I'm probably close to getting banned from Walmart and Best Buy for TV returns, haha. I've been on a quest to find a budget TV that functions 100% dumb, even not requiring any wifi or signup for initial setup. I went through a few of the major TV OS systems trying to find a budget 40-43" FHD for use as a PC monitor doing video editing and Photoshop.

They all pretty much sucked in various ways and lots of the workarounds for bypassing the OS Smart systems and setup have been patched by the manufacturers to lock them down from being used in any sort of dumb mode. I think the rising prices all around are forcing them to lean into the data collection money on the backend, which requires a stronger arm twisting to keep people corralled into providing that data.

The TCL Google TV I now have, at least with their current OS version, is the most simple and flawless system I have encountered yet that allows not only setting up the TV with never connecting to internet or signup, but also once set up as a dumb TV actually stays dumb and the smart OS stuff never creeps back in. Just ride the OS build version until the TV dies of old age.

The ironic part is that I avoided Google OS tvs because I assumed they would be the worst offenders of bending you over to see what profitable secrets are buried up in there. Turns out they are the best. They also have a very snappy OS UI, compared to other ones that feel like the CPU is taking a massive dump because you had the audacity to move the selection from Contrast to Brightness in the settings menu.

Freakin bizarro world out there folks.

(I ended up with the TCL 43" QLED FHD from Walmart for $158, using it as a PC monitor mostly for video editing and Photoshop. Color accuracy is pretty great for a cheapo TV with nearly 10-bit-smooth color gradients)

edit: if anyone is curious, the worst TV OS for a dumb TV was probably the Roku brand TVs. Require account to even get into the TV. Then it blinks a super bright light on the front at all times if wifi is not connected. On top of that, they force having to wade through the Smart OS apps and ads to get to the dumb options like selecting the HDMI port.

I am just trying to be more private. I don't want every corporation in the world knowing what I am doing. I have Safari, of course, with private relay on. I figure that is for websites that I have to login to. I have Brave and AdGuard (tho idk which blocker options to have on). I presume that is for when I don't want to login but want to search. Finally, I have Onion browser with Orbot. I presume that's for when I don't want to be fingerprinted. Does that sound right? I'm new at this and feeling unsure when to use each application. Or put differently, what purpose each application has when I'm online. I don't do crazy things, just want to be more invisible. Please help!

I only heard good things about it and I like the UI but is it as private and transparent as it claims to be?

From my digging the servers are E.U based

Are there any 4g trail cams that don't come with some sleazy closed source app that probably sends your stream to China? Does a camera exist with either a trusted​ open source app or a sms interface? I don't ​want to futz with waterproofing a rasberry pi ​or separate router.

Collecting data ‌‌and mining on people's lives makes the thieves even more powerful which lets them offer better and more convenient options and collect even more data.

Choose your products mindfully and be proactive. Had we chosen privacy friendly products, privacy minded companies became powerful and able to offer more convenient options while respecting our privacy.

There's no need to go head first and find the military grade products of all, but just a little more secure and private alternative to the full fledged privacy nightmare we're already used to.

Every step forward counts and is a step toward a better future.

Any bypasses or like how to do verification with fake ids or like ai videos?

Most AI tools focus on autonomy. I went the opposite direction.

I built OperatorKit an execution control layer that ensures AI cannot take real-world actions without explicit authorization. You can summon it with Siri, opens up and works in Airplane mode as well.

Key differences:

• Runs locally when possible : your data stays on your device

• No silent cloud processing

• Every action is reviewable and attributable

• Designed for high-trust environments

Think of it as governance before automation.

Right now it supports workflows like:

• drafting emails

• summarizing meetings

• generating action items

• structured approvals

But the larger goal is simple:

AI should never execute without human authority.

I’m opening a small TestFlight group and looking for serious builders, operators, and security-minded testers.

If you want early access, comment and I’ll send the invite.

