So, a few weeks ago, it was reported here that the state of Utah is going to ban VPN's, supposedly to get websites to adhere to age restriction regulations. But in reality, they just want to track you.
I just read that Canada is moving in the same direction, and Nord VPN is threatening to pull out of the country.
Now, I'm not overly security paranoid like some webmasters, but I just don't like the idea of random people and companies (and government) being able to see what I'm doing on the web. Freedom (including anonymity) is supposed to be a cornerstone of democracy.
For that reason, I'm moving towards privacy-base computing, starting with my phones.
I use 2 smartphones, one for calls and day to day activities, and another, a larger one with an e-ink screen, for reading and longer sessions. The first I obtained oversees, and wasn't running Google (other than Android) in the first place. I just filled it with FOSS (Free and Open Source) apps, where possible.
The second I also obtained overseas, but it was running Google; I just finished removing all Google apps from the phone (there are lots of ways of doing so, even without rooting the phone), and replacing them with FOSS apps.
I was amazed just how much faster than second phone now runs, and the battery life is vastly improved. I guess all that Google overhead, including tracking, sucks more performance and energy than what I had realized. Bonus!
Now to my computers.
I already run one Linux machine, to support the OpenWebRX+, the SDR server I got working.
Unfortunately, I don't see moving away from Windows (and its tracking from Microsoft) right away, as there are just too many apps that I currently depend on that only run under that O/S.
But I'm looking at alternative, portable, apps that I can run that will minimize tracking. For example, I use the privacy-based DuckDuckGo browser on my phones; I'm currently evaluating it on Windows. There's no point in using TOR, as it's based on peer to peer and VPN's, and at some point they're likely just going to go away, or at the very least tracked in their own right.
At some point, I will likely move to Linux when things get intolerable (at least to me).
As for cloud-based computing, forget it. I would never trust them, period. And that data stored in the cloud is potentially available (and certainly accessible) by the owners of the various clouds. I'd read the Terms of Service for cloud storage - you might be surprised at what you find.
I recall reading something about that, it seems there were a couple other states besides Utah that was planning to do it, yeah, Canada and the UK, Russia was saying something about there really was no way to absolutely ban them if they wanted to - which they do. I've never even used a VPN so I'm not particularly familiar with it's advantages, but understand the controversy is all about privacy.
But VPNs aside, I think Orwells 1984 has already established a foothold in reality decades ago, it's just becoming more evident now. There's cameras in every nook and cranny of society, they know your personal tv habits, what you watch and when, your Internet browsing habits, spending habits, cops patrolling streets with video drones, etc etc. Privacy? It's been rapidly disappearing for years now and only getting more pronounced.
I knew I recalled hearing something about other states besides Utah, this is probably what I saw from 6 months ago on Reddit they were talking about a bill being issued for banning VP in Wisconsin and Michigan and an analysis of it. I thought his 4 bullet points says it all:
IPVanishOfficial:
, .. A few important points from the analysis: •
- “Consumer security tools are not backdoors, they are front-door locks.”
- VPNs secure everyday activities like banking, remote work, healthcare, and journalism.
- “Forcing people away from encrypted channels pushes them toward unprotected networks where governments, ISPs, advertisers, and attackers can all watch.”
- Banning VPNs doesn’t protect anyone. It simply exposes them to more risks. .....
But VPNs aside, I think Orwells 1984 has already established a foothold in reality decades ago, it's just becoming more evident now.
Supposedly the US Government does not spy on Americans, but we know better. I used to work in telecom and know that all USA central offices have a national security room where a special contractor has secure access. Its purpose is entirely for wiretaps.