this post was submitted on 25 Jan 2025
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Privacy
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I use a Discord-Matrix bridge to communicate with some groups that are only on Discord. Of course it still all goes over Discord's servers so the messaging itself isn't private, but you at least don't have to use Discord's proprietary client, and the only data Discord will have is the data you send it from the Matrix bridge (plus identifying data on the Matrix server you're using).
Signal as a preference—not because I think it's the best chat app (I dislike its centralised nature; not being able to self-host is a near-on dealbreaker if not for the fact that everyone I know is on Signal; and it requiring a phone number to sign up is also bad for privacy)—but because it's the one the most people have. All my friends are on it luckily, by nature of my friends largely being communists or young queer people (or both). I also offer SMS and email. If someone asks a pretty open-ended "how can I contact you", I might also mention Matrix and Simplex as options in case they have those.
No, and I really don't understand why people do unless your bank requires it and there isn't another appropriate bank that doesn't require it. I've tried my bank's app (which works fine on GOS luckily) and found it didn't offer anything the web UI didn't offer, other than the option to use the app as 2FA for banking stuff, but I just get SMS 2FA from my bank.
I don't use taxis; I use public transport. But if I had to get a taxi, I would probably either use my GPlay profile on my GOS phone to install Uber, or I would probably just ring a taxi company over the phone.
I'm not aware of a way. I've just told people to either give me an address or coordinates, because I don't have google maps.
Organic Maps has been my go-to for a while. It's wonderful. Works well for driving too. I use RHVoice for text-to-speech, which iirc was recommended to me by a fellow lemming.
I don't track fitness activities, and I use GOS+Pixel.
How do you feel about the claims of SMS 2FA not being safe? Does that bother you? Or is it a risk you're willing to take? Genuinely asking because my banking app does the same and I'm not sure how much of a real 'threat' SMS 2FA is.
SMS 2FA is not secure, and I don't particularly care about the security of my bank account. I have a state threat model as a political organiser, a very real one given the arrests, raids, imprisonment, etc I and my comrades have faced, meanwhile I'm not aware of any rando civilians hellbent on stealing my money. And frankly I don't have that much money to steal anyway. If you're determined to get my sim card to log into my meagre bank account you probably need the money more than me.
I guess if you're that worried about SMS security you could get an esim and rely on device encryption to protect it. Wouldn't be the most secure thing in the world but at least it provides some protection, and if you buy an esim anonymously (e.g. with https://silent.link/) an attacker can't impersonate you to try get your sim card.
Very informative thank you.