Hi, I’m usually an user who only lurks and don’t interact much on forums or streams, usually just comment on videos. But with the current situation I want to suggest and ask for more suggestions about how to avoid giving Big Tech support.
I know not every Geek & Gamer are Tech savants but at least we could try it for a while or suggest others how to do it.
What do you recommend to avoid giving Big Tech monetary,statistic support?
I’m trying the following:
-Using an AdBlocker to avoid giving them ad revenue and block some google statistic scripts (I’m aware content creators are still on the platform and need the ad revenue, but also remember they could be censored or removed anytime soon.) currently I’m using uBlock Origin
-If you use Chrome based browser like Vivaldi you could turn off some privacy options that connect use Google like services, extension search suggestions and trackers.
-Using an alternate search engine like duckduckgo instead of google search, If possible avoid using Google DNS <8.8.8.8 & 8.8.4.4> I’m using opennic.org/ instead.
The last ones are extreme and don’t expect people use them I did it because is tempting for me to return to the sites in question because I like Vtubers:
-Modify the OS hosts file (windows:”C:\Windows\system32\drivers\hosts” Linux & Android: “/etc/hosts”)in order to block the sites that are censoring people. I know this is an extreme measure but it also forces me to focus being on the alternate SM more.
#youtube
127.0.0.1 youtube.com
127.0.0.1 www.youtube.com
#twitter
127.0.0.1 apps.facebook.com
127.0.0.1 www.twitter.com
127.0.0.1 twitter.com
127.0.0.1 www.mobile.twitter.com
127.0.0.1 mobile.twitter.com
#facebook
127.0.0.1 www.facebook.com
127.0.0.1 www.instagram.com
127.0.0.1 m.facebook.com
127.0.0.1 facebook.com
127.0.0.1 login.facebook.com
127.0.0.1 www.login.facebook.com
127.0.0.1 fbcdn.net
127.0.0.1 www.fbcdn.net
127.0.0.1 fbcdn.com
127.0.0.1 www.fbcdn.com
127.0.0.1 static.ak.fbcdn.net
127.0.0.1 static.ak.connect.facebook.com
127.0.0.1 connect.facebook.net
127.0.0.1 www.connect.facebook.net
# End of hosts.
I’ll end noticing that changing to alternatives is harder and sometime overwhelming I’ve been trying to stay under Linux for some time and still kept a Windows PC (partition) to play some games.
I really hope there will be a Return of the Jedi situation and everything goes back to normal but until then: May God have mercy on us all!
Also I want to mention https://trovo.live as an alternative to twitch, It’s still on beta phase but the site looks promising.
Using a VPN also goes a long way and if you want a browsernot based on chrome you can try Pale Moon. There is a browser called Tor which also helps with privacy.
Thanks for this thread. I do have one suggestion not on this. I got a Faraday case for my phone when I’m not using it. Faraday containers block all signals. The amount of data that Big Tech collects just based on your location data, how long you’re they’re, ect. Mine was like 40$. It’s not as tinfoil hat as it sounds, just a good habit to get into to minimize your data footprint. Plus it helped me make the conscious effort to not use my phone for everything. Definite help with with memory, especially for driving directions. I got 3 all day. 1 to keep my laptop in, 1 for my bank cards and the 1 for my phone.
There is this guy named Rob Braxman who claims he made a privacy focused social media called Brax.me. I was thinking about using it but I am not sure is it 100% legit but Rob has been very handy when talking about privacy on his channel. Well you can try this then get back to me if you think it is safe or not?
I just came back from using Brax.me, and I have to say this from what I can see so far from using it………it to me at least seems like a good alternative to Twitter, and even Minds.com. On Brax.me you don’t even need to give your cell number, or even email address unlike most other social media platforms. All you need to do is make a username and password then you’re set.
Also most importantly they are very free speech, so unlike Twitter you can say pretty much anything….within reason. So yes to talk about how badly pop cultire is and mo to death threats that type of thing.
I made an account there, it is a small community there on Brax.me but also a very privacy focused one. So Brax.me if it was a place to live in real life, it is like a small town of 500 people if you want to get away or have been kicked out of Twitter……Brax.me in my own opinion is the place to go.
I was on the verge of making an unofficial Geeks and Gamers account there on Brax.me but I stopped myself because I am not an employee here and I think it would be a good idea for some random employee at Geeks and Gamers to make the account instead…just saying. I think Geeks and Gamers in my opinion should consider building a presence on Brax.me cause there are lots of new people to reach there to help promote this website and the G+G brand.
I think I might use Brax.me for now on to directly speak to people here on this website, if they have an account there too.
Sorry about that Blood.Ranger, I’m kinda switching between different PCs and laptops, testing some stuff on OBS(windows~linux) and trovo.live, but today I watched Jeremy’s video about Gettr and remember I had a brax.me account, I’ll look for my password and check the message, regards.