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Ok so I'm frustrated because I got this portable SSD thinking I could backup my computer and also run Linux from it. This is not true. So I've backed up my computer and have tremendous amounts of space for additional stuff.

In the meantime, I've gotten VirtualBox and have installed and am playing around with Linux Mint Cinnamon there.

I've also gotten SimpleX, Bitchat, MapleAI, Proton Drive.

What else should I be looking into if I'm going to be trying to lead people into tech sovereignty?

#asknostr

Daedalus 5d ago

I don't see a reason why you couldn't. You could just make two partitions of the external drive: one for your Linux install, the other for a backup. Then in your BIOS you could boot from the Linux install. A bit technical but if you talk to MapleAI or nano-gpt about it they could probably give you a step by step.

Those are some of the best applications for privacy tech. Beyond that the best password manager is KeePass. Best browser against fingerprinting is Mullvad Browser (Tor browser without Tor). Its the only desktop browser that consistently fools fingerprint.com for me. Don't sleep on Tor Browser for daily use too, it has great privacy protections vs even Mullvad + VPN.

Speaking of VPNs, Mullvad or NYM are the best right now no question. Both go beyond simple IP obfuscation and mask packet fingerprinting which is a huge privacy boost.

Another thing to look into is an OpenWRT router, like the OpenWRT One. You just use it instead of your ISPs router and because the firmware is FOSS you have no spyware, higher performance, and can add a router level VPN, custom DNS, and more privacy features. I'd say don't worry about that yet your OS choice is most important I'd focus on Linux and GrapheneOS for a while until you're feeling the itch to go further again. Important not to get overwhelmed, never let perfect be the enemy of good.

Can't think of much else you're going really deep into it which is incredible I'm quite impressed.

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Discussion

Kip Ashlynn 4d ago

Ok taking this one at a time:

1) I think the "a bit technical" partitions while booting is assuming a lot more technical prowess than I currently have. I am working with Maple AI but ran out of credits almost immediately; working with ChatGPT as I still have that subscription until the end of the month and it is absolutely maddening because it'll say something is possible then as I go to check via YouTube tutorial it says it will overwrite everything. I'm already nervous enough about that so I am being cautious and waiting till I can find a spare USB.

2) What is fingerprinting?

3) Thank you for mentioning OpenWRT router, that seems really cool. Ever since I've heard the wifi routers can basically map everything in your house it's felt like a freaky hostage relationship 😱

4) Thank you, it's very hard to do and uncomfortable and overwhelming but at a certain point I just need to jump in with both feet and learn how to swim 👙

Daedalus 4d ago

1) I'd say don't worry about the partitions then, either keep practicing in the VM or get a flash drive and install Linux Mint on there that way you can boot from it on your computer and play around with it on your PC without worrying about partioning drives. Partitions can be tricky and can result in data loss so your hesitation is warranted.

There's also something to say about just diving in head first and making it work. When I was a kid I had Ubuntu as a dual boot and played with it a bit but it wasn't until I became an adult and went down the privacy rabbit whole that I did a complete switch and had to figure out quickly how to remake my workflows. Had I gone all in at an earlier age who knows where I'd be today.

2) Your IP isn't the only info webpages get when you visit them. Perhaps check out this article for details https://mullvad.net/en/browser/browser-fingerprinting if you go to fingerprint.com then note the visitor ID then change your VPN server, you'll not that on most browsers the website will recognize you as the same user. Fingerprint resistant browsers like Tor Browser or Mullvad make you look like other users of the same browser so the website gets lots of false positives increasing your anonymity.

It's good to note that this is mainly a desktop issue, mobile browsers have much more uniform fingerprints since each device has the same specs largely.

3) Yeah WiFi motion tracking is real and very accurate. Also with the PATRIOT act the federal government basically accesses everything your ISP knows without a warrant so it's extra dangerous.

Kip Ashlynn 4d ago

1) yes the plan is to dive into Linux fully, I just need to make sure my files work. I'm doing this as part of my efforts to lead a sovereignty salon, but if I show up can cannot present because I broke my computer doing this then it's not going to engender trust 😅

I remember back in the 00s there was a boy in my highschool who would never shut up about Linux. I wish I had a time machine so I could go back and tell him, "Nathan, you were right and I was wrong. I'm sorry for teasing you so much. I had a crush on you and didn't like not understanding what you were talking about." 🥹🫂

2) this is very interesting and something I hadn't known about before thank you for sharing!

3) my biggest concern with the wifi is how much it overlaps spaces. So I keep thinking in my next place I won't use wifi, it's creepy and I don't need it as mostly I read actual books. But even in a separate house I can still see my neighbors wifi suggestions on my phone. Obviously in an apartment it's worse because there closer together. I feel like at some point all of this leads to a shack in the woods in the middle of West Virginia 😮‍💨