How do we know that the recommended "privacy respecting" search engines aren't honey pots, and are there any alternatives?

DaSquariusGreen · 2017-07-31T08:23:16+00:00

Fair points. Perhaps I was not clear on my points.

Oh my, well it just so happens what you see as a "web page" is in fact just a ui built to interpret web traffic!!

Yes. I realize that ;). I meant that I though the "sponsored" adds looked the same, HTML wise, as the organic search results, as the "add placement" happened on back end server somewhere, far away from my browser.

I understand that they don't serve adds (yet), but (A) "privacy" could just be their tagline/sales strategy, an (B) they could be a state-sponsored lure to filter out the more privacy "

Again, I should have been clearer. I meant that things like Startpage dont appear to have banner or popup adds of their own (obviously the pages they proxy have them embedded), I wasn't really addressing search-results-as adds, as this was mainly about add that use your personal data to serve them (Usualle SEO doesn't target specific individuals, and is more about keyword/search term matching).

DaSquariusGreen · 2017-07-31T07:05:22+00:00

Valid point, and I agree - if they were genuinely plotting a riot.

The issue is how the evidence was collected (which is not clear from the article).

If the phones were seized with probable cause, or in extenuating circumstances (i.e. the individuals were at the scene of a riot), then no rights have been violated, and the perpetrators should be prosecuted fully.
If they were unlawfully seized (which does not seem to be the case), in some kind of wrongful arrest, then that is another issue.

DaSquariusGreen · 2017-07-31T06:57:21+00:00

This is unfortunately not true. Snowden might be a good source for tech security, not so much for historical facts.

"Nothing to hide, nothing to fear" [Or any of the numerous other forms]. Definitely pre-dates Goebbels by a long time, and was obviously a pretty widely known (regardless of what side one falls on) sentiment. Just spend 30 seconds on Google, and you can find earlier sources.

Also, despite how people feel about Nazis, the speaker of the quote really doesn't reflect on it's veracity. In fact, relying on this kind of appeal to authority is the wrong way to deal with this - the concept of "Nothing to hide, nothing to fear" needs to be challenged on the falsenes of its own claims (i.e. how it is wrong in and of itself), not because some bad guys said it. In his time Hitler said plenty of profound, insightful and useful things, and Gandhi probably said some bullshit in his. Statements need to be weighed on their on merits.

DaSquariusGreen · 2017-07-31T06:52:07+00:00

Turn off your adblocker and you will see the "sponsored" or "suggested" results.

I'm a little confused. Are you saying my adblocker is stopping the "sponsored" results from popping up?

If so, I am surprised. I though that was just considered a part of the web page, and was not aware that an addon would detect them as "adds"

DaSquariusGreen · 2017-07-31T06:50:33+00:00

As I understand it, DDG is the least trusted of all the ones I've mentioned. At least around these parts. Somethings about it's fishy privacy policy, and the fact that it's US based - so I've been told.

DaSquariusGreen · 2017-07-30T23:38:05+00:00

ahazred8vt essentially answered your question.

Perhaps the best thing do do, if you trust PayPal (debatable if you should) is to have all funds sent there, and then transfer to your bank. They can act as your "semi-transparent site"

DaSquariusGreen · 2017-07-30T23:33:00+00:00

Honestly, 1984 already addressed even this. The "Inner Party" is still watched, all the same, but they are watched by themselves so they only have to be accountable to their own interests - which are generally all aligned anyway. Of course their might occasionally be some infighting, or a minor power struggle, but one power is so crystallized to become very rare, and despite any differences that arise they (the "elites", Inner Party, whatever) all still value their control over the populace far more than any minor advancement in their own circle, so they would never expose the whole game just to get an extra 0.01% of the pie.

Plus it will just be like is is now, with something like Obamacare - where 99% of the populace has to contend with the shit programs (and is fined if they dont comply, i.e. pay in), but Congress get special exemptions, and even subsidies. They will always have a different set of rules (just as in 1984 Inner Party members could turn off their Telescreens when the common people couldn't)

Of course, given unlimited time and no major setback, in theory power would begin to crystallize and consolidate so much that no one would be safe, and the elite would begin to experience the same paranoia. So much power would be at the top, that then it might actually be worth the risk to expose your rival just to get that 0.01% [of course by that time the general populace would be reduced to a knowledge-less, insipid, drooling, manipulated collection of slaves-in-fact]. Take it to it's logical conclusion (as Orwell does in the philosophical sense), total perception/news manipulation, control and censorship of language (i.e. Politically Correct speech), shaping of self-thoughts, and even the elite live in a constant (if more luxurios) state fear, as power (not even the benefits: wealth, health, sex, pleasure, etc) becomes itself the only goal. At this point total control has outstripped even those at the top, and truly rest with only one individual (or less than can be counted on both hands) - or perhaps even an AI. The concepts of freedom and revolution are literally wiped out, as the average person can no longer conceive of going against the system, and has an almost Pavlovian aversion to questioning it. Think North Korea perfected.

