). Curious to see if I have any obvious blindspots that could be remedied based on everyone else's answers.

Idk if anyone had a similar problem before, but I live in EU by the countryside, at first there were only a few but now it happens more and more often to see drones passing over my house, I am sure they are civilian drones because law enforcement has no reason to use them since the area is quiet (and honestly I doubt they would be able to do so), however it bothers me enough to know that there are people who get over the fence and enter my property going to look at what they want, does anyone have any advice on what to do?

Developers (two dudes) are super responsive and would likely release an IP customization feature upon request. Is there any service that would tolerate this [D]DOS-y kind of behavior that would feel more privacy friendly than Cloudflare?

IsThereNet [for macOS] watches for internet connection status changes and draws a colored line at the top of the screen to indicate the status.

Edit: Thanks everybody!

(1) ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) Echo Requests hardly constitute a burden on a server.
(2) There is little privacy concern simply exposing your IP to Cloudflare.
(3) Uptime-Kuma can be self hosted to accomplish this task with more bells and whistles.
(4) There is an appetite for daydreaming of DDOSing bad Alphabetic actors ;) You civilly digidisobedient rascals!

Hey Privacy people,

I am looking for a OneNote alternative for all my campaign notes for my tabletop RPGs. I was looking at Obsidian.md as an option and wondering what their data collection is like?

Fot all my personal and private notes I use standard notes but the free version is not quite roboist enougj. I can't afford to pay premium any time soon I need a free option I can use.

Any suggestions ?

Today EU governments will not adopt their position on the EU regulation on “combating child sexual abuse”, the so-called chat control regulation, as planned, which would have heralded the end of private messages and secure encryption. The Belgian Council presidency postponed the vote at short notice.

Seen on jwz's site. Be super careful before posting anything low-effort over there!

I am working on a simple static website that gives visitors basic information about myself and the work I do. I want this as a way use to introduce myself to potential clients, collaborators, etc., rather than rely solely on LinkedIn as my visiting card.

This may seem sound rather oxymoronic given that I am literally going to be placing (some relevant) details about myself and my work on the internet, but I want to limit the websites' access from bots, web scraping and content collection for LLMs.

Is the a realistic expectation?

Also, any suggestions on privacy respecting, yet inexpensive domains that I can purchase in Europe would be of super great help.

Televisions that can stream platforms like Hulu or Max usually come loaded with technology that collects information on what viewers are watching, and buyers consent to have their viewing tracked when they open their new TV and click through terms of service agreements. Sometimes, data firms can connect those viewing habits to a voter’s phone or laptop via their IP address, promising a trove of information about an individual and the ability to track them across screens.

Other times, firms focus on dividing households into groups based on what they’re watching, how they use their TVs and how many campaign ads they’re seeing, which is a boon to political campaigns eager to target specific groups of voters. Connecting this data to voter files is increasingly a focus — a move that adds individual voting habits into the mix.

It saddens me to admit, but google maps is by far the best maps app, ig all that stalking does come in handy. OSM just doesn't have nearly as much data or information about certain places

So I was thinking, if you can proxy google's search results via something like startpage, is there an app that can do the same for google maps? As of now I've yet to find one

This is really good for encrypted content such as a hard drive, password vault or gpg key