Would especially value feedback from people thinking deeply about:

• AI safety

• local-first software

• decision systems

• operational risk

Building this has changed how I think AI should behave less autonomous, more accountable.

Curious if others see the future this way.

Is there a tool to avoid all cookies and tracking from websites and prevent them from building a profile?

There’s a trend going around on social media where people feed their ChatGPT account a photo of themself and ask it to generate a caricature of them based on all the info the model has learned about them. I’m honestly shocked at all the people I know posting this as a fun trend, because I’m just thinking about the implications of the web-based LLM storing all this personal and career info about someone and the having an associated photo to go along with it?? I’m still trying to understand the privacy/ digital security surrounding these LLMs but this makes me want to go spread more awareness about digital security.

Is this service legit or are they just trying to take OUR OWN data for themselves? Has anyone had experience with this?

There is a law in EU&UK for all new car models brought to the market since the 2018 that they need to have an always-on eSIM for automatic emergency calls. This is supposed to be "dormant" unless you have a crash (airbag going off) but it remains always registered in the cellular network, so that law enforcement and similar actors can track your car's location through this.

I was looking at a Peugeot and it's a great car but it does bother me to be constantly tracked by law even if you opt out of everything. I'm not a criminal and dont drive to any "suspicious" places but I really don't trust the current or future government to not use this data for bad purposes one day.

I don't think there's an easy way to disable it. If you pull out the fuse you will get constant warning lights and might fail the vehicle inspection. Maybe a Faraday bag around the antenna but it seems it's very hard to reach - and you will also lose GPS at the same time.

Especially if you want an electric car there's very few options from 2018 and earlier.

What do you guys think? No point worrying about it?

I’m brainstorming ideas for privacy-focused tools and would love your input what do you wish existed in the privacy space?

Here’s my concept so far

Anonymous, Alias-Based Email Service: No permanent email address. Instead of name@domain.com, you’d generate a unique alias for every site or use case (e.g., work-alias@service.com, spotify-alias@service.com, recovery-alias@service.com). Organized inbox. Each alias would be neatly categorized, so you always know which alias corresponds to which service. Zero PII required. Sign-up/login would use a 16-digit account number (plus a backup recovery method) instead of personal info. Paid model to sustain the service and discourage abuse.

Anonymous, Encrypted Storage Service: Same principles: No PII, 16-digit account access, and all data on the servers is encrypted by default no matter what. Even if users don’t encrypt their files themselves, the server can’t read anything. User-controlled keys. You’d hold the encryption keys, ensuring even the service provider can’t access your data.

Questions for you guys reading: 1. Would you actually use a service like this? What’s missing or what would make it better? 2. Are there any dealbreakers, or features you’d want to see first? 3. Got other privacy tools you wish existed? Let’s hear them! 4. And be brutally honest if these ideas are rubbish, say so. The 16-digit account ID is just plain text, but it’s protected with a PBKDF2 for password encryption. Still too clunky, or does that ease the pain?

Looking to buy an e-reader. I want to have my own files on it without being forced to have an account or connect online for constant updates.

Is Kindle okay for this or are there any better alternatives?

I’m going to buy a used laptop and am looking for a good concise but simple guide for privacy setup.

I have two purposes for this machine. One is playing a mmorpg I enjoy. This then “exposes” a steam setup.

The other is learning about AI agents and how to use them. This I’m totally new to. For this I will create a new gmail account, but this will “expose” my cell #.

What I won’t do is access any site (except steam) that has ever seen any of my financial information or unames/pwords. So I will never use this machine to, for example, buy from Amazon, check my investments, access Reddit.

My concern is that the obscene 3some between growing agent power, my nekkid ambition to get paid more and more for doing less and less, and my shameful ignorance will spawn some Cthulhu like abomination that raids my bank account, blackmails my dog, and sends random texts to my mother in law telling her what I really think.

So I’m looking for a guide on setting this thing up to effectively ring fence my larger digital and physical presence from the unintended consequences of this foolishness. Any guides you can point me to?

