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What privacy friendly app/service/stuff makes your life simpler?

I am trying to re-adjust how much effort I want to put into privacy concerns. Too much stuff I'm using isn't working properly or using a lot of my mental resources that I need elsewhere.

For (a bad) example: I recently performed a half-switch from my self-hosted Nextcloud instance to ProtonDrive, in the hope that it would spare me the stress to maintain my private Nextcloud. Unfortunately, it doesn't, as basic functionality like cross-device-sync is not possible (there isn't even a client app for Linux, as of yet).

This brings me to the question: have you found any services/apps/stuff that significantly eases your life while still being privacy friendly?
I know, this is a broad question, but I think this is for the best as this thread then maybe even has use for other users.

Dupree878 ,

Apple

It seems to get derided a lot here, but none of your data is harvested and tied to you or sold. It’s aggregated and anonymised if it’s sent off device, and I stopped using Proton drive when you could finally encrypt iCloud storage.
I even use their email as default now since it’s not reading my messages and selling my info like outlook started doing.

lens17 OP ,

I was considering to switch to apple for this reason, but I've read that in terms of privacy, there's no significant difference between a Pixel Android with Stock OS and an iPhone. This made me hesitant. I really just want things to go smooth and hasslefree without being spied on and coerced...
Do you, by chance, have any reading material on the privacy of apple services I could read up on?

Dupree878 ,

Apple really doesn’t advertise. The data never leaves apple. Everyone else sells your information.

“Apple… is the most privacy-conscious firm out there. Apple only stores the information that is necessary to maintain users’ accounts. This is because their website is not… reliant on advertising revenue. “

Source: https://9to5mac.com/2022/08/25/apple-collect-less-data-than-other-companies/

Andromxda ,
  • uBlock Origin saves time and resources
  • This is a classic one, but with Mullvad VPN I can pretend to be in any country. When combined with Tailscale, it becomes really OP. With Tailscale, I have a secure, flat network, which allows me to access all my devices from anywhere. Things like LocalSend, KDE connect or other apps that normally require all devices to be in a LAN also work over Tailscale.
  • A DNS filter doesn't just help with protecting your privacy, you can also use it to block/restrict distracting websites that you spend too much time on. NextDNS for example lets me restrict social media websites to only work on certain times of the day.
  • Private frontends like Invidious and Piped for YouTube, Redlib for Reddit, SafeTwitch for Twitch (RIP Nitter, Libreddit and Teddit)
  • LibRedirect automatically redirects sites like YouTube, Twitch, Reddit and many more to privacy frontends
  • Alternative desktop/mobile clients for YouTube and Twitch. For YouTube, FreeTube on desktop, LibreTube/Tubular on Android, Yattee with this guide on iOS, Xtra for Twitch on Android. These all block ads or any other annoyances.
  • GrapheneOS makes my life easier in many ways, but I specifically want to mention this one. Since GrapheneOS uses per-connection MAC address randomization by default, I can simply reconnect to a wifi network that wants to restrict my usage. This is so useful on trains/airplanes.
  • UnifiedPush/ntfy allows me to send notifications from my server to my phone. For example it notifies me if one of my self-hosted services goes down (through Uptime Kuma), but I can also use this for Signal notifications through the Molly client for Signal (which also improves security and adds a few other cool things).
sintrenton ,

Two I use a lot daily are
KeePass 2 in various versions, computer as well as tablet. I used KeePass "original" 1 for years, but moved to 2/XC/DX. Occasionally also used for storing notes and not just passwords.

My notetaker, all hands down, though. Joplin, with encryption activated, the file stored for syncing on my privacy oriented community's encrypted NextCloud. I am an avid notetaker, both digital and analogue, and Joplin really fits my needs.

OK, third, honourable mention: Veracrypt

eveninghere ,

As a paranoid I've started writing my own note taking app, and I'm very happy knowing what it doesn't do.

Pher ,

KitchenOwl, an Android app to organize recipes, ingredients and shopping lists, it's FOSS and available on f-droid.

Sunny ,
@Sunny@slrpnk.net avatar

Freetube on PC has really changed it up for me. Vencord over Discord is another I've not seen mentioned yet, basically strips out the telemetry and sandboxes the application.

Shir0a ,

Pair Libre redirect with Freetube and that's been my worry free YouTube experience during all of this anti adblocker business.

Sunny ,
@Sunny@slrpnk.net avatar

Oh yeah totally forgot to mention that! An absolute must if you have freetube indeed 🙌

airikr ,

Vaultwarden, linkding, Snikket, Miniflux, and some more.

shadow_wolf ,

e/os on the phone was a game changer
but mostly just accepting that digital privacy is not going to work if you cannot take a step back from tech and accept that the transaction is your data in exchange for access to new shiny toys you don't need that will never belong to you no matter what they cost.

politicalcustard , (edited )
@politicalcustard@beehaw.org avatar

I am finally really happy with my privacy setup, I am not feeling like there's anything more I need (or want) to do at the moment...

