IT security advice

[Leo B]

Below are some ideas gathered by me. Feel free to add to and ask to change things as I am just learning about this myself.

1. avoid apps that keep and share your private data: Youtube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, any apps that use Google account, and any Apple ID apps, Twitter, etc.
2. if you must use one of the above apps connect from a VPN and use a new free email account and use it for one app only.
3. If you use smartphone, use either a regular phone that had been "de-googled", or use a secure smartphone (you can purchase a "de-googled" or secure phone online), avoid iPhone and and Apple devices - they are privacy leaks on the hardware level, you can't "de-google" them at all.
4. Assume that all email services can be intercepted - never write anything important. The problem with email is that when you have a single account for everything you let them collect information about you that allows to identify and profile you, so using VPN would not work in this case. The other problem is that email protocol is unencrypted by design and sends in plain text and can be intercepted easily. That is why you need to create a separate email account from a new IP (use VPN for that) so that your identity can not be matched. To improve email security you can use GPG encryption (https://www.digitalocean.com/community/ ... n-messages) or use email service that strips the IP data from your email (see email service https://brax.me/prod/host.php?f=_store& ... 0&version=).
5. Install a VPN (see below for more information)
6. For video conferences use Jitsi https://meet.jit.si/ instead of Zoom.
7. For online chats and social network we can explore Element https://element.io/ or https://brax.me/
8. Use secure browser (I use Brave browser) and use its Tor Browsing option for more sensitive browsing
9. Use search engine that respects privacy: I use DuckDuckGo.
10 If you can, on your computer install Linux (https://ubuntu.com or https://linuxmint.com/ - the latter looks like Windows so easier to learn). Linux can be installed as a second operating system right on top of your existing Windows or MacOS.

Here's some practical solutions following the advice of IT security expert https://www.youtube.com/@robbraxmantech.
PHONES:
When it comes to phones there are some options: landline phone is still available in some places, mobile button phones, "degoogled" smartphones, and smartphones designed with privacy in mind.
You can use BraX2 Privacy Phone available on https://brax.me
And https://digitalprivacy.shop/de-googled-mobile-phones
In Europe check out:
https://iode.tech/en/ offers new and refurbished phones.
Murena smartphones: https://murena.com/smartphones/
You can also build your own DIY smartphone using for example Raspberry Pi (https://www.raspberrypi.com/products/) for parts: https://www.instructables.com/Build-You ... martphone/
Plus use a faraday pouch for when you don't want your location and movement to be tracked. Faraday net blocks a range of signals, and also protects sensitive electronics from EMP blast, and protects you from dangerous cellphone radiation.
VPN:
There are different types of VPN available. From simplest to the best.
Browser extension VPN is the simplest to install but some sites might give you extra captchas because you'd be connecting from an IP that spammers and crooks use. Plus browser VPN only protects browser traffic and nothing else.
Operating System VPN is the VPN like ProtonVPN that is installed into your Operating System and protects all Internet traffic that is used by your computer.
Hardware VPN or VPN installed on your router or modem.
For extra security Rob Brax provides a cloud-based VPN with TOR browsing: https://bytzvpn.com/

[partyprepper]

Hi, this is Deidter!
I'd be interested in a VPN. I have Starlink internet, and a whole bunch of people that use the internet at my place. Is there one that is good for multiple devices, or is it just per device?

[Leo B]

...a whole bunch of people that use the internet at my place. Is there one that is good for multiple devices, or is it just per device?

Yes, in fact, ideally VPN would cover your Internet access point (modem) and not just a single computer.

You could setup a modem + NUC router device (https://www.amazon.ca/Intel%C2%AE-Essen ... 4b9bf7d0d6) and then connect all your devices to that NUC instead of directly to a modem.
On that NUC you can install BraxRouterNUC Software, see: https://brax.me/prod/host.php?f=_store& ... =&version= This software provides VPN, TOR, LOKINET and Open modes on the router which can be operated via a browser.

As option 2 is to install a TOR hardware router, Brax claims to still sell it but I didn't find it in his store, so you'll have to contact him. Or install a regular VPN router hardware, see https://www.virtuallocation.com/vpn/vpn-hardware.html for some options.

[LRacicot]

Thanks for the info Leo. I have done some of this already (del googled phone, VPN, Proton mai). I would like to learn Linux, that is the next step.

[Leo B]

I've just gone through the Linux Ubuntu installation process and it is surprisingly simple. For novices I've learned two versions of Linux are most popular:
Linux Mint and Lunux Ubuntu.
To install Ubuntu visit https://ubuntu.com/, download it and then follow instructions to create an installation USB stick. Once done you can add Linux to your computer instead of replacing your existing Operation System. So for example, on computer boot you'll have an option to login to either Windows or Linux. IT took me a day to get used to a different layout and software installation process. But most things worked on first launch.
Good luck!

[Leo B]

New degoogled phone is now available with Open Source operating system: https://bastyon.mobi/en/
Open Source in smartphones means inability to be shut down or limit functionality remotely from Big Tech. Remember, there are multiple concerns when we are talking to communication devices. Including:
- Security - this is what Mass Media is usually talking about. This is basically protecting your device from hackers.
- Privacy - this is when a user wants to remain anonymous and protected from the Big Tech tracking. For example, two-factor authentication improves security but degrades privacy.
- Access to information - for example, Big Tech remotely blocked Internet access to Chinese users during protests. Apple also blocked its Apple-to-Apple network.