Hello, I’ve been in the free software cult for about a year now, and yet, I feel more lost than ever.
I have pretty much switched to all free software other than Whatsapp, which I only use to contact family and people that ignorantly don’t care.
I’m having troubles finding a mobile alternative to Signal, which I can talk to people with, but everything I’ve found is only available on computers.
I use my phone for communication, chess, searches, and navigation, so I’m tied to a device that actively spies on me, and unlike normies, I can’t ignore it.
Solution for all would simply be to just let them go, but I’m already in a shit-hole socially, so that’d just make things worse.
I’m still using a 5 year old lenovo thinkbook I got as a present, and I have plans of replacing it with something I can put GNU boot and use a functioning system with parabola on like a Lenovo Thinkpad T400, T500, X200, and X200T. However, I do mechatronics, so I’m going to have serious issues with CAD, compiling, and ethical machine learning, which I have to do for most projects. Even with a lightweight suckless dwm setup, it’s going to suck at everything.
That’s not even considering the security risks, which are especially bad considering I do activism on topics that are outright banned in countries that I live in / visit.
Have you experienced such a phase? I would really appreciate your advice on getting past this roadblock and finding a device to switch to both mobile and desktop for better privacy.
Edit: user asudox infromed me that matrix was available on mobile, so now I’m using a client called fluffy chat available on both andriod, IOS, web, and GNU+Linux systems which is great.
Device-wise, have you considered separating your project and personal computer? You could coreboot a small light Chromebook as a personal, ultraportable device, and get a hefty laptop or even a desktop for the hard stuff.
Chatwise, there’s Matrix, XMPP and SimpleX at least. And Briar and Session. But Signal with its phone number registration is the easiest for others to jump to.
And yes, it’s a constant balancing act between privacy and convenience… and the IA of the security triad, and open source principles. Just like with most things, there’s no perfect solution, you just learn to live with the least bad ones.
Amazing advice. Chatwise, I used session, but security-wise, it’s pretty bad and it’s still pretty new and not well-known. I decided to go on with a matrix client called fluffy chat.
As for device, that’s a great idea, which I havent thought about. I could use a portable touchscreen Thinkpad X200T for just everyday portable computing and as for at home, I’ll figure it out one step at a time.