  1. NextDNS on PC and phone
  2. Linux on PC - I do have a drive with Windows (AtlasOS with no Microsoft login) on it for dire emergencies (Rust and Destiny 2)
  3. Mullvad VPN
  4. Degoogled phone with LineageOS
  5. Non-self-hosted Nextcloud
  6. Browsing: FireDragon and Mullvad Browser on PC and Mull on phone
  7. FreeTube for YouTube
Mochipups ,
@Mochipups@mastodon.social avatar

@politicalcustard @lens17 If you're open to advice or ideas, I highly recommend setting up a VPN in your router. That makes sure all devices in your home are protected at all times, and avoid the matrix protocol for all purposes, as it's by Amdocs under the guise of New Vector and The Element Foundation.

politicalcustard ,
@politicalcustard@beehaw.org avatar

That's a good idea about the VPN on the router but it's just my computer and phone that connect to the internet and I maintain a non-"smart" home. It would be nice for guests though. That's interesting about Matrix, I didn't know about that. Sadly, for the moment it will be something I have to live with; I'm in a few groups that use Matrix, but it's good to know though, thanks.

LemmyHead ,

It's a more complex setup to have vpn active on your router though. It's not noob proof, because you'll get blocked from websites like Netflix. I have an openwrt based router that allows be to use device based vpn policies, which is more efficient and effective

TheAnonymouseJoker Mod ,

NewPipe makes life very easy.

OSMAnd+ does not lead me to deadends and weird places, and saves the day when others using Google Maps fails.

folak ,

Revanced Manager

Ilandar ,

If I am being completely honest, there are very few. Convenience is consistently the #1 trade-off when I make privacy-based decisions about which applications and services to use.

An exception I can think of are ad and tracker blockers like uBlock Origin, iodé, etc - I cannot imagine life without them Any time I borrow the phone or computer of someone who doesn't have an equivalent of these installed I am just blown away by how many ads they are confronted with while performing even the simplest tasks. And not just harmless ones, but ads that directly waste their time. I genuinely don't understand how people can live like that unless they just don't know there is an alternative.

I guess another one I can think of is the Aurora Store. The UI is so much cleaner than the Google Play Store's, important settings and features aren't hidden and it has some additional features like Exodus Report that I think are genuinely useful. It's so superior as an application that I actually prefer using it even on devices where the Play Store is installed and working.

haui_lemmy ,
@haui_lemmy@lemmy.giftedmc.com avatar

NC isnt perfect imo but its like having an open source car or house. Its not emergency ready like no downtime, no bugs, no issues but it will do 95% uptime if configured correctly and its is insanely versatile. I cant imagine any other app being this versatile. You can check my setup if you want.

laughterlaughter ,

What's NC? Got a link?

Edit: Ah, NextCloud, I'm assuming...

haui_lemmy ,
@haui_lemmy@lemmy.giftedmc.com avatar

Nextcloud, yes. It is insane. Its a full cloud experience. Documents, bookmarks, pictures, whiteboards and more.

BoisZoi ,
@BoisZoi@lemmy.ml avatar

Niether are open source, but the full versions of AdGuard for each platform, Adguard Public DNS and DuckDuckGo.

delirious_owl ,
@delirious_owl@discuss.online avatar

Monero. No more fighting with banks locking me out of my accounts or blocking my transactions.

ErwinLottemann ,

i wonder why this happens. are you from somewhere where this is common or were your transactions shady? i only got my bank block one transaction for me and that was because i didn't know i had to 'activate' the ability to send money to accounts in the eu

delirious_owl ,
@delirious_owl@discuss.online avatar

Likely its because of all the other privacy tools that I use. Banks don't like it when they can't track you. Every time they think I have a new device. They interpret "oh shit we can't track this person between sessions" as "its suspicious! Lock the account!" ...even though I use the correct username & password on the very first try. Smh

Ultimately this is the result of Machine Leaning algorithms, but terrible ones because they never learn that they false positive 100% of the time on my account.

Anyway, this is never an issue with monero. The transactions can't be blocked. It literally works every time. And I hold the keys, so I don't have to worry about loosing my money because my bank gets hacked (or someone calls them with the knowledge of my mother's maiden name and the last 4 street addresses I had, and uses this public information to reset my password and steal my money)

MichaelTen ,
@MichaelTen@lemmy.world avatar

Monero ftw! Limitless Peace

laughterlaughter ,

I don't understand. How does this bring you peace? Can you pay groceries with monero?

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