I've thought about posting this for quite a while. I'm not selling anything, and in fact it's the opposite. I wasn't sure if this discussion really belongs on this forum, but it does fit into the idea of the Great Awakening and sticking it to these tech corporate oligarchs. With Tim Cook you have a loathsome buttpuppet who fancies CCP enslavement, and Bill Gates is a villain obsessed with reducing the world's population through vaccines. Both are New World Order turdcopters who only seek to kill, oppress and enslave.
For myself, I've been getting sick of Bill Gates's crap for years and I'd been wanting to switch to Linux, but did not have the motivation. I was happy with Win7 and I refused the "free" upgrade to Win10. I did not want Win10 and every computer at work that was upgraded got slow. I'd resolved to never pay money for another Microsoft OS again. So when MS announced that they would cease support for Win7, that was my motivation to break free from my comfort zone.
In February 2020, I migrated from Win7 to Linux and I have not regretted it. Not only does Linux install on pretty much anything, uses less resources, makes older computers run more smoothly and it is completely free, but it is also far more secure. Say goodbye to malware, trojans, and viruses. You see? Bill Gates has conditioned everyone to not only become used to enduring a barrage of concocted viruses in real life, but for your computer too. On the day I migrated to Linux, I cancelled my Avast Antivirus membership, which was incidentally soon after they got into trouble for selling their users' data and apologized for getting caught.
Maybe 20 years ago, Linux was intimidating for most people. Then Ubuntu came along, and made Linux far more user-friendly. Because of its wide support base, it made Linux easier to acclimate to. You see with the Mac/Win situation, it's like Dairy Queen. You only get two flavors: vanilla and chocolate. With Linux, it's like Baskin Robbins: there are so many flavors you don't know where to begin.
Look: I won't give a whole presentation on the various types of Linux. Just know that there are many different OS to choose from, and each OS will have different user interfaces (GUI) to choose from. As I mentioned, Linux is far stabler, more efficient, and more secure. Linux Mint seems to be the most popular OS as it is built upon Ubuntu as a version that is tailor made to appeal to Windows users who liked XP and 7, but do not like the bloated puke that 10 is. Its foundation is the user-friendly, widely-used Ubuntu and it takes it a step further to appeal more to Windows users who look for a Windows alternative that is not outside of their comfort zone. With Mint, there are choices of GUI to choose from. Cinnamon provides a very Windows-like, elegant and charming presentation. Mate is more versatile and customizable. XFCE is more of a no-nonsense GUI that is best for older hardware. As for myself, I went with Mint Mate.
Another OS that is easy to pick up and learn is Zorin OS. I haven't used it myself, but I plan to test it out sometime. With Linux, you can't go wrong. Even Microsoft uses Linux for their servers rather than their own crap. https://www.cybersecurity-insiders.com/microsoft-uses-linux-instead-of-windows-for-its-azure-sphere/
I see a lot of Linux users recommend newcomers to install VirtualBox and make a test install on that. I tried that, but I did not care for it as I have an older computer and it was rather laggy. No, if you can just burn an install DVD, you can just boot up to that. I made an install DVD for Mint and once I had booted my computer off of the DVD-ROM drive, I could actually use the OS to get a feel for how it works. It's so no-nonsense that you can run programs right from the install disc. I got into Firefox, logged into my Gmail, and then I could do a Hangouts video call with my friend. He's a Unix admin and even he was floored that I was just running my computer off the install DVD. Give it a try. You can use the OS without even having to install it. When you have all of your stuff backed up and are ready to make it happen, then you just click the install icon on the desktop. It's that simple.
You really don't have to bother much with drivers. Drivers are the software that interfaces with hardware, but Linux acts like that software itself. I imagine that this is why it runs slimmer. All I can say is just try it out. Unless you really must use some proprietary software like Microsoft Access or Adobe Photoshop for your work or something, you can find alternatives. Best of all is that it's free. Linux was doing the whole "app store" before Apple did. You can easily just install software from the software manager, or you can just pull up the terminal and type in the request to install a program. No more having to hunt down installation files off of various websites. Give it a shot! Let me know what your experiences are with this.
It indeed is a good thing to be reminded from time to time to at least investigate alternatives. I wrote this almost 6 months ago. https://greatawakening.win/p/11S0uZlZWj/x/c/4DuWMn3xarR
I also am conscious about the fact, not all of you are perfect IT consultants.
In this and other posts, I lay out a process to make yourself familiar and become comfortable to linux, in the spirit of the declaration of independence:
A couple of things I want to highlight to encourage you to at least try!
