Be aware that kwallet will require you to enter your password if you auto-login. Kwallet usually saves your passwords for wifi etc. That's why auto-login with KDE doesn't make much of a difference in most use cases
I haven't used windows in quite a while, but while I did, on laptops sold with windows there was a recovery partition on them you could reinstall windows from. If you removed that partition you had no legal way of reinstalling, because no key was made available to you at any point.
I think you severely underestimate how our devices are networked nowadays. It's not about the device directly next to you. It's about what is beeing agreggated in the back end. Google and Apple have an extensive BT and Wifi map that can locate specific devices very accurately at all times. Which of course is enriched with other device data from installed apps, like where you shop, what you shop, maybe even vitals from your smartwatch etc. to create a scarily accurate persona attached to your name. That's on a whole other level than what you can do with a license plate.
That being sad I respect your choice as well. Being privacy conscientious is a bit of work.
XMPP implementations have been around so much longer than signal, to me signal would be "just another messaging app"
XMPP doesn't require my phone number. Signal might give you the option to use usernames with your contacts, but still requires a valid number for registration last I checked.
I can self host an XMPP server instead of trusting/depending on someone else.
It's not the music, it's location data. BT broadcasts a unique ID to your device. Every device with BT will receive that ID to check if it knows you. That's inherent to the protocol and works as designed. Apps will be able to learn yours and other peoples location that way. That's basically how Apples Airtag network operates.
I know, it's defo more comfortable. Like I said, I just can't deal with the privacy issues related to BT. If there were earbuds supporting some kind of privacy friendly wireless protocol, I'd use them.
Good writeup. I'm a huge fan of Xenogears and actually have a playthrough going that I pick up when I feel nostalgic (that and legend of the dragoon). I tried the Xenoblade games but they couldn't live up to that quality IMO. A big reason for this is the combat system. Nothing beats turn based combat and I'll die on that hill.
Still a requirement for me. I listen to music and podcasts while I run, and I run a lot. But I don't want to deal with the privacy issues of leaving my BT on when I leave home. And USB dongles physical connections just aren't as reliable with a lot of motion.
The argument I most often see and is that TikTok should stay because Facebook and Google are just as bad. That's stupid because domestic espionage is obviously worse than foreign espionage to any government.
If your argument is that the TikTok ban is good and Facebook and Google should be next because of the similar practises then I'm 100% with you.
I don't understand why people get so upset about this. Yes, Google, Facebook, etc. hoard your data too. But there's a big difference wether that data is hoarded domestically or by a foreign nation that is pretty blatant about their industry espionage and political propaganda. Yes, the US do it too. But you really can't blame a country for protecting it's interests, be they ethical or not.
Linux mobile is a necessity. Apple is regularly dragged to court because of their walled garden bullshit and Google tries to catch up to them in that regard
The encryption itself isn't outlawed. The law would force all app and service providers (signal and proton for example are mentioned as high risk entities) to implement backdoors. The user to user communication stays encrypted.
The article makes some good points. Most people downvoting it probably just see a title that attacks their favourite game distribution platform, if there even is such a thing.
Personally, I treat Steam like a rental service, because that's what it is. Meaning I exclusively "buy" games on Steam at deep 80-90% discounts. So, when the enshittification inevitably hits the fan, I can jump ship without feeling like I'm loosing too much.
I never understood how movie-web got so popular when services like FMovies exist.