Now, I am hoping I am not the only one in this community who has realized that privacy should be one of the top considerations when choosing what software to use on any device.

Leaving Reddit has been the catalyst for me to realize this, as silly as that might sound, and now I have to re-evaluate my list of “convenient” apps that are in NO WAY secure or private.

I want to ask everyone here if they have any recommendations for essentially replacement applications for all of the major categories of software that we use on our computers and mobile devices.

For example, here are some of the switches I made today: Chrome Mobile > Opera Mobile Chrome Desktop > Opera Desktop Facebook Messenger > Signal Facebook Social Media > No alternative just deleted it.

My hope with this post is that we can have a discussion on privacy apps in general as trying to track down information for each sector one by one and test each out can be arduous.

To kick off the discussion here are some other categories that I have not figured out an answer for yet:

Search Engines (duckduckgo is mentioned a lot, why?) Operating Systems Cloud Storage Email Providers Podcasts Video/Music Services (Youtube, Paid services, etc) Environment Specific advice for Android, iOS, and any others.

Also if it makes sense, should we consider privacy when choosing, say, a news website to frequent? Or would browser choice ultimately be the decider there.

  • Rin@beehaw.orgEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    I think one other thing (as many other posters have mentioned great resources already, so I’d just be reiterating what you’ve already said) to consider is that …it doesn’t have to happen all at once. You can move one thing at a time, you don’t have to burn yourself out or exhaust yourself trying to set up everything in one day, or read up on every little thing. take your time, evaluate your options. don’t feel locked in to anything, since things can always change.

    I personally use:

    • Proton Mail (and their other apps as well, including SimpleLogin, aside from their password manager. I personally find it worth it to pay for their services. I used Tutanota in the past)
    • Librewolf (as a browser, I used to use Vivaldi but I wanted to move away from Chrome, however I still like Vivaldi, for the record)
    • Bitwarden (password manager)
    • Kagi (as a search engine, I’m very fond of it and splitting the cost of a duo subscription with my partner. I used to use Ecosia)
    • various web browser extensions (canvas blocker, uMatrix, Librewolf has uBlockOrigin baked in)
    • Pi-hole (was my first raspberry pi project ever! I’m still very proud of figuring this out on my own)
    • Invidious (I use it instead of Youtube specifically, as a Youtube front-end, and I prefer it a lot, it’s so much less busy and thus easier for me to focus on the video)
    • Yubikey (for what it works for, I just feel safer using one)

    I have plans to move to a home media server where I can store my photos, shows, and music. although this is kind of above what I’m capable of, so I’m getting help.

    I think it’s awesome you’re trying to get more opinions, and I hope you find things that work for you!

  • flatbield@beehaw.orgEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    Also please realize, that the Threadiverse is not so much about privacy. Pretty much everything we do here is public. Moving to the threadiverse is more about avoiding the “shitification” movement at R$, and the other sorts of user manipulation, and walled gardening that are happening or may happen.

    • iMach@beehaw.orgEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      +1 for alternativeto. Searching for alternatives to popular apps using the filters like “Open Source” as well as operating system, privacy, etc… is a game changer. There’s also comment sections where people sometimes elaborate on certain things like differences between the app you’re comparing to.