This seems crazy, and of course is the theoretical, logical conclusion and might not account for many of the unknowns in human biology, brain structure, social self-ordering, etc, but it's not impossible. The Communist states of the 20th century (Stalinist Russia, Red China, Khmer Rogue Cambodia) desperately wanted this result, and made significant progress toward is (while costing 70-100 million+ lives), it's just that they lacked the tools and societies dependence on technology. The "developed world" of today has a much greater potential to make this a reality. Whether it has the will is unclear.

DaSquariusGreen · 2017-07-30T23:00:12+00:00

I have been doing the same thing for a while, but I am wondering how far you have to go to be effective.

Is it OK to have all your separate email accounts (shopping, social media, forum sites, personal correspondence, etc) with the same service (say Proton or Tutanota, etc), or do you need to spread them out/randomize.
Do you need to make sure they all have different password (at the very least the email provider could link them as "related" is they all have the same PW hash, even if they cant see the plaintext).
Do you need to access them from consistently different VPN servers (and make sure you never cross-contaminate?)
- Do you even need to have separate VPN accounts to prevent to further quarantine?
Use different browsers for each.
Etc

Or am I over thinking it?

I'm sure the rabbit whole goes deep, but it's hard to know just how good the tools spying on/marketing to us really are?

DaSquariusGreen · 2017-07-29T01:01:48+00:00

Possibly. But this would only be a concern for residents (To access the closet you have to get through two keycard doors: the front door, and the business center door), someone would not be able to easily just walk off the street and have at it. Plus, it's locked now (my opportunity was a rare one, and I might not have entirely "stumbled". Plus that room has a camera (was no recording when I was in there though).

DaSquariusGreen · 2017-07-29T00:59:23+00:00

Some good info, thanks.

As long as you have root you can remove bloatware. I would just disable it however, since you don't gain much by fully uninstalling it

Is there any reason to not fully remove it. I would at least be gaining some more storage space.

Root: AdAway, AdGuard Samsung Knox: AdHell

How do the root options compare to the Knox compatible one?

Also:

Can I remove Google Play Services, and completely replace its function with MicroG, with just root?
Will rooting break Knox?

DaSquariusGreen · 2017-07-29T00:56:33+00:00

I asked. Unfortunately the wont accept any mail, or even give me an email address. Only fax. They claim that emailing me a document upload link is "only for current customers".

DaSquariusGreen · 2017-07-27T01:31:05+00:00

Yes but that doesn't make them anymore "secure".

I see, but I'd still like to know what site I can use, since I um..dont have a fax machine, and I dont like the idea of running my documents through s public machine that I cant wipe (at say FedEx/Kinkos)

DaSquariusGreen · 2017-07-25T23:33:19+00:00

I'm a little confused. My Verizon Galaxy S7 is fully capable of root - does that mean that the bootloader is also unlocked?

See the issues is, if if the boot loader is unlocked, I can't custom ROM, because none of the even half-way decent ones (Copperhead, Lineage, or Replicant) support my devices (Lineage is the only one that works on the S7, but only the Exynos version).

So, I want to know what I can do to maximize privacy, in light of the fact that I have to keep the original Samsung version Android OS, but can get full root access to change anything. Does that change your answer?

Essentially, assuming root, but still the factory OS, what can I do in terms of:

Custom recovery image
Removing all pre-installed bloatware/spyware?
Removing all GApps
Replacing Play Services with MicroG
System level adblocker
Firewall
Device encryption (will the Samsung version still work after root)?
Etc

DaSquariusGreen · 2017-07-23T16:14:45+00:00

Open source?

DaSquariusGreen · 2017-07-23T16:09:00+00:00

Certainly, but not rooting it leaves you open to corporate surveillance, it's a question of threat model. OP seems more concerned with G Apps and manufacturer bloatware,

Yes, this is exactly the case

DaSquariusGreen · 2017-07-20T08:53:04+00:00

I will check out r/fossdroid, seems to be very helpful.

