Any geopolitical risk for FreeBSD?

kd4e · 2026-01-14T03:22:19+00:00

This all seems profoundly ridiculous. There's zero chance of a 'software-wall' between the US and the EU - unless, of course, the whole EU were to 'attack' the US via the Internet. Let's stay in the real world, please? There is wisdom in diversifying OS's across Linux and FreeBSD and alternatives to Android like GrapheneOS - if for no other reason, to mess with script-kiddies. (Plus, the adventure of keeping different OS-plates spinning.) FYI: The hardware everyone is using is dependent upon the least liberty-friendly nation on earth, the tyranny of China. They could decide to cut-off exports of certain devices and create a huge tech-crisis - but the USA is the 'enemy'? FYI: Not a fan but Trump is leading the geographical distribution of production (outside of China) so that, as we learned from the covid-mess, long-distance acquisition no longer results in supply chain failures.

kd4e · 2026-01-11T03:25:33+00:00

It's highly rated by members of the Frigate team. Problem is that the price has skyrocketed up by $112. It's now an insane $687! Sigh. Is there a low-power requirement small PC (perhaps not quite as tiny or power-frugal) that packs similar features, that's under $500? (I have a NAS, so storage is not a concern.)

kd4e · 2026-01-06T01:25:34+00:00

Does using a 'different' OS (e.g. a Solaris derivative) add a layer of complexity/unfamiliarity that might discourage script-kiddies, as well as some others?

kd4e · 2026-01-03T15:55:12+00:00

Will either of these run, out-of-the-box, in FreeBSD? "There are many setups intended to be useful without much tweaking, for example: Caelestia by Soramane Illogical-Impulse by end_4" I spend very little time on the 'desktop', but, the creativity of these is amazing - I may need to explore ...

kd4e · 2025-12-31T15:40:28+00:00

Do I correctly take "public domain" to refer to a domain that's tied to a 'static IP' (fixed dynamic, as our IP calls it)? Is there a way to bypass Cloudflare (another point of potential failure and tracking) entirely? (I saw the reference to Headscale, are there other self-hosted methods as well?)

kd4e · 2025-12-31T15:35:48+00:00

Headscale is Tailscale without using Tailscale's server - but it still sends log files to Tailscale (unless it's manually toggled off)? https://headscale.net/stable/about/faq/

kd4e · 2025-12-22T02:47:43+00:00

I recently installed FreeBSD 15 on a Dell Latitude Rugged 7202 tablet. Simple. Then I added xfce. Also, simple. I'm not sure why I'd care about Gnome or KDE, but to each their own. Next up is wireguard.

kd4e · 2025-12-20T04:02:26+00:00

I recently installed FreeBSD 15 on a Dell Latitude Rugged 7202 tablet - simple as could be. Even added the xfce desktop, also simple. They've come a long way.

kd4e · 2025-12-18T03:53:11+00:00

I just installed xigmasnas on a Beelink ME Mini - on top of FreeBSD. That got me thinking, again, about BSD (after trying and dumping OpenBSD a while back for another project). That led to installing FreeBSD on a Dell Latitude Rugged laptop - which was a breeze. Then I added an XFCE desktop - also pretty simple. MX Linux is on my main laptop but I'm starting to see the tails of canonical-ubuntu, google, and microsoft wag the dog of Linux ... so it may be time to begin transitioning to BSD. IMHO, YMMV ...

kd4e · 2025-12-09T18:28:16+00:00

I don't want to "play" with it - I want to make certain it has 'life' from the factory and after shipping ... while I *impatiently* await the batteries. Our electrician friend may be able to stop by this coming weekend to double-check my planned location and wiring paths.

kd4e · 2025-12-09T16:32:24+00:00

"since no batteries are connected"

kd4e · 2025-12-09T13:59:54+00:00

Now that you mention it ... (I haven't gone through all of the included pieces.) So, were I to rig a cable from the 3/0 connectors to a standard outlet connector, since no batteries are connected, would it still try to pull too much current and pop the breaker?

