Sounds like you’re left with almost no modern conveniences or technology.
You are right, I forgot one exception. I do use a Google Phone because these have the best support for alternative operating systems. I replaced the Stock Android which is filled with Google spyware with GrapheneOS, an entirely open-source version of Android which makes many privacy and security improvements and gets rid of any Google services. Watch this video to learn more about it: piped.smnz.de/watch?v=yTeAFoQnQPo
On my laptops/computers, I exclusively use Linux. I refuse to touch any bloated, ad- and spyware-infested Windows computer. Yes, even at work. As a DevSecOps and Senior Linux engineer, I am free to choose whatever operating system I want. Free and open-source software is the way to go.
I use Firefox (LibreWolf, a better version of Firefox to be percise) with DuckDuckGo as my search engine, I watch YouTube videos through Piped, I use Signal as my messenger, I use Proton for Email, I self-host Nextcloud for my files, contacts, calenders, etc.
For entertainment, I simply pirate the content which gives me much more freedom compared to shitty streaming services like Netflix. That way, I also don’t have to give these shitty corporations any money. I use the open-source Jellyfin media server to consume content from my media library. I do the same thing using Navidrome for my music.
Regarding Social Media, Lemmy is probably the only thing I use. I don’t need Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or TikTok.
And the list goes on and on. I could write an entire book about avoiding proprietary software and shitty corporations.
ensure you are truly not using any of these companies or their subsidiaries
I do everything in my control to avoid it. I can’t 100% guarantee it, but that’s also not my goal. Not giving them my money or my data is enough for me.
Or even if a mom and pop shop down the street is using technologies, software, or appliances from one of these companies to run their local business…
All of those shitty Big Tech companies including Apple, Google, Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft, Oracle and many others, all corporate Social Media platforms (including Reddit of course, fuck Spez), those shitty Hollywood media corporations, CDNs like Cloudflare or Akamai, Tesla and everything related to Elon Musk, Starbucks, basically all fast food chains, every Chinese or Russian company, every Israeli company, The Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, Nestle and many others. I also try to stay away from PayPal, banks and insurance companies as much as possible, they are criminals.
We shouldn’t just focus on shitty companies. Foundations like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation are basically tax-exempt billionaire investment funds in disguise. This is a great video about the lies of billionaire philanthropy: https://youtube.com/watch?v=OH4uh8cHuto
As always, the paying user has the worst experience. “Purchase” a show, can only watch on a certain console of a certain brand, no transfers, no backups, then it suddenly disappears from the library and nothing can be done....
I want to get back into reading, so I’m thinking of getting a Paperwhite. But I have no idea if it’s possible to transfer files to it from a computer, and I have no experience with pirating books....
I’ve been daily driving Linux for 17 months now (currently on Linux Mint). I have got very comfortable with basic commands and many just works distros (such as Linux Mint, or Pop!_OS) with apt as the package manager. I’ve tried Debian as a distro to try to challenge myself, but have always ran into issues. On my PC, I could...
Another thing that helped me: Get comfortable in the Terminal. Obviously you have to learn some commands and how they work, but just configure your shell and commonly used CLI tools. It makes the experience so much more pleasant. Install a nice shell prompt, set up some aliases for frequently used commands, learn the basics of shell scripting and write your own useful little scripts for things you often have to do, maybe start using Vim and configure it the way you like it. Also explore other shells. Bash is the default shell, but there are better options like zsh or fish. You can watch this video to get some inspiration: youtube.com/watch?v=KKxhf50FIPI. This is actually pretty close to my shell setup. If you want to start customizing bash, check this out: youtube.com/watch?v=b3W7Ky_aaaY.
To continue learning, maybe subscribe to some Linux-oriented YouTube channels. DistroTube makes great videos about Linux, tiling window managers, how to use various commands, how to configure your shell environment, etc. He also reviews many Linux distros or explains why free software is important. If you search any Linux-related topic on YouTube, chances are that DT already made a great video about it.
Obviously that was not entirely serious, but in combination with all the other shit that is incredibly expensive nowadays a $700 charge might actually put some people in financial trouble
Things that make me angry about my current smartphone Samsung Galaxy S21Ultra on a Verizon plan is the mandatory software updates in which they install WITHOUT MY PERMISSION stupid apps like Netflix and addictive gambling games and stacking block games and Candy crush. God knows what else they install without my permission. I...
A Google Pixel running GrapheneOS is your best option. Graphene doesn’t have any Google services by default, no bloatware at all, maximum privacy and security. It’s super easy to install, you can check out this video guide or just read their official documentation.
In my search for knowledge about piracy and the dastardly fellows who partake in it, I came across an issue. How do these pirates attain nintendo switch games? i can’t seem to understand. may anyone who is well versed in this topic provide some knowledge? much appreciated.
Early versions of the switch can easily be hacked, even on later models, you can still install a modchip and dump the games along with the firmware. We will always be 20 steps ahead of Nintendo.
Super pro tip: Do the same for any device that does not absolutely need internet access. Don’t buy IoT garbage that needs to connect to some cloud server. Use local solutions like Jellyfin for media streaming, Navidrome for music, Home Assistant for home automation, etc.
