Link to the post: Link to the original post

Edit: Link to the post

I'd like to start a discussion about TV privacy in 2023. I've never been interested in having a TV, but recently I was thinking of getting one. Looking into it, the privacy implications seem horrible. All the major brands seem to have cameras, microphones, and content recognition software. I can't believe how dystopian it is.

I also notice that most of the articles about this are from a few years ago. Are things better now? Do they still collect an Orwellian amount of data?

As I understand it, there are a few mitigation options:

1. Leave it disconnected from the internet and use a separate device for streaming. But it sounds like some brands have incessant nag screens, or disable features until connected to the internet. I was looking into the Samsung Frame TV, but I'm not even sure you can use the art mode without internet. Does anyone know?
2. Pi-hole set up with a blocklist. It's disheartening that such a technical solution would be necessary.
3. Get a commercial "dumb" display. These are more expensive, and usually thicker.
4. Go through the menu and disable privacy violating settings. Does this work? I'm doubtful.

edit: Just to be clear, I am NOT talking about the normal sort of ad tracking that happens when you use streaming services. Netflix knows what you’re watching regardless of what device you use. I’m talking about stuff like a hidden camera recording your facial reactions, microphones recording your private conversations, and screen recording of your viewing activities. This is sci-fi dystopia level creepy.

TL;DR

The new system will have state encryption and WhatsApp will no longer be used for communication.

(local source: 1,2)

So I have some people who want to get me into a discord chat. Is there a simple way to bridge it to matrix? I have my own matrix server but I don't have a discord account. Is it possible to create a bridge without violating privacy?

I don't want to create an account if I don't have to

I don't know anything about cars.

Now that we have established that cars seriously undermine our privacy (look at the flurry of posts in this community in the last few hours), what can we do about it?

From a networking POV, if you remove the ability to connect to the Internet, it doesn't matter what the car is recording as long as you can ensure there is no physical tampering. Depending on who you are, this is a good idea, and doable for the most part (very few people have the technical knowledge to pull out the right chip from a car).

So, how do we achieve this? I implore the community to invite mechanical/car engineers who can help us on this matter, and to form methods to prevent vehicles from accessing the Internet without express consent from the user.

Thanks!

I keep hearing on VPN ads that you have to use a VPN to not have your login information stolen. So far I have been using Cloudflare WARP to be safe enough. However, if I am using an HTTPS website, do I really need a VPN or WARP? Will an attacker on the same network as me be able to access passwords transmitted over HTTPS?

Gmail prompt to provide phone number sounds like a threat

Mozilla released their studies, and I'm seeing a growing number of posts on the Internet about cars and the privacy nightmare they entail. I remember how this issue wasn't talked about earlier because "just buy an older car" was still prevalent. I'm so happy that people are taking notice. Thank you to this community and Mozilla for the work they are putting in!

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/4448974

I've recently started using a self hosted SearXNG instance but I'm still using the search engines enabled by default (google, duckduckgo and qwant). What search engines do you have enabled or which ones do you feel you've gotten the best results with?

Rossman is on form. A delightful rant about his experiences with gyms. And his promotion of privacy.com and their virtual credit card numbers that he can cancel remotely.

Did you try all of them?

What made you stick with the one you are currently using?

I became fully aware of Control D only yesterday as the name was vaguely familiar to me when I heard it and for Adguard DNS well I thought it was a normal-ish DNS service like 1 1 1 1, quad9, Google, etc... (not that user configurable).

I tried looking for some reviews and discussions comparing the 3 but found almost nothing about Control D and Adguard DNS but I did stumble upon Control D CEO 2 blog posts comparing Adguard DNS and NextDNS to Control D.

There seems to be not that much talk about these 2 unlike NextDNS which seems way more popular, if I'm correct then what made it way more popular and known?

I live in Latin America and I found out here governements dont require Samsung to OEM lock bootloader for Samsung phones, so thecnically im able to boot a custom rom unto my phone. But Im curious if this still enables us Samsung users from Latin America to boot any privacy respecting android rom, since most of them doesnt support Samsung devices at least that's what they say on their web pages. So, do you guys think there's a solution for us?

