Apparently, that’s required for the App Store and Google Play. The guy behind it has said he has no intention of taking advantage.

Fuck’s sake

I see you’ve already posted it, but YouTube links should be fine. Traditionally, it was better to post Invidious links; but thanks to Google, this links don’t tend to keep working for too long these days.

On the other hand, if a video also exists on media.ccc.de or PeerTube, that would be the preferred option. YouTube is still acceptable, though.

Moral of the story? Don’t read the Express. To quote Dave Gorman, it’s a crock of shit.

I think you may be responding to the wrong comment

Well, most laptops have removable WiFi cards, but if you want to go the extra mile you could try an early-2000s or late-90s ThinkPad (from back when they were made by IBM).

I tried to use it, but I couldn’t get it working (I couldn’t receive any messages, and neither could my brother). In the end, I opted for Matrix instead.

Eh, kinda. It’s not quite as easy to escape from GApps as it is to install Linux, though, so it’s understandable.

My advice is to look into LineageOS, DivestOS, and GrapheneOS and see if your device is supported by anyone. If not, it’s possible to remove GApps using ADB, and you can use NextDNS to block tracking.

Well, that explains how the NSA keep getting in every so often.

Yeah, I wouldn’t trust anything these guys publish: https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/mint-press-news/

I quite like 4get, but SearXNG is probably closer to what you want.

Since you’re using Edge, I’ll assume you’re running Windows. In that case, I’d recommend either Librewolf or ungoogled-chromium.

I, myself, use Mullvad Browser and Links2, but they’re not quite as good for new users.

Lemmy.ca and Sopuli both worked fine on ProtonVPN, and .ca also seems to be fine on Mullvad.

However, this guy has actually switched to Linux, and is willing to adapt and learn how to use it.

Remember, of course, that Wickr has been owned by Amazon since 2021.

https://techcrunch.com/2021/06/25/aws-is-buying-encrypted-messaging-service-wickr/

I would recommend Windscribe over PIA. They’re open-source and rank highly on Techlore’s VPN toolkit.

1. You don’t need an account, and there is no such thing as a GrapheneOS account. Most of your apps should be able to be installed through either F-Droid, Obtainium, or the sandboxed Play Store. Some apps require Google Play Services, however, but LineageOS has an alternative called microG which works most of the time, and GrapheneOS containerises apps.
2. GrapheneOS, I believe, uses the default gallery and SMS apps from stock Android; and they also have their own camera, PDF viewer, and web browser (Vanadium), which are developed in-house. However, cloud syncing and note-taking apps are not included. I would suggest either having a look on F-Droid, asking on this sublemmy, or checking out Privacy Guides to find some apps you’ll like.
3. GrapheneOS doesn’t have a “cloud”, as such. This is a good thing, and it lets you choose your own provider if you must. I would personally recommend Filen for files and photos, and Cryptee for notes.
4. It is completely possible to use multiple app stores. If you use GrapheneOS, I would say use F-Droid or Obtainium when possible, and the Sandboxed Play Store for everything else.
5. We like to use things like NextCloud because it gives us full control over our data, among other reasons. However, it is not essential. I, personally, use Filen for my cloud sync needs; but I also tend to use physical storage a lot because of my shitty internet and cheap hardware. You also don’t necessarily need to pay for these services, but it’s polite and it can improve your experience.

Good luck on your privacy journey, and don’t hesitate to ask more questions. In addition to Lemmy, here are a few good resources:

• Privacy Guides
• !privacyguides
• Techlore
• Techlore Forum
• The New Oil

Thanks!