I grew up in the 90s. I remember using dos commands and installing a cdrw drive in our family’s compaq pc so I could burn cds with music I found on Kazaa. Somehow, I didn’t learn what I needed to in order to set up what I’d like to have privacy wise.
Posting here before I just start getting computer science textbooks, looking for any resources to increase my knowledge and ability with computers, networking, and connectivity. Podcast, video content creators, books, anything. I’m going to make time to do some online learning for python. My current programming knowledge is limited to excel/VBA
What I want to have:
Linux mini pc connecting to tv for torrents/streaming. I’ve heard about using a mini pc before the isp modem to filter dns and tracking- I do not understand this, but I have heard of flashing routers with different os
As safe and private a phone as possible that can still be moderately convenient- probably going to get a used pixel with graphene using Wi-Fi only/no sim
Security cameras with secure, private storage- need to learn about self-hosting
Below are the topics I’d like to be able to study on my own time. I’m grateful for any advice but I’m stubbornly curious and need to understand the underlying concepts- not just a step by step.
Internet protocol; I get the gist of things like dns is a phone book for ip addresses; vpn is a not a magic bullet, it’s just a shifting of trust; cell phones are pretty much unable to be completely anonymous without tremendous work and sacrifice.
Computer/network systems; troubleshooting Linux problems, editing boot loaders defaults (I have a pc w dual boot windows and Linux, tried to remove the Linux to try another distro, couldn’t get it). Flashing Wi-Fi routers and associated troubleshooting, setting up self hosting- plex jellyfish, backup data. Performance figures for computers and what that means for various applications, like you’d need x gb for this, and an ssd of x for that
Purchasing and scrubbing used devices- I like the idea of reducing e waste and picking up a dell optiplex from a thrift store.
I’m also aware I’m in that space where I don’t know what I don’t know yet; so I’m probably missing topics.
What am I missing? Where should I look?
Just keep in mind it’s a path, take your time.
Also, what may be important to you may not be for someone else and vice-versa, so look up and read up on threat modeling. This should probably be first on your list.mini pc before the isp modem to filter dns
You mean after the modem and before your network? Then that solution is feasible, otherwise it really depends how The Net enters your domicile, odds are coax or fibre…
You may be able to flash your modem+router+switch black box the ISP provides, but YMMV on that one.
Regardless, you can set-up that mini pc inside your network as the authoritative DNS server to act as a DNS sinkhole — i.e. using a PiHole.I have a pc w dual boot
Suggestion: linux-only with windows inside a virtual machine; other virtual machines can be used for self-hosting also.
backup data
Use 3-2-1 and make sure your backups are working.
Look into RAID and LVM or, better yet, ZFS.dell optiplex
Lenovo Thinkpads tend to have a following in linuxland, but that’s personal preference.
What am I missing? Where should I look?
Techlore has a series of videos on the topic and, along with the new oil, they have a weekly video on security and privacy. Non-tech-friendly. There are quite a few podcasts on these topics.
You can further your privacy by using frontends to common abusive sites (which i link to, sorry), such as invideous for youtube, etc.
A programming language is always interesting, linux is mostly based on C and it’s not a bad start. I’ll duck for cover now. Shell scripting — bash in particular — will get you a long way, as well a command-line text editor to change config files.
I get very few privacy vibes from this post. It seems like you are more interested in tinkering. Which is fine, but has very little to do with privacy directly.
Examples, you don’t need to know how the IP stack works in order to have privacy. You know that a VPN is just a shifting of trust and something like the tor network would probably be better.
You mentioned flashing routers and DDWRT is open source router firmware and you should be able to add DNS blocks like a pi-hole or equivalent block list into that kind of software in order to stop ads and online tracking.
That’s totally fair; this is less privacy and more technical/tinkering. I feel like I don’t have the skills to do the tinkering needed to continue on my privacy goals.
And I do like to tinker- but only on certain things. I want my stuff to work unless it is a particular project.
Idk I just feel a large void of ignorance when I’m deciding what to do next in terms of my personal tech. Maybe it’s just a lack of confidence and experience.
Should I just do internet searches for these things? Like “flashing ddwrt to asus router”
And I don’t need to know the ip stack- but I’d like to have a better understanding
This is the resource I go to when I need to check something, and it should be excellent for learning more on some privacy topics.
https://www.privacyguides.org/en/
After that you might need to go find another resource for the specific technical topics. They have a discussion section, so you can ask for recommendations there?
Thanks! I’m familiar with the site but hadn’t considered posting questions there. I guess I’m at the point where I want and need to get into the technical stuff. It’s been quite a journey
