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Using privacy-related software makes it more likely that you'll get specifically targeted for surveillance. [1] Simply visiting this site makes it more likely.

Using privacy-related software makes it more likely that you'll get specifically targeted for surveillance. [1] Simply visiting this site makes it more likely. [2] For anyone who fears state-level surveillance: Using a VPN or Tor and some privacy plugins isn't enough. Don't assume that you're safe just because of it. In fact, you make yourself identifiable if you rely on such plugins. I won't go into details on how to be able to have privacy that can compete with state-level surveillance, because you'll have to commit crimes to get it. If you think that your government is watching you - don't trust these simple instructions. It's way harder. Some people had to die because of this. Many (authoritarian) governments don't let you use a VPN without putting you on a watch list. If you try to keep a low profile, you need other measures. False sense of security can be dangerous in some countries. I hope that those who need this (a fraction of those who read it) keep themselves safe. edit: I think they should clearly state that this tutorial isn't suited for individuals who are in great danger w.r.t surveillance. It's for people who are interested in privacy, not for people in life-or-death situations. [1]: https://www.cnet.com/news/nsa-likely-targets-anybody-whos-tor-curious/ https://www.cnet.com/news/nsa-likely-targets-anybody-whos-to... [2]: https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/interest-privacy-will-ensure-youre-targeted-nsa/ https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/interest-privacy-will-ensure-y...

throwaway654654 8y ago
this is exactly right. the modern surveillance state (both government and corporate) is opt-out but the economic incentives are tuned to make sure that only a very few people opt-out, which then makes it easy to target and focus all of the resources on those people. if you are serious about security don't use digital devices at all. if you are willing to accept some security risk in exchange for using digital devices then you are best off using some obscure back channel, not some high tech "theoretically unbreakable" crypto. security by obscurity is, ironically, the only thing that actually works (until you get caught), even though in theory it is the worst. every crypto scheme is trivially broken by state level actors.
commandlinefan 8y ago
> Using privacy-related software makes it more likely that you'll get specifically targeted for surveillance. Which is a good reason for people who specifically don't have anything to hide to start using them - if you're not signal, you can't help out by being noise.

throwaway654654 8y ago

this is exactly right. the modern surveillance state (both government and corporate) is opt-out but the economic incentives are tuned to make sure that only a very few people opt-out, which then makes it easy to target and focus all of the resources on those people. if you are serious about security don't use digital devices at all. if you are willing to accept some security risk in exchange for using digital devices then you are best off using some obscure back channel, not some high tech "theoretically unbreakable" crypto. security by obscurity is, ironically, the only thing that actually works (until you get caught), even though in theory it is the worst. every crypto scheme is trivially broken by state level actors.

commandlinefan 8y ago

> Using privacy-related software makes it more likely that you'll get specifically targeted for surveillance. Which is a good reason for people who specifically don't have anything to hide to start using them - if you're not signal, you can't help out by being noise.