5 Beginners Steps for Privacy
Ground Zero: Absolute Beginner Steps to Privacy
If you are a normie but privacy curious, these beginner steps will help you make a big difference in your security and privacy.
Stop Giving Away Your Personal Data
Phone Number: No one except your friends and family should know your personal phone number.
Second Phone Number: Get a second VOIP phone number for the service center, cable guy, etc.
Email Address: Stop giving away your email address. Use an aliasing service or create a burner email account as a spam trap.
Hotel Address: Stop giving away your home address. Look up the address of a local hotel instead of using your personal information.
Customer Reward Programs: Skip customer reward programs.
Stop Using Spyware
Social Media: Stop using social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. These apps are designed to suck every ounce of personal data from you and sell it. Don’t just delete the app; search for how to delete your account data.
Other Apps: Windows, Google, and 90% of the apps on your phone are also spyware.
Clean Up Your Communications
Unencrypted Calls and SMS: Stop using unencrypted calls and SMS texts. Use Signal as it is easy to use and works well with friends who also use it.
Clean Up Your Email
Old Emails: Hundreds of emails from years gone by might be in your email inbox. Go through every single one, unsubscribe from every newsletter or sales pitch from every store you have ever bought anything from, and block every spam email you see.
Encrypted Provider: If you are using a provider that scans every email to sell you stuff (like Gmail), switch to a privacy respecting provider like Disroot (encrypt manually), ProtonMail or TutaMail.
Clean Up Your Web Surfing
Privacy Browser: Stop using Chrome or Edge. Switch to a privacy browser. Brave is better than Chrome but is not really for the privacy purist. Un-googled Chromium is better but not as user friendly. A hardened Firefox is the best you can do but can be difficult for the beginner to setup.
Bonus Tip: Clean Up Your Security
Automatic Updates: Make sure all of your software, especially security updates, is set up for automatic updates.
Password Manager: Get a password manager (don’t save passwords on the browser!). Add 2FA to all of your online accounts. This will provide better security than 90% of the population.
Consider getting a hardware authentication device like a yubikey
General Base Level
Data Leaks: Focus on cleaning up data leaks, communications, email, web surfing, and basic security.
Level Zero Default: Your identity and activity are still transparent, but you are no longer leaking your data all over the place. This will provide a general base for everyone.
Next Steps: Basic Threat Assessment
The next step is to perform a basic threat assessment of your personal situation:
Targeted Attacks: Are you at risk from targeted attacks?
Passive Surveillance: Are you at risk from passive surveillance?
Cyber or Physical Risk: What do you most need to defend against? Government mass surveillance, stalkers, surveillance capitalism, censorship, or public exposure?
Your next steps will really depend on your answer.
https://untraceabledigitaldissident.com/5-beginners-steps-for-privacy/
I've just started doing this and learning cybersecurity posted by IBM Jeff Crume a year ago.
Thank you for sharing such a comprehensive list . Bookmarked. Thanks for the link.
Note to self - No more interaction till I've worked my way through this list.
Fell off my bed reading that.
Doesn't need the toilet paper either. Just go to the ATM . Can't remember which developer suggested that.
That's nearly me.
Except laptop and internet connection.
A bed and mattress cos I'm old. 2 suitcases. Clothes are pruned out if I've brought something new. The room comes with the landlady's pug - who keeps the visitors away.
I'm rich.
Agreed.
Worth exchanging for inconvenience . To never allow trust to be compromised .
To create a future for the generations that are currently drowning in debt, that have no way to escape a bleak inheritance.
Takes one step, then another...
Teaching them about Bitcoin.
What am I missing ?
Why do we need banks?
What is the purpose of exchanges? Soft wallets? Hard wallets?
Order is what got me in this shit in the first place.
Then blind trust. Compliance. Reliant on government. Believing fake media. Trusting doctors. Expecting the fiat money in the bank, belonged to me.
Trust is the commodity. Not New World Order or in your case Nostr order
Nothing wrong with Black sheep. Expect blowback. I speculate that people on Nostr have received the same reception.
If you believe in yourself and the creative tech services you have offered - its worth celebrating. You don't need approval, consent. Just keep creating stuff that you like. It will resonate.
Thank you for such a comprehensive breakdown on Iran's energy in - BTC out.
Iran is the epitome of resilience - from the Mongol raids, to Daniel's book, even Russia, India invasions to USA/Israel bombing - Iran is living proof of minding their business and strengthening their resolve to survive.
Sanctions didn't work either.
If there is anything to prove that BTC is resilient - your report on Iran captures it in all its glory.
An inspiration to drive BTC to full adoption.
Lyn Alden's words can now morph into:
NOTHING STOPS THIS BITCOIN TRAIN.
Bitcoin Jack Dorsey, Lyn Alden, Matt ODell, Marty Bent were my inspiration to join Nostr.
What you write here ticks a lot of boxes.
Wasn't tech savvy enough at first attempt .