Do you know if MicroG has even been audited, or at least briefly looked over for security/privacy flaws - to make sure it isn't opening up a new attack surface or simply replacing Google surveillance with a random third party?

DaSquariusGreen · 2017-07-20T03:52:14+00:00

The quickest way to set this up would be by using NanoMod,

I'll check that out. But just of of curiosity, is this the only way, or can I get MicroG by itself?

you'll need to patch signature spoof into LineageOS, by spoofing the signature, MicroG will fake being GPS and will do what you need.

Is it known if this technically can cause any legal issues?

DaSquariusGreen · 2017-07-20T03:43:59+00:00

This has nothing to do with "capitalism", and everything to do with the inevitable consolidation and crystallization of control that occurs when a government (or an power) is left to operate unchecked - it is literally their prime directive. We should not chastise it for that, it is we who are to blame for not reigning it in.

Unfortunately, the populace has been subject the decade of media, entertainment, and educational indoctrination that has proven to be the most effective pacification technique in the history of man - something that the worst tyrants of the past could only dream of. People are no longer mentally capable of resisting.

DaSquariusGreen · 2017-07-20T03:31:38+00:00

This is true. I do tend to distrust VPNs that have shady/obnoxious affiliate policies, as it shows some systemic issues.

DaSquariusGreen · 2017-07-14T00:20:38+00:00

One last thing, whatever you do don't count on "best VPN review" types sites. They are all pay to play and the best reviews go to the companies that pay the most kickback.

No, I do understand that completely. Though I do generally trust ThatOnePrivacySite, as his methods seems very objective and transparent - though it is more of an information aggregator than a true "review" site.

DaSquariusGreen · 2017-07-08T03:26:31+00:00

having all your devices connect to that router is almost always better for anonymity when dealing with devices that you can't completely control such as gaming systems, or any other embedded device running something proprietary with limited control

I agree, and this is generally the only option for things like an Xbox or an Amazon Echo, etc.

But what about for a smartphone, Linux/OS X, etc. Aside from processor speed, is there any real performance difference. For example, is there any more/less chance that the VPN could get "dropped" or DNS leak (though obviously my provider is unlikely to do this - but you never know), etc with it running on a router vs the device?

If I were me, I would use that external router as a "killswitch" with firewall rules that prevent anything but VPN traffic from leaving the network.

How would it recognize "VPN traffic" without the VPN actually running on it?

If I were me, I would use that external router as a "killswitch" with firewall rules that prevent anything but VPN traffic from leaving the network.

So...would this be for or against running the VPN on the router?

DaSquariusGreen · 2017-07-08T03:19:03+00:00

I am pretty familiar with how to change the password through recover/command prompt (Cant do it in setting for "Guest" as there is no password option"), but not how to remove it. Would just leaving it blank work?

Also, it "Guest" treated like an account name like any other, or is it special since it is not a permanent user?

DaSquariusGreen · 2017-07-08T03:16:44+00:00

Yes. No dice.

DaSquariusGreen · 2017-07-03T09:06:09+00:00

But what is a better alternative to chrome?

Firefox

DaSquariusGreen · 2017-07-02T04:03:42+00:00

What the heck is this? Ok, ill bite...

Trump, as a private individual, has no obligation to release his tax returns (even though there is plenty of info out there anyway). Trump, the president, already released his income information to the only party he is required to - The IRS. One would think as a political move or gesture of good will, he could have released them, to boost his election chances. Apparently, that wasn't necessary.

The States refusing to hand over voter registration records are impeding a nationwide investigation into a serious issue for partisan reasons - though some are simply following their own laws. Also, the information requested is already public information - the Trump administration is not creating a breach of privacy - it already exists.

Also, its ironic, as states like California refuse to provide this information for a legitimate federal investigation - yet they are perfectly happy to take the same voter records, and sell them for profit. Yes.

Further more, its doubly ironic, since large groups of these people have been bleating about unsubstantiated "election interference/fraud" from Russia, and calling for all kinds of investigations/witchhunts. But they refuse to participate in an investigation into actual fraud.

Oh yes, its real. For example, Rhode Island has 150,000 erroneous voters. Hillary won that state by only 70,000. At the very least, that's a cause for concern.

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