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    • Showing only topics in ~tech with the tag "privacy". Back to normal view / Search all groups

    1. Does a trustworthy VPN provide privacy? If so, how do you know if a VPN is trustworthy?

      Ask
      It's hard to get a straight answer on this because there are allegations of shilling everywhere when it comes to VPNs (particularly when you discuss specific providers). There's also this post...

      It's hard to get a straight answer on this because there are allegations of shilling everywhere when it comes to VPNs (particularly when you discuss specific providers). There's also this post which gets linked pretty frequently and which seems to throw a wrench in the whole idea.

      For context, I ask because I have two main concerns:

      1. I have been the subject of a mild internet stalking/doxing, and I have no wish to relive that experience.
      2. I live in the United States and, if I am understanding things correctly, my ISP now has the right to sell my browsing data without my consent.

      I have no love for my ISP and am all about the idea of blocking them from gathering data about me, but it seems the only other option is to hand all of my data over to another company who simply promises not to do anything with it. While I'm sure some of them are legitimate, how can you tell the difference between a genuine privacy tool and a honeypot?

      23 votes

    5. Firefox just installed two addons into my browser without consent... again

      Text 74 words
      Here is what just happened to me: Firefox installed two addons - fxmonitor@mozilla.org.xpi and telemetry-coverage-bug1487578@mozilla.org into my browser silently, even though I've explicitly...

      Here is what just happened to me:
      Firefox installed two addons - fxmonitor@mozilla.org.xpi and telemetry-coverage-bug1487578@mozilla.org into my browser silently, even though I've explicitly turned all the telemetry off.
      This have happened before, and Mozilla apologized for it, however it seems that they learned nothing and are willing to do so again.
      There goes the last scrap of my trust into Firefox. I suggest you check your browsers too.

      21 votes

    24. On an internet run by personal information, what do you do to manage yours?

      Text 114 words
      Almost every content provider online tries to access some of your personal info, whether it's to keep itself afloat, improve functionality, or create profits. In 2014, Google made [89.4%]...

      Almost every content provider online tries to access some of your personal info, whether it's to keep itself afloat, improve functionality, or create profits. In 2014, Google made [89.4%] (https://revenuesandprofits.com/how-google-makes-money/) of its profits from advertising, all of which attempts to target users with their interests (though Google does allow this to be disabled).

      What do you do to try and protect yourself from data collection? What software, programs, or browser extensions do you trust to protect you, and not just also monitor your activities?

      If you don't do any of this, why not? To what extent do you think companies should be allowed to use your data?

      30 votes