======= SECTION A: For those still on windoooozzzpy:
This link brings you to UBUNTU for WINDOWS. Meaning, you can install UBUNTU on top of your windows box and use it from there without destroying your windows installation, program files and data.
This way you are creating a live CD, started up from the F12 button boot sequence menu by choosing USB. Nothing will be saved or changed.
After you have the live CD, you can install a linuxOS onto a separate SSD/ HDD. This way, when you plug it in via USB, or simply swap the windows SSD for the linux SSD, you can simply start it up, without compromising your windows box.
And as long as we are talking USB, you can also simply download TAILSOS and learn what there is to learn about becoming anonymous without leaving a trail of tracable data.
IF your laptop or computer can handle it: use virtual box. For this to work I would recommend at least 8 Gig's of RAM and an I5 or equivalent processor, as you will have to divide between two operating systems when using virtual box. But, given the fact you can bridge between the live and the virtual OS, you can share data between the two. This is advanced stuff, fun to do.
Or, if you feel adventurous: turn it around. install linux and virtual box and run windows from virtual.
IF you really want to ruin your free time, try a dual installation of windows and linux, where your first choice will be to decide whether you start windows or linux. In this case your SSD needs division into two.
You are now totally convinced and want to move away from windows and it's ecoosystem. Cool! Take you pick in distro:
I. Ubuntu II.LMDE / Mint III. MXlinux IV. KALI (especially if you want to learn more hacking) V. ARCH
And if you really want to go native:
VI. Open BSD.
So, there you are: 8 options and you can pick your own level of adventure. I would have to tell you, in order to succeed, you will have to be willing to sacrifice some time to go through the learning curve.
======= SECTION B
Now you have turned away successfully from windowspy-ware, what's next to decrease your rather stocked data trail?
DEGOOGLE your android - phone!
Fortunately, you are on linux and it is quite easy.
buy a pixel phone and install grapheneOS (in this case graphene is OK) or e/ projects with microG.
Lookup your model on XDA-developers.com and use their guides to go through the process. Some phones can easily be released, other more difficult. I bought a phone once where the phone turned out to be a softbank phone. SHIT. Can't mess with that.
Basically, you'd first unlock your bootloader via ADB (which installs natively on linux without special drivers for your phone!!!(YEAH)), install a recovery image which will be provided with the howto, and TWRP recovery.
You can then load any OS on your phone. And if you get the hang of it, there is a ton more you can with ADB. All depends on your level of commitment to learn new skills.
And, you do not always need to have your tracking device with you, do you? Remember, there have been thousands of years before us, where no smartphone existed. Yet, people met, connected and had sex. (Do you really need a phone? Really?)
======= SECTION 3
APPLE. Apple is all about marketing. it's overpriced, and locks you up in their ecosystem of spyware.
DUMP IT!
If you are into graphic design, music, video, there are better linux alternatives and you are setting yourself free.
======= SECTION 4
Operational Security.
This is an important topic that is divided into 2 main topics. Infrastructure and awareness.
A. VPN. Especially NO LOGS VPN. Yes, that will cost you some money. ExpressVPN, ProtonVPN, Virtualshield, that sort of thing.
Additional advantage: you switch your IP address every so often quite easily. And because you are building an encrypted tunnel first, before firing up your browser, your ISP cannot see exactly what you are doing. check youtube on howto's. installation is easy as pushing a button and the rest follows.
Second additional advantage is should anything be regionally locked, you can simply circumvent that.
B. Understand DNS, or Domain Name Service. This service acts as a giant phonebook. When you enter greatawakening.win, this name needs translation into an IP - address. Some DNS services will try to lock you from reaching the site. You can simply change your DNS in your browser and voila. (preferences search DNS)
Additionally, you can create your own local DNS by creating a simple file called "host". it contains the IP address and the name of the site like this:
172.67.156.201 greatawakening.win
Every site that is important to you, you can add it to this file. In case the situation is called for it, and DNS services start blocking en masse access to patriot sites, you can simply forego the pleasure of their censorship by forcing your browser to first resolve a name by checking the host file.
search: howto linux host file and you have all the info at your fingertips.
C. EMAIL. Google spies on you. Free-shit means: you are the product. DUMP it. Tutanota and others like proton provide encrypted email. It does not exactly protect all data (metadata) but goes a long way to exclude eavesdroppers on the content of what you are discussing.
Try temporary emails for regular online signups. Use a normal email for unimportant shit.
D. Dump whatsapp and the likes. Use Signal at least, or go medieval on the spies ass by going to matrix.io. Learn how to set up a secured/ encrypted channel for chatting and (video)calls.
