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Stories like this are yet another reason to pull your data from the cloud/ID services provided by #Apple, #Microsoft, #Google. You think you're fine, that it won't happen to you. Until it does.
It's possible to have your own fully synced local "cloud" for files. I have an iPad, Mac, and two computers running GNU/Linux with the same files thanks to Syncthing. All in the background and backed up locally to external drives.
Fully private and secure.
@dennyhenke Today, because I saw your thread, I copied/deleted about 20GB off of Google Drive and Photos. Its a small step to get me started, lots more steps to take.
@dennyhenke That's a great solution to people like us who know how to run their own services. But for %99.9 of the population not so much. We need strong regulation against these companies. Sadly, that is less and less likely to happen every year.
@paultk Agreed on all. Given your last point, strong regulation is increasingly less likely, I also suggest that those of us that can help should be actively doing so.
Start a local/community working group to offer help. We can get together and talk through solutions, help others plan and implement those. We can take direct action via local mutual aid groups of all kinds. Helping folks with data/privacy/computing is one of many. This is something I've been doing via my local library.
@paultk In addition to meeting folks at the local library, offering presentations, etc, I've also set-up a Signal group for those local folks where we can help each other as needed.
I've documented/blogged all the steps along the way, offering tips on steps taken, software used and describing my own process. If you're interested in reading or sharing it's at https://beardystarstuff.net, easy to find there.
#MutalAid, #DIY #Community #Tech #Computing #Privacy #Democracy #DirectAction
@dennyhenke So, I mean, Apple users be warned...but I feel like saying that is as effective as telling non-voters to go to the polls.
I have been reading for over a decade about how much Apple is willing to compromise data and privacy for governments, but I have people--including technologists--assuring me that Apple is sooo much more secure than Google (disclaimer: Google is not secure at all). Apple is kind of a cult, and I don't know what deprograms them.
@dnkboston I was one of those folks that (mostly) trusted Apple. Until I didn't. But, in truth, I'm also an anti-capitalist, aware that capitalists are ultimately loyal only to themselves, their stockholders and profit seeking.
There's a level of trust and also a kind of falling deeper into easy, convenient computing that is especially sticky with "ecosystems" that intermingle hardware, services, cloud as Apple does.
It begins to feel impossible to leave though it is entirely possible!
@dennyhenke I'm pro regulation, which means anti-US capitalism at this point. I don't think smaller companies are automatically better actors, but in general, they tend to have less wiggle room to, ahem, Be Evil.
I get the integration of software and hardware and how seamless that can be. It's seductive!
I've been squirming away from Google for the last year--I get how difficult it is. I'm kind of cold-blooded, so I'd be willing to let certain pictures go, but no one should *have* to.
My iPad is still perfectly usable without iCloud services. Yes, I do still rely on a few apps from the App Store. But this can be somewhat mitigated by switching to websites instead of apps and that's often much better for privacy.
Open file formats for text that can be opened on any platform. Same for word processing, spreadsheets, etc. as much as possible I've stopped using proprietary files and applications. And this works very well. Across software available on all platforms.
Purchasing DRM'd media from Apple? It's not purchasing if I don't own it, so, no thanks. I'll get my media other ways.
My computing, my data, is under my control now and future proof in a way that it wasn't in January 2025. And it's more private and secure.
Recommended encrypted, privacy respecting services when you must use the cloud:
- Signal (messaging)
- Proton (Email, calendars, secure/private file sharing and collaboration)
- Tuta (Email, contacts, calendars)
- Ente (Photos, sharing)
Not only are those services fully encrypted, FOSS and audited, they are not based in the US so there is a layer of protection from the current fascist regime here.
Folks, stop assuming private, proprietary cloud services are the only option for you, they're not. And remember that US-based capitalists will follow the dictates of the current regime.
Take a few weeks/months and make the effort to extricate yourself from your dependence on THEIR clouds. Take full responsibility for YOUR data.
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