Today we announce that we have completely removed all traces of disks being used by our VPN infrastructure!

My girlfriend gave me an Alexa assistant as a gift with all good will, since she knows I like technology. I know in terms of privacy it is garbage, however I wonder if there is a safe way to use some functions of this device, perhaps without internet. Some way to hack it or something, do you guys know something about this?

4get is a metasearch engine, similar to Searx and SearXNG

You can find the source code here: https://git.lolcat.ca/lolcat/4get

And use it here: 4get.ca

I'd like to start a discussion about TV privacy in 2023. I've never been interested in having a TV, but recently I was thinking of getting one. Looking into it, the privacy implications seem horrible. All the major brands seem to have cameras, microphones, and content recognition software. I can't believe how dystopian it is.

I also notice that most of the articles about this are from a few years ago. Are things better now? Do they still collect an Orwellian amount of data?

As I understand it, there are a few mitigation options:

1. Leave it disconnected from the internet and use a separate device for streaming. But it sounds like some brands have incessant nag screens, or disable features until connected to the internet. I was looking into the Samsung Frame TV, but I'm not even sure you can use the art mode without internet. Does anyone know?
2. Pi-hole set up with a blocklist. It's disheartening that such a technical solution would be necessary.
3. Get a commercial "dumb" display. These are more expensive, and usually thicker.
4. Go through the menu and disable privacy violating settings. Does this work? I'm doubtful.

edit: Just to be clear, I am NOT talking about the normal sort of ad tracking that happens when you use streaming services. Netflix knows what you’re watching regardless of what device you use. I’m talking about stuff like a hidden camera recording your facial reactions, microphones recording your private conversations, and screen recording of your viewing activities. This is sci-fi dystopia level creepy.

Did you try all of them?

What made you stick with the one you are currently using?

I became fully aware of Control D only yesterday as the name was vaguely familiar to me when I heard it and for Adguard DNS well I thought it was a normal-ish DNS service like 1 1 1 1, quad9, Google, etc... (not that user configurable).

I tried looking for some reviews and discussions comparing the 3 but found almost nothing about Control D and Adguard DNS but I did stumble upon Control D CEO 2 blog posts comparing Adguard DNS and NextDNS to Control D.

There seems to be not that much talk about these 2 unlike NextDNS which seems way more popular, if I'm correct then what made it way more popular and known?

Hello there!

Edit: I'm sure this post belongs in Privacy@lemmy.ml because this post's concern is with shilling facial recognition, promising benefits for it and overall describing it like the only sane option - "you wouldn't want to stay in line for an hour, now, would you?".

Just bought a Ryanair ticket that was, like, 17 euros. I saw that price and said "Wow! That's like going to a movie but the movie is Slovakia!". Bought the ticket, then received a looooot of spam, among which there was a letter saying that, since I bought from a third-party, I need to verify my identity first. On top there were 2 nice looking buttons that said "Verify Now" and above them there were two ways of verifying my identity enclosed in a nice frame. The first one would only take me 2 minutes and cost only 0.59 cents, and would utilize facial recognition technology,

Uses facial recognition technology. Verify in approx. 2 minutes. Requires a copy of the passenger's identification documentation and a device with a camera.

the other one didn't look so appetizing, because it might have taken up to 7 days (I'd be leaving in 4), it would have no cost (for free) and would use no facial recognition technology, hence the 7 day wait

Verifies the passenger's signature. Verify within 7 days. Requires a copy of the passenger's identification documentation and a device with a camera.

Following the two ways there was a third way, which was in no way highlighted as the first two, and it said that if I wanted, I could go there myself and hand them my passport, but they explicitly dissuade me from doing so because "it would imply a payment of a check-in fee"

Passengers who do not avail of Express Verification or Standard Verification to verify their bookings can verify at the Ryanair ticket desk up to 60 minutes before departure.

However, we do not recommend this option as an airport check-in fee will apply (please see our Table of Fees).

The facial recognition way sounded like an angel's voice among the devil's screams, when compared to the other two. It was presented almost like "an offer JUST for you", like "Look. I normally don't do this, but since you're such a nice guy...". I obviously discarded the facial-recognition way as soon as I read "facial recognition", but also because they so strongly suggested against me paying 55 euros (I called and asked) to them. Now, if the 55 euros are going to Ryanair, it sounds so unreasonable for them to almost refuse taking my money [However, we do not recommend this option as an airport check-in fee will apply (please see our Table of Fees).]. Who doesn't want an extra 55 from each old person that buys their ticket? I would, however, understand if that 55 were to go entirely to the airport, not Ryanair, but I don't think that's how it works (correct me if I'm wrong). It seemed like they wanted to own my face more than my 55 euros, so it must be that they would earn much more from my face than from my wallet. I don't want to allow that. I assume that, when applying to the facial recognition option, I would need to accept a specific ToS allowing them to store and sell my pretty little face around. I can't allow that. I also understand that this is a low-cost flight and they need to reach a certain earning with alternative methods (i.e. selling my face to third-party and whatnot), but since they allow to pay for the ticket AND the 55 for the check-in then that sum must cover the whole thing and it must be the non-low-cost full price. Why then would I sell you my face allowing you to use me to make much more money than you should? For the commodity of doing the verification from my couch in 2 minutes? That's not enough for me to sell myself, and neither should it be for anyone else (who has some, if not pride, then self-respect).

