Comments on “End digital surveillance”

Linux will be better than Mac from security standpoint? (certainly better than Windows) I’ve been using Ubuntu for a while and it’s fine. However, it’s not an option for most people, because it requires using terminal and sometimes coding. However, for reasonably smart people willing to learn it’s great.

Relatively recently Consumer Reports put together a security planner intended for use by “typical end users”.

https://securityplanner.consumerreports.org/

It asks some questions about what kinds of technology you use and then offers targeted recommendations. It looks like they worked some with the EFF, but aiming more for regular people instead of the EFF’s guide which was more for higher risk people like journalists, activists or sysadmins.

grApple is no better at respecting privacy than BorgSoft or Goggle;

https://pluralistic.net/2024/01/12/youre-holding-it-wrong/

For mobile, I suggest looking into GNU/Linux OS like postmarketOS, whose creatures aim to make it run on any Android device (thus the name). Or mobile devices like Pine64’s PinePhone and PineTab, or Purism’s Librem 5, which run a mobile GNU/Linux OS by default.

I second the suggestion to use a GNU/Linux OS on desktops and laptops too. These are now fairly simple to install on any Windows laptop, including cheap or used ones, making them much more accessible than even used MacOS laptops.

I’ve been using Ubuntu for a while and it’s fine.

I used Ubuntu for a few years, but switched to Trisquel when the Ubuntu owners capitulated to the surveillance industry with the Amazon Lens;

https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/ubuntu-spyware.en.html

Some devices can’t run Trisquel, due to a minority of hardware makers who still refuse to release enough technical info to allow Linux developers to support their chips. If I end up with those I use LMDE, the Debian Edition of Linux Mint, another Ubuntu fork.

it’s not an option for most people, because it requires using terminal and sometimes coding

This hasn’t been true for about 2 decades. I’ve been using desktop GNU/Linux for nearly 20 years, and I’ve never had to write code. The only time I’ve needed the terminal is when I’m trying something experimental, or something goes badly wrong.

This happened at least as often when I used to use Windows. But finding and following instructions for using the Windows terminal required professional levels of IT skill. Whereas the web has loads of clear instructions aimed at GNU/Linux beginners, and forums where more experienced users will happily help them.

YMMV.