It feels like I am too overwhelmed about my online privacy when I know that it is entirely not in my control. I am trying to completely block GAFAM+other privacy violators. But after some hours/days, I re-enabled it. Because most of the time I can’t avoid them, maybe it is essential to use some privacy tools too.
For example, Using NoGoogle in Adguard, then when signing up on Matrix, the Google Captcha got blocked. Blocking cloudflare and Amazon blocks also signal connections. Blocking entire Google made it hard to install/update apps and watch or download YouTube videos.
I don’t know what to do, but this is what is happening in my life as a loop. Unable to take a decision and stand still on that decision.
This also affects my feeling like too much worry and fear about online privacy.
Also, my screen time gets extremely increased by always being online to find a perfect solution for online privacy. Almost Everyday. Then I lose my beautiful life events and the time to get some relaxation and enjoy nature.
Any solution for this at all? Do you guys ever face an issue like this?
Besides what others have said basically asking “what is it that you’re trying to protect (from)?” I would say the main questions in terms of usage are, are you on a degoogled Android phone and are you using Linux on your Desktop yet?
Yea sure VPNs are nice but I personally often feel like I don’t want to have to hide behind someone else’s IP-Address just to add a layer of obfuscation to the data-collectors. If your browser is clean and working for you there is no need for a VPN (unless you need it for the sake of coming from a different geolocation). If your Operating System isn’t Open Source it can be assumed to be tracking you with or without a VPN.
There are definitely downsides (especially in terms of convenience) to using Android without Google on it. If those inconveniences are too much for you (as you are alluding to in your described hassles) then it’s probably just a question of which desire is stronger. That for certain privacy or that for ease of use.
let me ask this: what is your threat model? Don’t tell me, ask yourself that and work through it if you haven’t already.
Going full 100% and trying to become a shadow overnight if a great recipe for burning yourself out and not trying. Instead look at your specific threat model and work on the biggest things one step at a time. Make it a journey and only take a new step once you’re comfortable with the last.
Psychologically speaking I think about the situation as
- a learning process rather than a destination (when you mention “perfect” that’s a warning sign)
- a spectrum rather a binary position (even a king back centuries ago or a rich CEO or a powerful politician today has limited privacy, so it’s about moving positively over that spectrum)
- a worthwhile adventure helping to better learn about other things (e.g psychology, technology, politics) rather only costs
So… yes in fine it’s the same, i.e “more hoops” to go through to do the same things, BUT when framed positively it’s genuinely more exciting, more empowering!
I see a lot of my old habits in this post. What helped me was to create a threat model for myself, what do I really want to protect and what can I do to protect it with a reasonable cost and time effort.
I found that my most effective controls were using a VPN, using an email relay service and using Linux as an OS (I use ubuntu and fedora because I value my time and compatibility, I used Arch years ago and it was a part-time job to keep it going)
For example, if you are using a VPN, you don’t need to be blocking google and cloudflare.
You are seeking a perfection you will never achieve, so find your comfortable and do that.
Last piece of advice, nobody is judging you. Most people on this lemmy community are doing more than 99% do on a daily basis, but its not a competition.
First of all, don’t waste your precious time enjoying life with privacy worrying and fear. It’s just not worth it.
I don’t know why, but I get the impression the device you are struggling to make more private is a phone. If that’s the case, the extent to which you can make things work is indeed very limited, so don’t try to push it too hard.
You could use a tool like a firewall to have a more high-level control over all apps, like blocking them all and only allowing a few.
This may be less overwhelming than trying to block and contain each app individually. Now, you will still need to allow some Google stuff to have a Google phone work properly (to use the Play Store for example). If you want to go further, I’d suggest trying another OS other than Android, but that may make your phone even less compatible with what you are relying on, so it may be a better idea to instead try it on an old phone first.
On a PC, you have more freedom. Instead of trying to block everything from Google, for instance, you can rely on a separate browser profile (or Firefox Containers if that’s inconvenient) for things that really need Google (e.g. Meet, work/school using Google Apps, whatever) and in your main browser profile you can rely on alternatives. For example, instead of trying to access YouTube behind a Google blocking extension, you could use Invidious or a dedicated app like FreeTube.
I hope you can feel more at ease with the sense of being watched and tracked online, but remember that’s not worth loosing your best moments for if it ends up just causing more distress to you.
