Does Privacy Exist Anymore + Open Questions/Discussion
All Seeing?
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Given all recent leaks about mass surveillance that has happened over the last decade. Does privacy exist any more? With many devices containing back doors at the hardware level (chips).
Solutions?
I have recently fallen in love with Linux and other open source platforms. What information do my fellow Steemians know about the attempts to subvert Linux?
One thing I would also like to have a discussion about is the hardware. Does anyone know about open source hardware for building computers that are not back doored?
VPNs, Socks5 and extensions like Location Guard are a must.
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Opinions
What are you opinions on this topic and do you have any advice. I would love to hear from like minded people, do you think privacy still exists?
Please consider resteeming and commenting.
As the others have said, there are holes in everything. So a determined person/nation state etc will find a way in.
Just take a look at the recent ransom ware attack. That was a leak from NSA of security flaws they kept quiet so they could use them in attacks. If a body like NSA can't keep their stuff secure do not expect that any online service/pc is secure and you will be fine.
Chilling for free speech though if people are afraid to say what they think/believe in fear of eavesdropping etc
I do not believe Linux/BSD etc is any more secure than any propriety system. Most of the exploits are actually really technical and require a few vectors to break through. So the fact that the code is "open" does not help. There is the more eyes argument but most "security researchers" are in it for the rewards. Contributing the fix to the source pays nothing, getting the bounty after exposing it makes more. Getting a metric crap tonne of dosh from a nation state for the exploit pays more. :)
Do you think that Linux will be targeted specifically or banned by nation states in the future? And what do you think of the Linux time stamp issue?
I am sure that most nations have a cache of zero day exploits for as many systems as they can lay their hands on, only rolled out when needed for fear of leaking the info and the holes being plugged
It depends what you input into the systems you use. You lose what you input and the more you input then the more your privacy is eroded.
If you then go further and use Social Media then you are giving away your behaviour and personality and psychological profile and that is the prize they want, because that is what they want to control, manipulate and profit from.
You could change your location based information, physical address, ip address, emails, phone number. Based on your traits though they'd be able to fairly accurately find you again no doubt.
Like all their systems I just peacefully non-comply and input junk data or don't even input anything or use it at all and this is the only way to end this, just don't use it or use an alternative that isn't compromised.
If someone with a bit of know how wants to own any machine connected to the net, they will ( period ). Most of these people make a tidy living at what they do, so no need for anything nefarious. No doubt some have found their way onto government payrolls for some reason or another, ( Edward Snowden ) Comes to mind. As it becomes more common to whistle blow without fear of repercussions they will collapse on themselves. An evolution needs to take place, that stops protecting public servants from illegal activities. It's rampant but the law protects them from evidence illegally obtained. But not so much for You and I.
Cheers
Do you think the TOR organisation has been infiltrated?
I know very little of that, But it's impossible to go anywhere without leaving a trail.
It might be a long and complex trail, but a trail none the less.
I personaly stay off the dark web, I prefer to do my work in the light :-)
Cheers
I certainly believe privacy exists but in this era it is becoming a scarce commodity. The current surveillance trends don't seem to be stopping anytime soon and it looks likely it will get progressively worse. For the average man who enjoyed privacy prior to the turn of the century, he will need to take a hands on approach now. I think a high level of privacy is possible but once you get started you will always need to be vigilant. It won't be effortless like before. Your phone spies on you, your smart TV spies on you, your router spies on you, your isp, etc. Some of those things you can't do anything about. However, just because something is difficult doesn't mean you declare it dead
If slaves succumbed to their chains they would never be free. Freedom in any form is a struggle to maintain but it must be fought for. The next generation may find it nearly impossible to secure privacy but does that mean privacy then ceases to exist? I believe privacy is a trait of being human so humans will find a way. This is why crptography was created, to provide this means.
So I agree with your solution. I was planning an indepth post exploring this very topic. Technology could be a means to safeguard private information and resist snooping. I'm not educated enough to give much an opinion on open hardware solutions. But open software, for the most part ( I have heard of very few cases of open software being technically paranoid unfriendly) is the best tool to use to stay arms length away from prying eyes. Knowledge goes a long way in creating a closed box system with no holes. There are many techniques to utilize, all easily accessible to anyone who cares to use them.
If you had to chose one Linux system what would it be?
I have been using xubuntu for about two years now. It's been the best OS I've ever used and learning the command prompt was actually an enjoyable experience. If there was any other I would want to use it would be a Debian distro. Not sure when I would switch because Xubuntu is really comfortable to me now. Would recommend it to anyone who was interested in learning Linux.
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