There are so many other things you can self host, Nextcloud for your files, calendars, notes and other stuff, Immich or PhotoPrism for your photos, FreshRSS for news articles and other sources that support RSS feeds, Pi-Hole or AdGuard Home for DNS. Definitely check out !selfhosted.
I’ve been wanting to move away from Dropbox for a long while, but I haven’t been able to find a suitable replacement. Dropbox has always been super convenient and has just worked for me....
If you are a pirate VPN is an essential tool. I am trying to ascertain the popularity of various VPNs in piracy community. In this excerise, I will list several Popular VPNs in the comment if you use one of them just upvote that comment and reply the reason. If you don’t find your VPN listed add a comment with just their name....
I use IVPN and I’m very happy with them. They allow you to make an account without giving out your Email address, you just get a random-generated Account ID (Mullvad does the same btw). They also allow you to pay with Monero, an anonymous crypto currency. I used Mullvad before, Proton VPN and AirVPN are great options as well.
Really interesting read about the history of YouTube adblocking, how the new detection works, how uBO is responding, and how not to block the new popups.
The other options (especially LibreTube) are much better for Privacy as they don’t include any Google trackers and LibreTube doesn’t even connect to Google servers. It proxies everything through a Piped server, meaning Google never sees your IP address or any other connection details. It’s basically anonymized YouTube.
There used to be one, but it was shut down. IMO there shouldn’t be an ‘official’ instance, users should be evenly distributed across instances and everything should be decentralized. The same goes for Mastodon or Lemmy, having most users concentrated on mastodon.social or lemmy.ml is not good. Centralization is pretty much always bad, but it’s the only model of how services on the internet work that new users coming from centralized platforms understand. It’s sad and unfortunate, but we might be able to change that. The more terrible decisions are made by corporations, the more successful will free and open source, decentralized software be. We saw it with Mastodon when Musk bought Twitter, we saw it again with Lemmy when Reddit was fucked by spez.
I absolutely hate Google and won’t ever give them even a single penny. If there’s a creator I like, I support them through Patreon, Ko-fi, Liberapay or preferably anonymous crypto currency like Monero.
Arrrrrrrrrr (lemmy.world)
What Linux distro should I choose?
I’m moving away from Windows and I’m looking for distro for coding and occasional gaming. If more context is needed please let me know.
Ha got eem (h4x0r.host)
Microchips (i.postimg.cc)
What companies have made your blacklist?
What companies will you never give another dollar to?...
Sony is going to remove certain purchased titles from user libraries (www.playstation.com)
As always, the paying user has the worst experience. “Purchase” a show, can only watch on a certain console of a certain brand, no transfers, no backups, then it suddenly disappears from the library and nothing can be done....
Is YouTube starting another attack on third party clients?
I’ve noticed than most of them have stopped working including all invidious and piped instances
E-Books, best places to get them?
I want to get back into reading, so I’m thinking of getting a Paperwhite. But I have no idea if it’s possible to transfer files to it from a computer, and I have no experience with pirating books....
Wanting to improve my Linux skills after 17 months of daily driving Linux
I’ve been daily driving Linux for 17 months now (currently on Linux Mint). I have got very comfortable with basic commands and many just works distros (such as Linux Mint, or Pop!_OS) with apt as the package manager. I’ve tried Debian as a distro to try to challenge myself, but have always ran into issues. On my PC, I could...
Everyone's upset a Youtube blocking adblockers, meanwhile this exists (lemmy.today)
I wasn't in a hurry anyway (lemmy.world)
Next smartphone I buy, which one do you recommend?
Things that make me angry about my current smartphone Samsung Galaxy S21Ultra on a Verizon plan is the mandatory software updates in which they install WITHOUT MY PERMISSION stupid apps like Netflix and addictive gambling games and stacking block games and Candy crush. God knows what else they install without my permission. I...
Continuing my research, how do these "pirates" get the files for nintendo switch games?
In my search for knowledge about piracy and the dastardly fellows who partake in it, I came across an issue. How do these pirates attain nintendo switch games? i can’t seem to understand. may anyone who is well versed in this topic provide some knowledge? much appreciated.
My "Smart"TV keeps connecting to Netflix, and i don't even have Netflix
https://files.catbox.moe/hzglc3.jpg...
What do you use for cloud storage and why?
I’ve been wanting to move away from Dropbox for a long while, but I haven’t been able to find a suitable replacement. Dropbox has always been super convenient and has just worked for me....
What VPN do you use and why?
If you are a pirate VPN is an essential tool. I am trying to ascertain the popularity of various VPNs in piracy community. In this excerise, I will list several Popular VPNs in the comment if you use one of them just upvote that comment and reply the reason. If you don’t find your VPN listed add a comment with just their name....
Awww yeah (lemmy.ml)
Youtube’s Anti-adblock and uBlock Origin (andadinosaur.com)
Really interesting read about the history of YouTube adblocking, how the new detection works, how uBO is responding, and how not to block the new popups.
deleted_by_author
Funtastic 😅 (endlesstalk.org)
Pay up (lemmy.world)