as an example. and also request, I've been trying to set up a private e-mail for like half an hour, and everything either shuts down when it sees a VPN or requires a phone number. is there an alternative?

what's the cheapest way to get a number for SMS online?

how to crypto? from cash green dot to secure(ish) wallets

best operating systems for noobs who don't want their computer to snitch on them (quite so hard)? (I use qubes, but I'm firmly intermediate)

messaging things? (matrix is the standard right now, but you cant use video or voice with their app, which makes me v. sus)

least snitchy most useful VPNs?

phones that wont snitch, or how to get a rootable corporate phone+basic guide for minimal snitching?

things to watch out for like printer watermarks, etc?

useful programs/items to have for your safety?

  • Ithorian [comrade/them]
    ·
    4 years ago

    Proton VPN is the best I've found. They have their own email too which seems to be the most secure email available.

    There's been allot of talk about signal being sus lately but it's open source and has been reviewed many times, it's solid. Plus if you set up end to end encryption basically the only way to crack it is for someone to physically have your phone.

    For a normal OS Debian Linux is good but if you need something super secure check out tails you boot it off a usb stick and it loads into ram only. Once you pull the stick out of your computer all history of what you did is gone forever. There is no trace what so ever.

  • ancom20 [none/use name]
    ·
    4 years ago

    These sites are a good start. I'll edit this post a bit later (probably tomorrow?) with more specific, personal (my own) recommendations. (Feel free to DM me if i forget, this stuff is a big hobby for me). Just because stuff is recommended, doesn't mean it is ideal. It's important to consider attack surface, for example if everyone uses one provider or type of security software (Truecrypt comes to mind, also the wide use of SSL was a problem with the heartbleed bug), that means more people are potentially vulnerable rather than maybe using less well known softwares or a combination thereof.

    https://prism-break.org/en/ https://privacytools.io

    • _else [she/her,they/them]
      ·
      4 years ago

      def. some of what im asking for i need, some is just stuff i think should be answered everywhere. having robust lists put together by anti-capitalists who we can be reasonably certain arent ops is a good thing.

      • ancom20 [none/use name]
        ·
        4 years ago

        Hi, So sorry it has taken me such a long time to get back to you, due to work schedule etc. But I'm happy to provide you with what I have so far in terms of recommendations. Feel free to ask any questions, DM me with specific questions, etc. Happy to help as I now have a bit more time.

        Here is the link to my big list (couldn't type it all on Hexbear)

        https://freetexthost.net/EMWrVnxv

  • TheCaconym [any]
    ·
    4 years ago

    Not an answer to all your questions, but I wrote this a while back on !tactics@hexbear.net (which may have been more suited to your question, maybe). It's mainly for the software side, though.

    • _else [she/her,they/them]
      ·
      4 years ago

      oh shit I didn't even see that board. wasn't a word i thought to search. ooooops