I’ve learned a lot about privacy/security from xmpp chatrooms, especially the room for the conversations client and the divestos chatroom. They both are kind of support chatrooms for the chat client/ android rom but privacy is often a topic and the programmers/ rom maintainers are also present and very knowledgeable. https://search.jabber.network/rooms/1
I use Syncthing-fork (fdroid). It lets you set you granular per folder settings like only sync on home WiFi.
Could you explain why you wouldn’t use it?
I’ve been using it for a couple of years and am happy with it, it grants an extra layer of security I think, if you can wipe the device when lost/stolen. Also very handy if you misplaced the phone and its set to not ring, as with this it will ring at full volume. You don’t need to use their server for the app to function, if that is your concern. I use a secondary device from my household. You can send a text message to your phone to let it ring even when its set to silent mode/get its location/or even wipe it remotely.
Ok, yeah, you’ve got a point I think. But one could argue if microg is enabled by default, at least some info might leak to google as their push servers are contacted and a device id is created (even if the data is anonymized to some extend.). (Depending on if these settings are enabled by default in microg which I am not sure of).
Here’s some info from the divestOS faq (cmp.: https://divestos.org/pages/faq):
"Anything important I should know about microG?¶
The 'Google device registration' and 'Google SafetyNet' options WILL make microG connect to Google servers.
The 'Cloud Messaging' option WILL make microG maintain a persistent connection to Google servers.
The 'Cloud Messaging' option does NOT require a Google account.
The 'Google SafetyNet' option WILL download and execute proprietary obfuscated code from Google and is strongly NOT recommended.
While microG itself is open source, any apps talking to it will do so using the proprietary Google Play Services library."
It goes on to provide some guidelines if you want to use microg:
How should I configure microG?¶
"Depending on the apps you want to use there are a few different ways you can use microG.
Some apps don't need microG but check that they were installed via Play, in this case you only need microG Companion/FakeStore and to install the app via `Aurora Store` (via session installer) or `Obtainium`. This mechanism only works on 18.1+ currently, adb workaround still necessary on older versions.
Some apps will work with microG simply installed without any Google connections, in this case it is strongly recommended to revoke Network permission from the microG app.
Some apps need push notifications via Google, for them you must let microG maintain a persistent identifiable connection to Google. Enable 'Google device registration' and 'Cloud Messaging' in microG.
Some apps require a captcha to be performed by the user, for them you can enable the 'Google SafetyNet' option.
Some apps require SafetyNet to work, while the option to enable it currently exists it will not work in the unprivileged mode that DivestOS uses and will be removed in a future update."
So depending on your thread model, you still would want to disable some of the options in microg to have absolutely no leakage of data to google. For example I am not comfortable any more with using push notifications since it was revealed that state actors use this info to tail users communications.
Here is a thorough analysis of /os’s security and privacy.
Tldnr: it’s alright but but grapheme, divestos or calyxos should be preferred if those are available on your device.
Problematic seems the unique device id /e os generates and sends on every update and also security updates for the integrated webview browser have been severely out of date in the past.
I’ve been using xmpp for several years now. Even running my own server for family and friends. It’s a great feeling to be fully independent imho.
I’ve used a Bluetooth heart monitor worn around the chest (was around 20 $ ten years ago) to measure the heart rate before. It works well with open tracks and should be more reliable compared to a device worn around the wrist. I am not sure the gps tracker on a watch works be better than the one on your phone anyways. It might be a problem with your phone killing background apps like opentracks. Check https://dontkillmyapp.com before pulling the plug on a new device.
Another option would be to install an im server that is low on resources and not eating your sdcard. I think xmpp would work a lot better on a pi. Prosody, ejabberd or snikket should work nicely.
https://www.messenger-matrix.de/messenger-matrix-en.html
^^ Good comparison with other IMs.
Here is a good overview. You could compare this with your findings:
Sounds kind of cool. Does is support Rockbox, yet?
Ditto.
There is no need fire up a dedicated machine to do this. Use your router/ap running openwrt and connect a hdd via usb. The machine needs at least 128 Mb RAM (256 mb would be better). Install the transmission package, set it up, add a gig of swap space on the hdd and you are good to go. The AP runs 24/7 anyways so there will be very few extra power consumption. Vpns often don’t allow port forwarding (mullvad has stopped support recently if I remember correctly). You can just be a passive node and not often ports, that should work good enough. Consider seeding parts of sci-hub. it’s a project worth supporting imho.
You can just download once of the parts below with less than 12 seeds and set it to host without ratio:
If you do not need the nfc cabability of your cards, just his them in front of a bright lamp, see where the cables run and cut the card with a scissor. Apply transparent tape over the cut and you have a privacy respecting card again. It’s what I always do as my bank offers no service to disable nfc.
I get exactly the results for reddit.com and old.reddit.com
Maybe try the searxng matrix support chat, I think there might be a few developers around that could point you in right direction:
https://matrix.to/#/#searxng:matrix.org
They also have a Mirc support channel is that is more your cup of tea.
Read up on Xmpp or matrix as good alternatives.
This is actually a rather new feature in the firefox browser unrelated to searx.
I would switch to jmp immediately if only it were available in Germany.