Still not tech savvy, but entrance was much easier this time around.
Open source, true free speech, ability to choose what to read, listen to is like breathing fresh air after a rain shower -exhilirating. And no freaking ads or wandering if what you've written attracts shadowbanning.
Unsure what other things Nostr has to offer, but clicked the Read button and you are my first read. Not in a hurry to scramble around - just happy to discover organically.
The signal would be watching Powell's response.
Or non response.
Speculating QE and interest rate move.
Well worth the read. I learned .....
Even though this article is dated July 4 2014 - it is more relevant today, than back then. I would have filed it in the too hard basket. Bookmarked Satoshi Nakamoto Institute for further study.
1. The slow fiat bleed
2. Possible attacks on currencies, based on coordinating lump sum BTC buying, using local currencies leveraged against Real World Assets and the impact on both BTC and the currency .
3. The effects of trading based on sentiment and FOMO where the buyers actions drive the BTC price higher and drives the currency to inflation.
4. The banks defense would be
i) Increase interest rates
ii) Impose monetary control
iii) Raid their Reserves
All these actions would drive people to adopt BTC, because they are experiencing the failure of fiat first hand.
Please tell me if/where I missed the boat.
We can agree to disagree.
To be fair - if gaming was my interest - Gabe Newall is a rockstar, in that industry.
In comparison -- Elon Musk's creations, innovations, thought processes in different fields of tech, transport, energy, communication, space travel, robotics etc are very useful products that benefit mankind for a very long time.
The Fed is preparing a $22 trillion move.
Markets are bracing. #Bitcoin is watching.
Shared via https://pullthatupjamie.ai
Just read it on Ground News
Great signal. BTC IS a threat. A green light.
I note the disclaimer at the end of the report -noise.
Decide what poverty is first.
Having food, shelter, clothes and steady income. I was told I was poor. Because I lived in an area classified by peers and teachers as 'poor'. Unfortunately even I believed it too.
Lucky for me I loved reading. The same with internet today - its like standing in a library so full of books.
So, lessons to self -
Never allow others to define you.
Be proud of my heritage - doesn't mean I'm better or worse
Breakdown the fences I built in my mind.
There are some that thrive in community
There are some that like being alone
And yet each and every human being on this planet will contribute positive and or negative energy to everything they connect with.
You don't look like a cleaner or a janitor. You don't look like you're holding down two jobs to make ends meet.
If you want to make a point without impacting people that are struggling check out Jack Mallers. He speaks directly to your generation . And he is your generation . You'll find him on this platform .
His outlook is long term. Yours is not.
By the way, how much are they paying you.....asking for a friend.
I appreciate your response.
Gave Newell? Is that a person or a product?
There is a hope though, and a solution to everyproblems. It leads to sovereign individuals who can empower themselves at will with the same tech that enslaves us we can become more independent and free.
The information is there, accessible to anyone willing to upgrade. It is a state of a comfort zone that prevents most of is from moving forward.
From TikTok to YouTube and blogs, all social media platforms have relevant information. Those who seek solutions can find them without influencers and YouTube stars; the information is pretty much everywhere.
We started this way in the 90s when most computing power was in the hands of internet users, or rather PC owners.
We've come a long way and made a circle. Along the way, we've learned that outsourcing all data to corporate clouds is a convenient method but leads to exploitation. iPhone cloud, Microsoft OneDrive, and everything in between are not safe.
Did you onow your ai is reading your whstapp messages by default, it happens on every new phone now and soon on all of them.. Very soon, in weeks...
Users should obtain mini PC units on a budget, even second hand units at a heavy discount, run open-source software like nostr:nprofile1qqs9df4h2deu3aae83fmet5xmrlm4w5l9gdnsy3q2n7dklem7ezmwfcpz4mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduhsz3rhwvaz7tekd3jks6rev3ehyargv9nk66tnxe6h2dn5w43kuerk0fmnwcm4vfc8z6mgweu8j7fhdfhkjmmrxs6k66mnwg6x2cty9ehku6t0dchsz9mhwden5te0wfjkccte9ehx7um5wghxjmnxduhs5nd6j2, connect a drive for storage that they can access from their phones, learn how to use Bitcoin without third parties, run a Nostr relay, and replace phones loaded with Siri and Gemini with a secure mobile system nostr:nprofile1qqs9g69ua6m5ec6ukstnmnyewj7a4j0gjjn5hu75f7w23d64gczunmgpz4mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumt0wd68ytnsw43q4gnztg that is not spying on its users.
Reach out to nostr:nprofile1qqs8zfpsgrd8zgy586w2ua5app5zsmd40y4r3pjku9j5yepkuvyxc0qpzdmhxue69uhhqatjwpkx2urpvuhx2ue0qyghwumn8ghj7mn0wd68ytnhd9hx2tcpzdmhxue69uhhwmm59e6hg7r09ehkuef0jh453q to obtain those powerful machines at affordable costs with the tech support if needed.
