Paul Sutton

Privacy

Mobile Devices

Mobile Devices

I decided to write this article after reading the Free Software Journey article. This is part of the wider FSF Freedom Ladder

This article cites several projects that address Mobile phone freedom. There are different hardware options here, from dedicated phones running a FreeOS or ways to flash / install an existing phone with a new freedom respecting OS (sorry if the terminology is wrong here).

Android Based

Other

As you can see from the above list there are quite a few options, some are forks of Android, so I assume that Free Software repositories such as F-droid works and can provide a good range of Apps for users. See below as I am trying to find out about this.

However my area of concern is things like the Mastodon Apps It seems the only Freedom respecting app for Mastodon is Tooter, which is available for another OS called SailfishOS, so yet another option, so we have a really good, powerful social media replacement, but it seems rather limited connectivity from mobile devices, (unless you are running IOS or Android).

I don't feel this is very helpful. Sailfish, to its credit does have what looks like a very good section on development. I feel that for these alternatives to really take off, the apps need to be there, and not just in the hands of developers, but end users such as myself. I am not interested in using mainstream social media.

Also we need to make it clear if an app works on other systems that are derived from Android for example. (see below)

So we need several things

  1. More developers for the actual operating systems
    • Help for people wanting to start with development
  2. More development for the hardware
    • Again help for those who want to get involved
  3. Testers, and help for testers
  4. End users to actually use the system
    • Provide a very easy way for non technical people to report problems
    • Community need to LISTEN to concerns, reports and take action
  5. Ensure ALL these apps are available on ALL the different mobile OSs or as many as possible.
    • This will need developers, testers and users being able to come together.

Links

Free Software and Hardware

Working on some ideas

I have created a thread here on Fediverse Town to try and ask for some information on which apps work on which mobile operating systems, so Android and importantly Android derived Operating systems.

I have also split the OS list up, so that the OS's derived from Android are clearly identified.

I am not making the assumption they just work or that they are in F-droid.

Updates

31-1-2022 – https://codeberg.org/fediverse/delightful-fediverse-clients

TAGS

#Hardware,#Phones,#Free,#Open,#Privacy,#Mobile,#mobile

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Google Analytics declared illegal in the EU

This news has just broken.

Could have some interesting implications, even though the UK has left the EU, the UK has adopted the GDPR.

A good step for people currently using google analytics would be to swtich to something like Matomo (see link below) which is an alternative.

Links

Tags

#EU,GDPR,Ruling,#GoogleAnalytics,#Illegal,#Alternative,#Matomo,#Data,#Privacy,#DataProtection

Privacy tools list

A discussion on Mastodon on Sunday, resulted in being directed to this excellent list of privacy tools, There is a lot to go through here so if you are looking for alternatives to proprietary solutions this is very worth checking out.

Links

Tags

#Tools,#WebServices,#Software,#Privacy,#Alternative,#Replacements

The Tor Project – State of the Onion

The Tor Project – State of the Onion

If anyone is interested in the Tor Project, there is an update on the 28th December.

Every year people from the Tor Project communities present the State of the Onion, a compilation of updates from our different projects, at conferences around the world. We use this opportunity to talk about highlights of the work we’ve accomplished during the year and what we are excited about in the upcoming year.

Links

Tags

#Update,#TorProject,#Privacy,#TheOnionRouter

Data Detox Kit: Workshops

This looks like a really good resource, I will download and see what I can do with this. It could make a really good discussion topic at the Paignton Library STEM group.

Links

Tags

#DataDetox,#TacticalTech,#Data,#Privacy,#Control,#User,#Safety

A few useful links

The following is shared from Mastodon. Hopefully will help spread the word little.

Ade Malsasa Akbar @[email protected]

https://floss.social/@ademalsasa

Mastodon Posts June 2020

Alternatives (added 11/8/2021)

Switching https://switching.software #Privacy Tools https://privacytools.io #PRISM Break https://prism-break.org android: Droid Break https://droid-break.info #FreeSoftware Directory https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Category:Collection #Games https://libregamewiki.org signal: Secure #Messengers https://securemessagingapps.com #Photography https://pixls.us/software #Distros https://computefreely.org fediverse: #Social https://fediverse.party

Update 25/4/2022

This link was sent to me in April 2022. Not had time to check it out yet. Privacy tools – search history

#FreeSoftWare #FOSS #Mastodon,#Games,#Social,#GNU,#Photography,#Android,#Communication(s),#Privacy

Tor Project Employment Vacancies

I decided to share this as the Tor Project is still looking for people to help with the project. These are PAID opportunities even though there are plenty of Volunteer opportunities too.

Details of the latest vacancies can be found here

You can also follow the Tor project on Mastodon as well as other social media and communication platforms. Details are on their contact page.

Hope this helps

#Tor,#Project,#Privacy,#Employment,#Vacancies

International coalition calls for action against surveillance-based advertising

Interesting article, this fightback has now started, there is hopefully no going back and we will see an end to all this tracking, advertising and other unwanted nonsense.

**Groups in Europe and U.S. ask for action to end practices that threaten citizens’ rights. **

` Every day, consumers are exposed to extensive commercial surveillance online. This leads to manipulation, fraud, discrimination and privacy violations. Information about what we like, our purchases, mental and physical health, sexual orientation, location and political views are collected, combined and used under the guise of targeting advertising. You can read the full article at [1]. I have also included a link to a Discourse thread as well as a link to the Data Detox kit.

REFERENCES

1 Article 2. Discourse Discussion 3. Data Detox Kit

TAGS

#YearOfTheFediverse,,Report,#Threats,#Consumers,#Surveillance, #advertising,#Privacy,#Adverts,#Profit,#Digital,#Rights

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Ubuntu 21.04

The new features found in Ubuntu 21.04 [1]

A quick overview of the features of the latest release of the Ubuntu operating system (OS).

This video is provided via Invidious, which is a front end to Youtube, twitter etc that filters out tracking etc. This can be done automatically via Privacy Redirect plug-in [2] for Firefox.

REFERENCES

1 Ubuntu 2 Privacy Redirect

TAGS

#Linux,#Ubuntu,#2104.#Release,#April2021 ,#Video,#Invidious,#Privacy,#Redirect,#Browser,#Plugin.NoTracking

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Watomatic

After 15th May you can either accept the new terms set down by WhatsApp or you will need to leave the service, there are alternatives such XMPP, however you may want something to auto respond to message to let your folowers know you have swtiched.

Watomatic sends an automated reply to everyone contacting you on WhatsApp. This is especially useful if you are planning to migrate away from WhatsApp but can also be used as a vacation responder.

REFERENCES

TAGS

#YearOfTheFediverse,#Android,#WhatsAPP,#AutoRespond,#App,#Privacy,#TermsAndConditions

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