The Online Privacy/Security Thread

[Kosher Dill]

1. Buying a X230 (16gb ram)
2. Using 1vyrain to remove the Intel spyware shit

If you want to go FULL schizo, you need an T400, X200, or similar, where Intel ME can be completely removed, rather than just neutered with 1vyrain/me_cleaner.
I don't consider this practical because of how old the 400/200 series is at this point. You can only have 8GB of RAM and you're going to be stuck with old-generation USB, SATA, and so on. And I don't think there's any practical difference between a neutered ME and a completely removed one. But you asked.

 

[The Ghost of Kviv]

Installing Qubes OS

You don't install a OS. Use Tails or Kali and run it off a USB stick.

 

[Aidan]

@Kill a Troon for Pikamee
Qubes is fine but it's pretty advanced for someone just getting into it all and requires a beefy setup for practical use. Tails on demand for schizo-y behavior, normal Linux distro otherwise so you can get acclimated. Routing all traffic through Tor for normal use will be painful, get a decent VPN.

Home

Privacy Guides is your central privacy and security resource to protect yourself online.

www.privacyguides.org

 

[The Stranger]

Necro-ing thread to let you all know that "nigger1" is the 618th most common password according to the HaveIBeenPwned data.
Source: https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/staticjson/static-assets/documents/PwnedPasswordsTop100k.txt

 

[Kosher Dill]

We're slacking.

 

[Internet Wizard]

1. You have a specific need to hide your web traffic from your ISP. If you're into torrenting or other such P2P activities, a VPN comes in handy.
2. You're on a network that you don't trust and you want to protect yourself. Again, a VPN is always nice to have on public wifi networks.
3. You're trying to bypass censorship or geographical blocks. Speaking as someone who comes from a third-world hellhole, VPNs are basically a must-have.

I'm not sure. A VPN seems appealing since I'm on college wifi and it's technically public as a result, along with point 3 maybe (the UK and recent jailings are really sus) but on the other hand there doesn't seem to be a single VPN that isn't run off a subscription model. Mullvad is the closest to an honest one so there is that
If no one's cared for my stuff thus far it's not like they'll care now would they? Unless I become another Snowden
Have also been debating getting a Thinkpad T480 or T430 (ivyrain?) and selling my X1C9 (though I don't really know if it's worth doing so)

 

[Hellwalker]

I'm not sure. A VPN seems appealing since I'm on college wifi and it's technically public as a result, along with point 3 maybe (the UK and recent jailings are really sus) but on the other hand there doesn't seem to be a single VPN that isn't run off a subscription model. Mullvad is the closest to an honest one so there is that
If no one's cared for my stuff thus far it's not like they'll care now would they? Unless I become another Snowden
Have also been debating getting a Thinkpad T480 or T430 (ivyrain?) and selling my X1C9 (though I don't really know if it's worth doing so)

It depends a lot on what you will actually be using a VPN for as well as your threat model if the VPN would be used for either security or privacy like Dread First said. I bought like three one month subscriptions to Mullvad for torrenting movies and games as I anticipated me doing a lot more watching and gaming than I actually did. Having a subscription to a VPN while not actively getting use out of it than just on occasion (This goes for anything subscription based) is nothing more than a waste of money. If you buy a VPN for one thing and one thing only (Which is fine) but don't actively use it for that one thing (Like I did) then there was kind of no reason to buy it in the first place. If you are gonna buy a VPN (Remember to get something good like Mullvad), then it's up to you to figure out if you will consistently use said VPN for said reason that you wanted to buy it. If not, you are just wasting money.

 

[QE65]

What are the recommendations for practical privacy measures for online purchasing? Especially for those outside the US? Is there an equivalent for the virtual cards mentioned ITT?

 

[Aidan]

What are the recommendations for practical privacy measures for online purchasing? Especially for those outside the US? Is there an equivalent for the virtual cards mentioned ITT?

I'm not sure of good services for this outside of the US, if you can do gift cards paid for with cash then that has been reliable. It depends on if you care about being captured on store security cameras as well.

https://www.privacyguides.org/en/advanced/payments/