[bbbhltz]

I used to be a try-hard. I'm not infosec or a programmer, I'm just a person with a computer. I would install every extension possible that claimed to do something, I encrypted everything, basically following every how-to article willy-nilly and fell down a rabbit-hole[1].

Now I keep things simpler:

- social media has been whiddled down to Fediverse and LinkedIn, phone is degoogled

- I do send many of my important emails encrypted - My browser has minimal extensions installed --- because I learned about fingerprinting

- No cloud, no AI

- Never use public WiFi at McDonald's or hotels

- I've used Linux for the past 18 or 19 years as my daily, but that isn't a magic shield.

In short: didn't get into hardening; some encryption, no cloud; mostly avoiding social media (LinkedIn will soon be deleted).

[1]: https://bbbhltz.codeberg.page/blog/2021/04/the-privacy-secur...

[authorfly]

Out of interest, during your try-hard phase, did you use VPNs?

The try-hard meta seemed to be the opposite of midwit meme e.g.

Newbie: Use the VPN it prevents tracking and password leaks on wifi! Mid level: Don't use the VPN as the VPN owner could be tracking everything! Elite level: Use multiple VPNs for different things, self host Tor and VPNs in other countries

[gaws]

> My browser has minimal extensions installed --- because I learned about fingerprinting

What do you use now?