The whole picture looks a bit manipulative to me and I'd rather waste the money I spent on the two-way ticket and airbnb, stay home and never have anything to do with Ryanair.

So my girlfriend has an Alexa and really likes it but I'm not comfortable living in a house with one. How much technical knowledge would I need to make a speaker that connects to a music player app and is voice activated because that is all she uses it for.

I figure I could hook up a raspberry pi to a speaker and add a mic and voice command software that I find somewhere but I've never actually done anything like this before.

How feasible is this

A few minutes ago, I'm just reading the news from the RSS feeder app called Feeder and then suddenly I got a notification from x from Linux handbook which I was seeing in the feeder app. How?

I was taking a look at the Naomi Wu situation (A Chinese DIY tech youtuber who went missing after being watched by the government) and in one part they mentioned that she was concerned about her privacy, so started using Signal, but had a default chinese keyboard that had a keylogger and the police had looked into what she was talking on there.

I'm not sure if it was a mobile only thing, but it was mentioned that the keyboard app was used in like 70% por chinese smarthphones.

Now, I use AnySoftKey and refuse to use default keyboard apps, but how far can we reach on the keyboard security thing? Is typing on a computer or using a physical keyboard on a mobile device 100% safe? I think the keyboard issue is often overlooked and would like to know what recommendations your have? Or what should be known more?

I've tried googling and found Tibio and Mini Moods, but I need to export all data to present to a nurse on a monthly basis with a few written notes here and there. Tibio allows notes, but no export, Mini Moods is the opposite.

Given that I've never been too comfortable writing any mental health stuff anywhere for fear of others reading it, I'm wary of any apps snooping on this data.

Does anyone know of any other options?

I think the best alternative would be LibreWolf

It's discrediting valid concerns against card-payments. It's invalidating how great cash is.

It's when the worst person you know makes a good point.

And things now are so Culture-Wars-y, nobody makes solid analyses any more, that when the far-right say cards are bad, everybody jumps to thinking cards are good.

The French government is considering a law that would require web browsers – like Mozilla's Firefox – to block websites chosen by the government.

😁

We are starting to see for quite some time big tech trying to get the internet under their control. We have seen half of the internet starting to block proxies. Tor is not usable in the normal internet anymore. More and more services require a government issued id for their account.

And now Google went ahead and did the final blow by announcing WEI. If that gets integrated on all popular sites, there will be no more open web. We try to fight back as much as we can, but the bitter truth is most people are already 'good little pets' of these giants.

Most of the people, are not just okay, but want these big brothers to handle everything for them. They want to get their finances, entertainment, social medias, government services all done for them by these giants without them even knowing. They are ready to live as big brother says. Half of them already don't have individual opinions.

Although the fight still continues, It's time to think about plan B. What if most of internet is blocked for us privacy conscious people? We need alternatives. It's time to build an ecosystem that we people can use without the help of popular services. There are already a lot of softwares, but we need to fill the gaps fast. We need an open hardware, accessible and a fully open software stack including everyday apps for most of our needs and entertainments. On PC it's almost there. Mobile terribly lacks in the lowest levels, but have some apps that can help.

PC

For PC, we can still install linux on most devices, so linux. For browsing, we can use firefox or any forks of that. Proton and skiff are good alternatives for basic email, storage etc. For social media we have federated systems like lemmy, services like odysee, mewe etc. Share services that you think should be in this list

Mobile

For mobile, we miss variety in hardware section. One option might be pinephone or other linux phones. Other option might ironically be Pixel. For OS, we can use graph eneOS, cal yx OS, linux based OS etc. But setting it up is currently very hard. For browsing, firefox for android is good (I use it) which also has extensions support. Above mentioned services like proton, skiff, lemmy, odysee, mewe etc. has android apps. For IM we have briar, Session, simpleX etc. Share services that you think should be in this list

Help me document a full recommended ecosystem. Maybe we can have a recommended guide. Maybe there are better options. Discuss.

So today I found this actually amazing Telekom Campaign about the consequences of sharing stuff about your kids. Every parent should watch this it needs to go viral since it's an extremly important topic in todays age.

Please watch following video (Highly reccomend it): https://youtu.be/F4WZ_k0vUDM

Piped Alternative Link: https://piped.video/F4WZ_k0vUDM

Commodification of everything you think off Past/Present/Future.

https://fosstodon.org/@jimsalter/110441094176772187

And since you won't be able to modify web pages, it will also mean the end of customization, either for looks (ie. DarkReader, Stylus), conveniance (ie. Tampermonkey) or accessibility.

The community feedback is... interesting to say the least.

I've been wanting to move on from gmail for a while now, thought about self hosting but I'm afraid I won't have the time or ability to keep it running well for a long period of time. Which service would you guys recommend? I'm not an avid email user, I basically just sign up to websites and send support emails once in a while.

So. I thought about the potential of bad actors sniffing on lemmy data. In theory, you'ld have to trust your lemmy-instance hosted to not be a bad actor and every single server they federated with. That means, it should be really - REALLY - easy for a bad actor of even a nation state actor to set up an instance and just wait for the data of users to pour in.

Theoretically they could see all the posts you ever made, and, every post you upvoted. Which also gives clues on: When are you active, what region are you from, what you like and dislike (obviously), political views, etc.

I mean - Maybe I'm too suspicious but tbh the more I read into this, the more I get a bad feeling about this...

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