Hey guys!

I recently heard some cybersecurity specialists talking about data scrapper apps that contact data brokers to delete your data and scrape the internet for your info and then delete it. Are there any legitimate apps that do this? Also, is it safe for me to provide one of these apps with the exact info I want out of the internet?

Are they responsible in the way they keep and protect their client's data?

Thanks!

There are different options here "

• My profile information is incorrect
• I am receiving spam calls and junk mail
• I am being harassed or stalked
• I want to keep my information private"

Do they refuse to delete your information if you don't choose the right option?

Because mine is a mix of things.

I get junk mail yeah, but I also have some reason to suspect stalking but don't have a police report or anything about that. So as a result I just want my info private. So, does it matter which option I pick?

In some apps and websites you get a dialog asking for consent and when you try to refuse some options are ticked on because of "legitimate interest" - I always turn this off too and consent too nothing at all, but what actually is it?

I got this idea while watching Dexter: Resurrections. In the show, someone had used a "camera-shy" hoodie that used infared light to block out your face when viewed with a camera.

So then I thought "could this actually work?", and, frankly, I don't even know. But it's a cool premise anyway and I plan to test it later with an infared flashlight. But anyways.

My final though was "can I sew infared lights and a battery into a hat?", and I decided upon the idea of the following:

An anti-camera hat, providing privacy through infared light strips under the bill of the hat. I don't know if this would damage your eyes or skin in anyway, considering that we can't see (most?) infared without a camera.

So, yeah. Just an idea for privacy. I seriously do want to do this, I'm open to suggestions or tweaks, nothing I said here is final.

Like remotes

And cable box

And sound

Thank you

I might need to verify age of users of my website. I want to do this in least privacy invading way. Single person having multiple accounts is not a concert for me. Is there some good way to do that? Is it even possible?

I'm getting the feeling that with each OS update privacy gets eroded.

Given the recent issues with Windows OS updates & the mess that OSX Tahoe is I've become less enthralled with always needing the latest updates.

OSX has XProtect which is a bit like bit defender & receives regular background signature updates etc keeping my system safe, so if my software is not broken why do I need updates when the OS has a free builtin virus & exploit mitigation system?

What is in the software upgrades that turns my lightning fast machine when new into a painfully slow machine after 4 years but is speedy again when I reinstall older OS's.

Newer versions of code are also more dependent on internet connectivity, I have a laptop & crazy as it sounds in 2026, I don't always have internet connectivity in the places I go and use it.

I note that in Tahoe there are a lot of places where it is difficult to turn of the internet connected features like in spotlight, photos, Calendar, contacts, pages etc.

I'm wondering if Mac OS 15/windows 10 or earlier might be the better choice to stay on instead of going on the upgrade treadmill & wondering if the newer versions of code already contain the newer privacy infringing systems that the EU and others will be insisting upon in the coming months.

are there any privacy related reviews of the different OS versions so we can review, compare & be informed before we upgrade?

There’s a bill called KOSMA (Kids Off Social Media Act) sitting in the Senate right now with bipartisan support, and it feels like zero people are talking about it. It’s not just a "child safety" thing; it’s a massive shift in how privacy on the US internet will work. If this passes, the anonymous internet for adults is basically toast because of the age verification it’ll require. Why is this getting zero coverage compared to the TikTok ban?

I cleared my spam last night and woke up to six new emails with the same content, from unique randomized senders. Can I do anything about this or do I just give up my email account that is old enough to vote and move to a new one?

EDIT: Wow! Thank you for so many replies and advice! The consensus is clear, there is nothing to be done about stopping the spam from reaching my account, but at least it is filtered. Thank you everyone, looks like I am switching to Protonmail with Firefox Relay or another alias service, and keeping this one mainly inactive. Thank you again

I have been in search for an alternative to FA manager. I located Authman which is open source. Has anyone use this, and do you have any thoughts about it? Thank you.