Edit: Just asked because of curiosity. I'm not actually looking for such vehicles.

Edit 2: So for context, my parents new Toyota has this feature that allows the GPS location of the car to be sent to toyota, then you can see the location via an app on android/ios (it's supposed to be an anti-theft feature). The data is sent via an antenna that connects to cell towers, which then connects to the internet, and to the toyota servers. "Diagnostic" and "maintenance" information is also sent via those same antennas.

The dealer said it could be turned off, but who knows if they are really off. There's not a hard switch on the car.

Can I please just get a car, instead of a rolling computer / infotainment / privacy nightmare?

Summary

• Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is increasing its target for scanning passengers with facial recognition as they leave the U.S. from 40% to 75%.

• The new goal will be implemented at the end of this month.

• CBP is changing its metric for measuring progress from the percentage of flights that have at least one biometrically processed traveler, to the percentage of passengers who are biometrically processed.

• CBP says that the change in metric is more accurate and provides a more complete picture of how robust biometric exit processing is on a national level.

• The Congress-mandated goal of CBP is to have 97% or greater biometric exit compliance.

• Airlines are increasingly using facial recognition systems to confirm travelers when boarding aircraft.

• Passengers who do not want to participate in facial recognition can opt out, but they may be asked to present travel documents or other proof of identification, and in some case, fingerprints.

• CBP says that it will only store facial images for no more than two weeks and that it will share entry and exit data for law enforcement.

The article also mentions a case where a privacy attorney was told by airline staff that she had to participate in facial recognition, even though she had a right to opt out. This suggests that there may be some confusion among airline staff about the rules surrounding facial recognition.

Interesting Passages

A June 2017 CBP document explains its “Biometric Exit Process” for passengers: “All travelers are required to submit to CBP inspection upon exit. Facial images will be matched and then stored for no more than two weeks in secure data systems managed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in order to further evaluate the technology, ensure its accuracy, and for auditing purposes. In lieu of facial images, travelers may be asked to present travel documents or other proof of identification, and in some cases provide fingerprints.” That document adds that it could share traveler exit and entry data with other government agencies “if the situation warrants, for law enforcement purposes.”

It seems likely CBP will meet its goal for biometrically-processing 75 percent of passengers. In 2021 I obtained a cache of documents related to the airline JetBlue’s piloting of facial recognition systems. Already back then, JetBlue said it had seen more than 90 percent of customers participate in biometric boarding when it was available.

The article is AdGuard centric but it sheds light on the whole process where Google suddenly decided to ban ad blockers.

I've moved almost completely to Proton Mail. I expect I'll end up keeping a Google or Outlook account, not for use as a primary account, but as a recovery account or to access other services.

I currently see a lot less value in the google account than outlook, but that's because my family does need access to full blown office. Libre office does 98% of what I need, but on occasion I do need office. An install of 2010 would probably meet that requirement as well. Firefox is set to delete cookies on exit, and I do not ever stay signed into these services.

Does anyone else keep free service email accounts around, and if so, what do you use them for? What's the pit-fall I'm not seeing if I try to restrict them and treat them with the Principle of Least Privileged model?

I have been slowly degoogling my life by reducing my use of Google apps and switching to FOSS alternatives. I recently created a Proton account and tried to keep it completely isolated from my default Google account so as to not let it know what my Proton mail identity is. I have finished my transition in my desktop to the best of my ability and am planning to start the same with my mobile. The only thing I have done in my Android phone related to Proton is having downloaded ProtonVPN and signed into my account within the app. However I fear by downloading ProtonMail and signing into it, my Android phone would identify the email account, which could make this entire transition useless. Is there a way to avoid this situation or has the damage already been done. What does Google know about my Proton account, if at all?

I use xprivacylua to prevent whatsapp from having access to most of the possible software and hardware information to mitigate the fingerprint and now I'm also using the imagepipe to send any image through it.

However, the doubt came.

And the photos taken directly into the option within the application?

Can you still capture metadata?

Note: I use degoogle smartphone. And I do not speak English so excuse any fault.