I use Nobara on my gaming PC just because it has some gaming tweaks by default but is otherwise just stock Fedora so any issues can be searched as if I was on Fedora.
Indeed, I only use Mail and VPN but still have to pay for all of them. I did consider just paying for Mail and getting VPN from Mullvad but then I only get 10 SimpleLogin emails which is nowhere near enough
Reminds me of the monty python sketch, "what have the romans ever done for us? except sanitation and roads and canals and public health" lol.
Steam gives devs a huge marketing presence that smaller devs simply wouldn't have otherwise, it gives countless high bandwidth distribution servers that automatically scale to demand, you can integrate the largest PC social community for matchmaking or other multiplayer features, you get a community page where people can post fan content or mods, etc.
That is worth way more than 30% to most devs. The only ones who it's not worth it for are huge companies like Blizzard and Epic who can manage all that themselves, hence why they're pretty much the only ones who don't sell games on Steam.
I have Tails on a USB for temporary use , I don't think it's supposed to be used as a full time OS with persistent storage though.
In my experience if Windows decides it doesn't want to talk to your hardware because of some undecipherable 20 year old spaghetticode reason, You've no recourse except reinstalling Windows and it might suddenly work. At least with Linux you can debug and get things working
Google Pixels with GrapheneOS were the only Android phones to withstand the backdoor software the FBI used to access the Trump shooter's phone.
Yep, software dev here for a static marketing site for a product. We are in a constant battle with PMs and SEO who want Google tracking, Facebook, TikTok, A/B testing, cursor tracking, etc. We're trying to keep page-speeds fast while loading megabytes of external JS code...
Luckily all that can be blocked by the end user without affecting the site though, all you'd lose is some carousels and accordions etc that are done with a few lines of code.
Maybe it should be a pay what you want but it doesn't charge you for a week. So you can use the app and then decide whether to up the price if it's useful or cancel the payment if it doesn't work for you.
Yeah don't worry I have no social media accounts other than Lemmy
I did try to install Qubes recently for this purpose but it's not well supported on my laptop hardware.
My bank only has an app, no website option, but luckily it works just fine on GrapheneOS with no Google Play. I barely use it anyway as I pay cash everywhere possible
Routing all traffic through Mullvad?
I'm thinking of configuring a VPN in my router so that all traffic runs via Mullvad, just trying to consider if there are any downsides to this?
If I buy Mullvad via the onion site with Monero, obviously there's no link to me, and they appear to keep no logs, as has been tested. In any case I trust them to keep no logs more than my ISP and government.
I do already have ProtonVPN but it's attached to my debit card details, my email address, and name etc. No need to give them all my traffic too.
I know I can still be tracked by browser fingerprint and IP but I'll be one of many users using the same Mullvad IP and I also employ adguard DNS, anti fingerprinting on my browsers etc.
My threat model is generally removing as much passive data gathering and tracking as possible, corporate or state. My threat model does not include active investigation from the law enforcement or state
Bitcoin is terrible for that though. High transaction fees, slow transaction speeds, everyone can see your balances and transactions (and with KYC requirements it's very easy to link a wallet and a coin to a person).
Monero is the only digital currency worth having.
Pixels are the best degoogle phone thanks to GrapheneOS...
Pixel is the only game in town for anyone who wants a secure and privacy friendly smartphone as they're the only ones that run GrapheneOS.
I do like the look of the 9, especially finally being able to get a smaller Pro model but the prices are getting silly and my 7 Pro is still working fine. Maybe the 10 or 11.
I'm also keeping an eye on Fairphone but they need to add all the hardware GrapheneOS needs to support them for me to be interested. And it'd help if they weren't launching with last gen specs. Fairphone 5 came out after my P7P but is inferior in most ways, I just can't justify paying for a downgrade as much as I support the mission.
I don't entirely agree with this: I know there are no ANPR cameras within my town for example. There's a speed camera that only takes photos if you're speeding, but ANPR cameras are limited to motorways and trunk roads, I can move around my town and the surrounding ones without clocking ANPR. Of course I'm still on regular CCTV and cell towers triangulate my phone, but that requires authorities actively looking into me which I doubt they are.
I tend to use an eBike where possible but again the phone triangulates if I have it on me, and it wouldn't be too hard to follow on cctv if you really wanted to. Everyone and their mother has a doorbell camera now
My ebike comes with a GPS tracking app to locate it. Luckily it's optional but it's already begun
Another awful "innovation". The screen in my 2016 van just does maps, music, and radio. I can swap it out no issue if I want (but I don't want android auto so I don't). The climate controls are still physical knobs thank god.
Decided to start paying predominantly cash again
I had two reasons, the first is because i found it way too easy to spend on my card without thinking, and the second because I wanted to regain a bit of privacy alongside everything else I'm doing. Ive set it up in my bank that on payday, an amount of my salary automatically goes to the bills account, some goes to long term savings, some to short term savings, then the rest I take out in cash.
It really does change my perception of spending I think: Ive found myself not buying things because I didnt want to break a note and carry change. I can physically see how much I have left. I can take £20 to the pub and leave when its finished. Plus it feels really good knowing every single transaction isnt stored forever. I have a small amount of money on a contactless ring for emergencies like a bus fare or somewhere that unexpectedly only takes card.
Is anyone else still predominantly using cash day to day?
Uses for local AI?
Im using Ollama on my server with the WebUI. It has no GPU so its not quick to reply but not too slow either.
Im thinking about removing the VM as i just dont use it, are there any good uses or integrations into other apps that might convince me to keep it?
Getting into EDC: Bag vs Pocket?
For a while now I only take my phone and sometimes wallet while out and about on a daily basis. I'd like to be more prepared for things so I've picked up some kit, some of which I already had:
- A UK legal knife
- A multitool (screwdriver bits, bottle opener, pliers, etc)
- Emergency foil blanket
- Tinder starter/whistle
- Two gas lighters
- Keychain flashlight with integrated USB A port
- Field notebooks and fountain pen
- Lockpicking set with a pouch and a concealed credit card set
- Slimline 65W 20000mAh USB A+C battery bank
I've got a messenger bag I can fit this stuff in, which will also fit my laptop so I can carry that around more often too when that would be useful. Obviously some things like the foil blanket and tinder starter probably aren't valuable in an urban area but they are so small and light I may as well include them. I plan to hang the messenger bag on the back of the front door with all this kit in so I always pick it up whenever I go out.
I wear different trousers every day and I'm useless for remembering to put stuff in my pockets so in terms of the pocket stuff it'll just be phone, keys (with shopping trolley key, bottle opener, USB A+C drive, Yubikey), and a metal wallet with some cards, the card lockpicks, and some cash.
Does this make sense? Is there anything I've missed?
What's on your "Everyday Carry" USB stick?
Just picked up a 128GB USB A/C stick that can go on my keyring. What are some things I should put on it to have access to at all times?
I already have self hosted services accessible over my VPN, so this would be for when I can't access that.
I'm thinking at least Ventoy and some common ISOs, then I'm not sure what else.