Same goes for Facebook. Dump it! Goto mewe. Forget Telegram.
What you need to become conscious about is why you do not need all this shit. But my family! You don't need that shit. If they really want to talk to you, they will.
You see what this is all about, right. Laziness disguised as convenience, while you play around with stuff you have no knowledge off. This creates a power imbalance and you are mined and exploited.
What does the 4th amendment say? Would you willingly allow commercial entities to breach your privacy? Do you belief in being secure in your person, affects and papers?
E. Browser. This is quite a topic and there are pro's and con's to any browser. Most people are already set on their ways, within the windows architecture. However, I would challenge that.
For all it's faults, Firefox is still the mainbrowser to use in combo with some add-ons like Ublock origin and HTTPS everywhere. It does have a quirck though. This relates to resolving names in the hostfile first. Bromite does a better job at that. BUt then again: bromite is Chromium. You could also use a useragent spoofer, to confuse fingerprinting. (see EFF.org)
Searchengine: Go for privacy first! Try and see if you can get your own private instance of SEARX.
Sites: Instead of youtube, use invidious IF you MUST go there. Rumble is quite an interesting alternative.
Twitter: try nitter.
Search for suitable replacements.
Since we have come so far in the process, it is time to allow tor/I2P/Loki to enter but that is a natural consequence of becoming aware of privacy and anonymity and the difference between the two. I'll leave that for another time.
Online resources are nice. But sometimes you have to forgo the pleasure of leaving your data in exchange for some shit article on the MSN. Try using wayback machine.
Here are some other observations in relation to online security: STOP using hard links to the MSN! and STOP clicking on these links. Instead, use wayback machine.
With all this in mind, there are two other considerations.
With new users growth, the OS becomes more interesting for hackers to target. Linux is not impervious to attacks. So, you will need to think ahead. Clamav is one way to do so. Or running a rootkit so once in a while won't hurt either. It's like inspecting your gear before you go rockclimbing.
Linux and linux applications are free. While you grow in your appreciation of their efforts to keep you private and even anonymous, think of the developers from time to time. Spreading a dollar here and there may go a long way (better to spread a crypto coin; monero)
Come on Patriots! stand up and fight. As digital warriors, you will want to use the best kit there is. If you do nothing, evil men will continue to take advantage.
Very good post. Thanks for taking the time to explain all of this.
Wonderful post. Just before I dig in firtjer, is it possible to use that shitty office (needed for my work)? If yes, would it defeat the ourpose of going to linux in the first place? Or is any other alternative compatible with office?
You can try the leading free alternative office suite called Libreoffice (I believe it was formally open office)
it has it's own set of non-proprietary formats, but it can read and save to docx xslx etc.
You might occasionally have formatting issues with printing etc.
It comes along with a lot of the linux distros, and it's going to be easy to download, free and anonymous if it doesn't come with your distro (a distro is a linux flavor, like "ubuntu", "mint" etc.).
I have been using a ubuntu derivative for a long time now as my main computer, I'm using it now.
Libre office is very well compatible.
You can establish a writer document in ods, safe it in docx format, or take docx and safe it in ods format.
The same goes for Excel and calculator, and presentation vs impress.
That said, Libre office is compliant with the agreements on standards, which Microsoft on occasion transgresses against.
There are particular import filters you can use and even design, should need arise.
But it is not 100% compatible.
You might want to check out Calligra suit.
For those tied to Microsoft Projects, there is ProjectLibre.
When it comes to databases, well, Access is a gem in many ways. I designed several systems for financial industries tying a lot of external and internal processes within the financial supply chain together.
That said .... I happen to like the free databases that come with linux like sql, mysql, postgress, etc. And on top of that, free from the system, you build your queries and views in whatever language you prefer.
In my experience there is a severe downside going for linux, inhibiting acceptance. Zoom calls are a drag because it eats resources. There are much lighter and better alternatives, without the spying, but you would have to set it up.
I notified some counter parties of this issue by simply saying: I am committed to continued safe and smooth video conferencing, where privacy is well respected and our data is safe. Based upon the risk profile, I have determined to abolish using zoom, meetme and the likes, as it is spyware and the sensitive material we are discussing is not secure and puts me square in violation of GDPR. So, my only video conferencing is done on matrix.io.
Loo and behold. Suddenly, a lot of people remember big tech spying.
If you must use teams ..... and other microsoft or google related software/applications, consider setting up an MXlinux USB stick with persistence. OR, if you are really into it, Quebes. But that takes a different way of thinking and at least 32G of RAM. So, for most people, that would be not the default solution.