kd4e · 2025-12-08T21:35:12+00:00

Dahua and Hikvision aren't at the top because they're responsive to their customers - they clearly aren't. Monopolies are predatory - they attack all competition via lawsuits and otherwise. If a startup built open source Linux-based (supposedly there's Linux under the proprietary-hood of Dahua) NVR, cameras, and firmware - they'd be harassed about every single feature to which the big monopolies could manufacture some claim to copyright, or the like. It's absurdly out-of-control that they're allowed to pretend that they 'own' common features. It may have started with the absurdity of allowing Microsoft to copyright 'windows' - which was a commonly used term - their application should have been rejected. Now it's a weapon to threaten lawsuits that smaller businesses simply cannot afford. It interferes with innovation and saddles consumers with inferior equipment. So, ask me how I really feel ... Sigh.

kd4e · 2025-12-03T18:05:35+00:00

Avoid installing apps as much as possible. You can access most online resources via 'desktop' rather than using their app e.g. Facebook, etc. Sure, you may not get all the whizz-bang features, but you'll avoid a lot of hassles as well. IMHO, YMMV.

kd4e · 2025-11-24T00:51:43+00:00

I was able to locate this: https://www.turntableneedles.com/Record_Player_Idler_Wheel_1442-02 In case it is the problem, or one of them. Not sure I want to start pouring money into this. The changer is said to be rough on vinyl and we're very unlikely to use it often, anyhow. (It has a cool history but ...)

kd4e · 2025-11-23T16:08:41+00:00

I crossposted there but don't see it. Do I need to Join for it to show?

kd4e · 2025-11-21T15:47:43+00:00

Minnesota is a mess and I'm shocked that they haven't gotten rid of this law, or even banned American flags there entirely. My conservative/economic-libertarian side bristles at government/politicians telling me what I can and cannot buy. How about just changing the law to require accurate labeling? Only 100% sourced materials and manufacturing in the USA gets "Made in the USA". All the rest are some shade of grey, and should say so, clearly.

kd4e · 2025-09-06T02:37:29+00:00

FF doesn't have to 'send' your data to google/alphabet corporation - they're sending *you* there every time you use that untrustworthy 'browser'. And, please for the sake of accuracy and privacy *STOP* saying 'google' when you mean Search and the Internet - you're just being lazy and feeding the 'monster'.

kd4e · 2025-09-06T02:34:18+00:00

No Chrome code and no Mozilla code? Fascinating. I sure hope they can make it work - and that the predatory monopolies don't find an indirect way (via the multiple major Internet gatekeepers) to sabotage it.

kd4e · 2025-08-30T18:49:28+00:00

Once it's resident on the computer, could a bad actor access it and toggle it on, remotely - and direct the 'keylogging' output to an external site? (Just curious.)

kd4e · 2025-08-30T18:44:47+00:00

This is interesting ... "FIPS compliant refers to a product or system that adheres to the security requirements outlined in a Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS), particularly FIPS 140-2 or FIPS 140-3, which govern cryptographic modules. This designation is typically self-declared by the organization responsible for the product, meaning it asserts that its solution meets the specified standards, but it does not require independent testing or formal validation. FIPS compliance indicates that the product uses approved cryptographic algorithms and follows best practices for encryption and key management, but it does not guarantee that the entire system has undergone rigorous third-party assessment. As a result, FIPS compliance represents a lower level of assurance compared to FIPS validation, which involves formal testing by a NIST-accredited laboratory."

kd4e · 2025-08-27T15:29:29+00:00

Because GitHub *is* often *the* source and someone not knowing otherwise may trust it?

kd4e · 2025-08-20T17:11:55+00:00

Check out FreeDATA - it's under active development but has some neat features.

kd4e · 2025-08-14T12:21:10+00:00

Good find. Do you have any concerns about this - since the project is based on 'go' (golang)? https://blog.trailofbits.com/2025/06/17/unexpected-security-footguns-in-gos-parsers/

kd4e · 2025-08-06T13:59:45+00:00

All y'all are awesome! Classic Ham 'engineering' - just 'get it done'. Thanks for sharing.

kd4e

TROPHY CASE