Stop using Google Docs for storing information; find open-source alternatives and run them on your personal cloud for yourself and your family. Attend local Bitcoin meetups to learn about solutions and get help.
Wear clothing that distracts CCTV cameras.
Stop voting for individuals who have agreed to interceptive laws and realise it is time to regain your freedom.
Drop the chains of slavery. Limit your use of Instagram and TikTok. IG is listening to your conversations via micrphone, block the mic and camera in your mobile is.
You cover the camera on the laptop but on your phone did not even turn it off in the top panel, correct?
Stop consuming, produce content and post on the Nostr network, the only place where true freedom of speech prevails.
Learn new skills, volunteer to get deeper into the Bitcoin ecosystem, and earn some Bitcoin for your creativity. It's doable and a lot of fun. Turn off the tele and socials, to free up more time, we are all busy and have 24h a day..
Use nostr:nprofile1qqszmxjj05fs8kadd9kah9wdr3m990y2whpxluyr273nf7kgvja00gcpr9mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumt0d4hhxarj9ecxjmnt9u0gg7kl for email, apps like Signal and Simplex for encrypted communication, and DuckDuckGo and others for private talks with AI.
Stop feeding the AI monster with your personal data; ChatGPT stores it forever.
Use esim for data, connect via VPN at home and on mobile.
Once again attend bitcoin meet ups to learn more than you can imagine...
Visit 2140.wtf and follow this account.
Join our army to push the right incentives forward. Get ready for the nostr:nprofile1qqstasxf608yalqvzyt96u4csy5mkxhzv3jamp8ljpf8p4z6cn5u62gpp4mhxue69uhkummn9ekx7mqpzfmhxue69uhk7enxvd5xz6tw9ec82cspzfmhxue69uhhqatjwpkx2urpvuhx2uc9v7ewc this Autumn, Halloween will be replaced with the bitcoin white paper birthday party, workshops and discussion panels, art, music, bitcoin fashion show and more ;)
Dude I love your solutions .
During lockdown I learned that you could muck up the QR Codes with a black marker pen.
Old women are practically invisible. Amazing what they can get up to.
I refused to use my phone and instead fill in an admission form - names like Beau peep and fictional numbers and addresses.
Scoping out cameras out of range while I rest my weary feet and pull down my cap when I walk past.
Currently learning about cybersecurity from IBM lecturer Jeff Crume - to learn about the capabilities of IOTA, ph, laptops, networks , software, app and web servers. The podcasts are a year old, and practically beyond me, but now I don't feel so dumb reading Hacker news and OWASP.
No social media. My kids have divorced me. Told them if they want to talk to me - join Nostr.
Got kicked off FB - when someone was pushing vax jabs - told him I'll get out of his way, while he fast tracks himself to the check out lane. Deemed harmful speech.
Got kicked off Twitter, before Elon took over when someone was lecturing me about too many humans, making too much carbon dioxide - told him to stop breathing would help the planet - deemed harmful speech.
So, I'm new to Nostr and still finding my way around.
Run 2 phones - use top ups - one for general. Working on the other to set up for BTC buying - A new BTC ATM has arrived in my town.
I use proton mail and vpn. Family have done the same.
All transactions in cash.
Sold my share of our farm - some of it paid in BTC - locked up in a Trezor wallet - seed phrase farmed out between 8 recipients - ALL have to work together to access the funds, after I kick the bucket. No lawyers needed.
Downsized to rent a room and 2 suitcases. Currently working on one backpack.
Gave my car to a brother His was a heap. Now I catch a bus and occasional taxi.
I have surprised myself the amount of data I gave away
Birth certificate.
Bank account.
IRD record.
Social welfare.
Marriage certificate.
Education records.
Passport - now outdated
Drivers license
Gmail
Google sign in
Health reference #
FB
A lot of data - now in the ether.
Slowly reeling them in and fudging them.
And yes I'm in a crypto meetup. But have refused to share my data with any, but the host. I'm into Bitcoin. One is a BTC miner. The other is a crypto guru. All the others are casuals who want help with self custody, recommended exchanges, wallets, how to start ......etc
I know my choices are not everyone's cup of tea. And my family think I'm looney tune. But even though I had a great life in my prime - this end of the spectrum is the best time of my life.
Learning , learning , learning.
Andreas Antonopolous is my hero.
Despair has no room. Hope is delusional . Taking back my time and sharing knowledge, because we oldies need to get out to help the future generations is where I want to be. We owe them.
And yet you fought back. And now you get the last laugh.
When the collapse is in full swing make a pilgrimage back to the neighborhood - could be some cheap cheap real estate . Perhaps use smart contracts for the bureaucrats, the seller and yourself . Cuts the lawyers out.
Then change your mind. Best served cold.
Awesome profile bio. Amazing when you get backed into a corner and find how capable you become.
Congratulations .
They're lying or......
they meditate, drink water, look at themselves while sitting on the bog.