Internet Privacy and Open Source
I have been spring cleaning this month. Nope, not my garage or my home. But my digital life.
I read a book a while ago that had nano machines in people's brains and they can talk to each other. In it, the main character made an operating system for this tech. It was of course based on Linux. I realized that if companies and governments got into it, they could track people, ideas, and more. So then, how would they stop it?
The reason for that diversion is because we have very personal devices now. Not inside our brains, but at our fingertips. These little computers actually do know everything about us. What we search, where we been, our loved ones, financal info, pictures, videos, texts, emails, and more. What's to stop anybody from wanting all that information? Oh they want it. So they will do everything they can for you to give it to them.
Who are these people? It's that storage account that gives you just enough and want to upgrade for more storage. The email provider that is also required by law to give up your emails when being investigated by governments.[1] Or even the email provider using web clients to display ads about content in the emails. How about that fancy voice activated device that records all your conversations and reports back home on key words like "need to buy something" or "get a new doodad". Then when the next time you go on your favorite social media, there is an ad there! [2] I got more. That fancy new game you downloaded? That one uses GPD? It also knows your right next to that burger place and wants to let you know you can get a drink for a buck! [3] The most scary thing I seen is TV advertisements. TV? That's not on my phone. Yeah, but that rewards app you downloaded is actually using the microphone to listen to ultra high frequency sounds from the TV to know what you are watching. [4]
All of these technologies and more are in place and being used. So what can we do? How are we going to know if something we download is going to expose us or track us? You don't. Unless you get or make software that you can compile yourself. It is a highly technical thing to do create your own apps. I have done it for 15 years and it time and effort! But, you don't have to. Tens of thousands of programmers out there care about you and your privacy. And their own too! So they sometimes work together and make apps, share it, fix it, contribute, maintain, and remake new apps off old code. Many will vet the code and make sure it isn't hiding anything nasty. These open source apps is what we are going to talk about.
Linux operating systems are at the top of the open source community. They have been commited to open standards for decades. I know that most people will look at it and say the learning curve is much to hard. They might be right. But anything worthwhile is worth it to learn.
For now though and to get your feet wet, I will want to get you going on some open source apps for Android devices. Since more then 80% of smartphones are some form of android, it is a huge target. If you go on the app store for a game, what do you see?
Valve sees it. There are way too many apps trying to get your attention. They don't need our attention though. So, go into your phone's app settings and disable Google Play. Right now.
Disabling apps is great! It makes it so it can not run. Ever. Unfortunantly, it can not be done on every system app because they do not have root. But more on that later.
But how am I going to get some new apps and functions for my smart phone/handheld computer?
Let me introduce you to F-Droid. A Free Open Source Software (FOSS) App Gallery.
This app will allow you to download Open Source apps that have been vetted and compiled by a trusted party. All the apps are free and do not use ads. I highly recommend that if you find something that is worth your time, send a donation to the developer. They do not run ads so these people making apps need some coffee. Here is a list I have been compiling that are great open source alternatives.
If you absolutely need something from Google Play because the developer did not release it anywhere else, download Yalp on F-Droid. It is a Google play downloader that you do not need a Google account and can download free apps.
https://f-droid.org/packages/com.github.yeriomin.yalpstore/
Another app I recently encountered is NetGuard. This handy app can block all network traffic on your device and let only certain apps you want to connect. The best way to use it is to block everything and unblock an app when it trys to connect. Then, if something you really dont want to send info, just ignore notifications. You will be surprised by the amount of junk a phone manufacturer has installed as a system app that can not be turned off.
https://f-droid.org/packages/eu.faircode.netguard/
Google docs has an open source contender now. OnlyOffice has released an android app that is a full office suite. Docs, speadsheets, and slideshows are availavle. Right now it is available on google play, so use your Yalp app to download it.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.onlyoffice.documents
K9 email: this app is actually pretty handy. I scoffed at it at first because it wasnt materially designy enough. But really, it is made to try and maximize android flavors and it is a really goog email app.
https://f-droid.org/packages/com.fsck.k9/
QKSMS: This is a cool text message app you can replace your stock one with. It is available on Fdroid.
https://f-droid.org/packages/com.moez.QKSMS/
Simple system apps. Your calendar, photo app, camera, file manager have some pretty huge permissions on your device. Anything that can access user files should always be suspect. But you can find some simple apps on fdroid that fill these apps. Small file size means they do not include bloat or trackers.
https://f-droid.org/packages/com.simplemobiletools.gallery/
Web browser. There is a web browser worth mentioning on fdroid and on their website that is privacy focused. Firefox Focus/Klar. It does not have great tabs yet, but the browser does not save cookies, form data, passwords, blocks trackers and ads. If you happen to run into a website you can not use, you can turn tracking on and it will reload. It does a pretty good job so far. Here is hoping for great improvments in the future. I recommend downloading the apk direct from firefox as it is the most updated.
https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/mobile/
Finally, a home screen replacement. OpenLauncher is a fav of mine. Looks similars to stock, but you can select privacy focused search such as Duckduckgo.
https://f-droid.org/packages/com.benny.openlauncher/
There are so many more apps that you can use as open source replacments. Look up some and give them a try. Let me know what you find. Thanks for reading!
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jul/11/microsoft-nsa-collaboration-user-data
[2] https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/your-smartphone-listening-or-coincidence/
[3] http://adage.com/article/digital/pokemon-s-ad-model-a-cost-visit-basis/304952/
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