I want a computer that I own

What does it mean to own something? In the extreme, do you own anything that you don’t understand? In the extreme does owning something become a kind of performance art?

https://www.ted.com/talks/thomas_thwaites_how_i_built_a_toas...

Re: I want a computer that I own

#6

Post by hemloc_io » Tue, Mar 09, 2021, 1:03 AM UTC

Klwohu wrote: post #3

I suspect that the secret laws passed after 911, which Ron Paul among others have alluded to, make this a pipe dream.

Hmm secret laws? Do you have a source for this. I feel like a secret law defeats the purpose of a law lol.

Re: I want a computer that I own

#7

Post by julienb_sea » Tue, Mar 09, 2021, 1:03 AM UTC

There are approaches that can deliver large portions of this; run an open source linux distribution, running open source browser with open source tracker blocking software. You can run this on an inexpensive system and wipe out all external communication except what you specifically want.

This is obviously unrealistic for most people. You can toggle off automatic feedback & updates in a modern OS and you can install Firefox with tracker blocking and you are 99% of the way there, plenty enough in practice.

I want to point out both of these approaches introduce legitimate security holes (either from not using a production grade OS or from disabling updates on it) which are vastly more likely to have real impact on your life versus privacy tracking.

Re: I want a computer that I own

#8

Post by koverda » Tue, Mar 09, 2021, 1:04 AM UTC

> Except for a handful of very over-priced models that I can't afford to buy.

This statement here made me pause for a bit. He wants a computer with specific features, but doesn't want pay for the models that offer those features because they are too expensive?

Everyone wants to have their cake and eat it too, but unfortunately, reality has constraints.

Re: I want a computer that I own

#9

Post by realsimplesynd » Tue, Mar 09, 2021, 1:04 AM UTC

> Governments seem to be universally terrified of even the slightest possibility of anyone in the world having a private conversation.

How secure do you think face-to-face conversations are? (not sarcastic or anything, just genuinely interested on measuring security of conversations)

Re: I want a computer that I own

#10

Post by murftown » Tue, Mar 09, 2021, 1:04 AM UTC

For an article about privacy and not being snooped on, some HTTPS would be nice!

But then again, the author could understandably reply that TLS is an example of a system that has evolved to require "checking in" with a central authority - the opposite of what they want. So fair enough.