This way you put a strong firewall between what your company requires and your personal use. Some things should not mix at all.
Another very handy tool: Master PDF editor 4. Not 5 or 6 or 7, unless you wanne pay. It is a free pdf editor that lets you add your comments, strikethroughs, add links to other files and websites, etc, etc.
So you can use docviewer to read any pdf doc, and for alterations after seeing it is secure, you can use Master pdf.
For making memes or image manipulation, use GIMP.
===== Issues:
If you run into an issue, do not worry. search online first and read. That is how you learn. There is a steep learning curve, because you are the owner of your own box, the author of your own life.
So, for instance, if you have a bluetooth problem, because your headphones do not connect, or has no sound, read the best explanation over on archlinux. They have the best info, last time I checked, with good explanations how it works, which commands in the terminal to use and how to troubleshoot.
You can always search for answers over on linux-questions and post a question there. But remember, if you do not research for yourself first, and explain what you have done, by showing what you have done to troubleshoot, they will shoot you!
So, saying: my headphone is not working, will get you nowhere.
The terminal is an old friend. A grey beard, but very powerful. It's like Gandalf. A bit peculiar, standing out in this day and age where everything is GUI by default, the terminal can work miracles. Just like wizards and warlocks.
====================== Imparting some wisdom to the wise:
First: backup you data, and by default, differentiate between data and operating system. So, OS goes on one disk, Data goes on another.
Second: if you screw up your OS, it is then easy to install a new version, or, setup timeshift. So, before doing an update, make a timeshift image and then update.
Sometimes, especially with older laptops and gear, the new linuxheaders can screw up the use of that gear.
Case in point, I have keyboard illumination (backlight) and the new header was putting the use of it out of order. Loading the OS with older headers can be done in the grub menu, until such time the bug is solved.
Third: before you commit: test!
So, a linux live CD does wonders.
Thanks a lot. Very useful info.
Great post. I would recommend to ditch Firefox due to their wokeness and go at least for Brave. I really love that browser.
I mean, if I had a choice between a patriot musket and a Kalashnikov made in the USSR ...... politics is not really an issue, is there? Use case is more important, wouldn't you agree?
Since, I do not interact with firefox as a corporation, and firefox is still the default tor browser, I care not about their wokeness till it finds me. Then I will decide what to do.
However, firefox is customizable beyond comprehension. For instance, if you don't like the localization service, you simply switch it off, or use a different service. (yes, you can break it, but what the heck)
Another thought to keep in mind: DESPITE their wokeness, many users also belong to the anonymity proponents with views that do not align with yours. You can learn a lot from ANTIFA. AntiX for instance is a leftwing linux project, yet their anonymity / privacy efforts are top league in the field.
It all depends on your requirements, and those requirements may change over time.
Say for instance you want to incorporate the use of crypto. Then privacy and anonymity becomes more important. You'll find, across the political spectrum, many advocating the same thing.
I get that, but I just don't see what I could get out of Firefox that I am not getting from Brave - newbies would appreciate it even more, because they can get a lot of stuff out of the box with a basic installation...
Fair enough. Nothing is the is all end all. It is a matter of perspective.
Convenience is just one, albeit that convenience is a major driver. Another perspective is customization for threats you are not aware off. You simply do not know what you do not know.
Hence your argument is not convincing to me. But I guess time will tell, because over time, when you dive into the topic in light of current pushes by the bi tech big gov hybrid, they WILL go there and institute a state of total control.
As I wrote in the latter part of my post: there is a difference between privacy and anonymity.
Yeah, Firefox is still, for all intent and purposes, still FOSS. I like that it has a separate search box with a drop down menu to directly go to various searches (Duckduckgo, Google Maps, Wikipedia, YouTube Odysee, etc). Chromium and Brave don't do that. If they implemented that, I suppose I wouldn't mind it so much. Until then, I prefer Firefox. Although there is an experimental FireFox clone that is very privacy-centric, but for Ubuntu-based distros it is only an experimental program and last I checked, you have to run it from the terminal. Can't remember what it was called, though.
You'd have to be careful though.
For those enticed to read more about privacy settings for firefox: https://12bytes.org/articles/tech/firefox/firefoxgecko-configuration-guide-for-privacy-and-performance-buffs/
And there is an overriding reason to at the very least, be aware of what is going on and HOW government, big tech and jurisdictions play together to fuck you over by:
in the context of continuous digitization. Why else are they talking about digital identity, connected home appliances, smart meters, electric cars, etc.
For all intends and purposes: