Looking for tips on cybersecurity.

[Mister Cowboy]

Well, I've read bits of an article written by a leftist which said in that leftist's words about "anti-Semitic Traditionalist Catholic groups" and so I tried to access a St. Joseph's forum that was mentioned there. Immediately, I got a message from my anti-virus program that they cut the connection as it probably had viruses and malware and such. This gets me thinking I should upgrade my security or at least know how to deal with these sorts of things.

There is a possibility that whatever viruses or malware that was there may have penetrated my security and is now hiding somewhere in my laptop. I'm getting a virus scan but well, it can't hurt to be safe rather than sorry so I'm looking to you guys if I may bump into problems I haven't foreseen.

Hmm, funnily enough, I recognized three or more groups the leftist article mentioned. It's none other than Tradition in Action (TIA in short) which I still frequently go to, the Remnant Newspaper by Michael Matt and the Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (I think I went to their website several times I don't know).

Also, I want to ask you folks how I can beef up my privacy. I worry that the camera I have on my laptop can be used to spy on me (though my mother reassures me that it doesn't work) and that the laptop can even be used to listen to whatever I say in the vicinity. When I tell my mother I want to cover my laptop camera with tape well from what I can tell she thinks I'm going overboard.

Could you point me to places where I can learn how to protect myself online? That's so when I encounter an incident like this again I won't have to worry too much.

[james03]

First step is to get off of Windows or Apple on your computer and install Linux Mint.  That shuts down a lot of the spying.  And use the Brave browser.  People need to do this anyway because Microsoft is moving to charge you yearly for Windows and Office.  Don't pay, and your computer won't work.  With Linux, the operating system is yours, and LibreOffice is yours.

On your phone, ditch Apple or Android, and get a phone preinstalled with the Graphene operating system (search Ebay).  That cuts down on your phone spying on you.  Note any big name apps you install on a Graphene phone can still spy on you, but Graphene provides a sand box, so you can do things like deny the apps access to your contacts or location.  Try to use non spyware apps when you are able.

Finally get a VPN installed.  The best bet is to buy a firewall/VPN package which gives you a "black box".  All of your traffic should be routed through the "black box" and is automatically sent through the VPN.  If you use your providers WiFi, you won't get any protection unless each device has a VPN app.  You can do it that way also, but you must install the VPN on each device and make sure it is enabled.  That shuts off your service provider spying on you.

The big problem is that your cell service provider can does track you location, and they can do snoop into your messages. 

Get rid of Facebook, What's App, Google mail, Google docs, and Insta.  Use proton mail.

[Mister Cowboy]

Some of the things here are new and some I've already done. I will look into this. Thanks by the way!

[Michael Wilson]

Your cell phone is also an open mike all the time even when it is turned off. If you don't want people listening in on your conversations, put it inside a soundproof container while during the time you are not using it. It also can easily and clearly pick up conversations from another room.

[Mister Cowboy]

This is worse than 1984.

Will a closed door help?

[james03]

No.  For a cellphone the best bet is going with Graphene.  There's also calyx. 

https://calyxos.org/

https://grapheneos.org/

You can install them yourself.  If you aren't tech savvy, you can buy a phone with the OS preinstalled.

And then make sure apps are blocked from using your camera and mike.  You should also use open source, anti-spyware apps where possible.

Putting the phone in a container will deaden the microphone.

Right now most people, as in 99%, are too small fry to mess with spying.  It's mostly done to target ads, not by the government.

However it is good practice to develop privacy habits BEFORE the bolshevik social credit system is implemented.  The Vax Pass was a dry run.

[Michael Wilson]

I also have to add that your home computer is also an open door to your house; anyone can tap into the mike and camera, and voila! You have an uninvited guest.

[Bernadette]

No.  For a cellphone the best bet is going with Graphene.  There's also calyx. 

https://calyxos.org/

https://grapheneos.org/

You can install them yourself.  If you aren't tech savvy, you can buy a phone with the OS preinstalled.

And then make sure apps are blocked from using your camera and mike.  You should also use open source, anti-spyware apps where possible.

Putting the phone in a container will deaden the microphone.

Right now most people, as in 99%, are too small fry to mess with spying.  It's mostly done to target ads, not by the government.

However it is good practice to develop privacy habits BEFORE the bolshevik social credit system is implemented.  The Vax Pass was a dry run.

James, what do you use for email?

[james03]

Thunderbird.

I use braxmail for my account.

[Bernadette]

And where did you hear that Windows is going to charge a yearly fee? I know Office does, which is why I use an open source word processing program, but I've never heard that Windows was going to.

[james03]

Perhaps you've heard this before:

"Suscipe Domine Traditional Catholic Forum► The Parish Hall► The Geek Forum: We Report the News before It's News!"

It's a rumor that's been going around.  Microsoft can't really grow their OP much, so this is a way to shake down customers for Moar Money!  I think if they are dumb enough to do it, it will really launch Linux.  Making Office a yearly fee'd package was really stupid with Google Docs out there, and it certainly helped Libre Office.

[james03]

The official term is "Software as a Service", which is gay.

[maryslittlegarden]

A couple of sources for linux distros

https://www.shoplinuxonline.com/

https://www.linuxcollections.com/

pclinuxos is my current favorite. No systemd and it runs better than Mint and is very user friendly

[Mister Cowboy]

Well, I wasn't careful again and so in a different forum (CathInfo) I searched a link that was posted in one of the topics and wham! Something happened. My anti-virus managed to cut the connection. So, there we have it yet again. I'm a little worried that I got a virus or malware that's hiding somewhere in my laptop. I have got to keep my guard up! I've already reported this to the moderator so hopefully this will be fixed so nobody else will have to suffer my experience.

A question for you folks, which is the best free anti-virus out there?

Also, should I be worried so much?

Say, in this one book I've read I heard you're not supposed to say the word 'gay' as it represents a victory for the homosexuals. It says so in the beginning of this book... here!
https://archive.org/details/defendinghigherl0000unse/page/n17/mode/2up

You have to sign in to view it though.

[james03]

A couple of sources for linux distros

https://www.shoplinuxonline.com/

https://www.linuxcollections.com/

pclinuxos is my current favorite. No systemd and it runs better than Mint and is very user friendly

I've been using Artix and loving it.  No systemd.  I might look at pclinuxos.  I'm always afraid Artix will go away someday.  Does pclinuxos have a lot of support and popularity?  I think eventually all roads lead to gentoo.

Anyhow, if pclinuxos is easy to use, it would be a great distro for people coming over from Windows to keep them off of systemd.  Systemd is an attempt to turn Linux into Windows and has a lot of security problems.  And the whole reason to get off of Windows besides the money, is security.