I have not always had an interest in data privacy. Actually, it took me moving in to being a data engineer in the marketing world to really realise the intense nature of data capture.

Like, I am sure, a large proprotion of the privacy aware population, it is not that there is anything to hide, just that privacy of data should be a right. It is one of the reasons I stepped away from most social networks, try to de-Google as much as I can and take care in my data landscape.

But, how does everyone else manage theirs? It would be good to share some useful tips, resources, tools, etc. that the wider community (as it grows) can use.

For me, I use:

  • A VPN (Mullvad in this case)
  • Firefox with ‘some’ hardening (don’t want to totally cripple the online experience)
  • Windows OS with telemtry disabled across the system (never perfect but I am happy)
  • Simplewall (Windows App) to manage some outbound traffic
  • Random password generators (exact logic is incredibly unique to me)
  • Android (mobile) with as much telemetry disabled as possible
  • Privacy Guides, a great website to keep atop of new updates
  • Various threat landscape blogs and podcasts

Listing it out, it sounds like I do a lot but this is pretty tame. I accept that there is a balance between user experience and privacy. Yes, I could totally de-Google my phone but then a lot of useful functionality is lost. Same with Windows, I could move to Linux full-time (and would if I could) but I am a gamer and, while Linux is improving in that landscape, it ain’t great just yet.

  • lypticdnaOPM
    2·
    1 year ago

    Haha, I get the whole “tinfoil hat” topic. Often comes up when I bang the drum of privacy. You setup @tkc@feddit.uk is definately where I want to be and making moves to get there. I have my laptop on Arch but my desktop is still very much Windows. I do check outbound traffic with each update and telemetery is not a huge issue though I imagine something is getting through.

    Good to see you are both using PiHole too. I have not gone through the process of setting that up yet but it is on my list of things to do. I am sure I will be surprised with how much is leaking out from the many other devices connected to my network. Still, having kids at home, makes it a little more difficult to just go hardcore blackout (turns out blocking Facebook domains on the home networks is frowned on by the family).

    • tkc
      2·
      1 year ago

      I think I’m at a happy medium. Theres not much I would want to do, either because of the impact or effort involved. It was fun at dirsr, but now maintainance and doing things “correctly” really is just work sometimes.

      Truthfully, there are also times I concede. It’s really hard to preach the message when you’re lost in the rain and no one has the patience to understand why you dont want to use Google Maps or Uber haha.

      I have had to let some things through, like FB and Instagram. The Hayu app refusing to play anything unless it can reach its ad/telemetet servees!

      My partner understands and is supportive, but just doesn’t seem ultimately bothered by it. I think it takes some being on the other side of the curtain to truely understand.