privacy &mdash; Dallineation https://dallincrump.com/tag:privacy A personal weblog. Fri, 01 May 2026 18:50:48 +0000 https://i.snap.as/Xmr1St6g.ico privacy &mdash; Dallineation https://dallincrump.com/tag:privacy Assume That Internet-Connected Tech can be Used to Spy on You https://dallincrump.com/assume-that-internet-connected-tech-can-be-used-to-spy-on-you?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[People are freaking out over Ring cameras being used by ICE. But privacy advocates have been warning that this exact scenario was possible - even inevitable - ever since Ring cameras were first released. And now there are rumors of Apple working on an AirTag-sized AI pin you can wear that has multiple cameras and a microphone. What could go wrong? !--more-- I've already written about this but it bears repeating: if you do not have control over the tech you use, you should assume that it can - and probably will - be used by those who control it or later gain control of it for nefarious purposes. This is why I have never owned a smart speaker, smart doorbell, or other such devices, and why I am constantly wary of using an iPhone or a conventional ("Googled") Android phone. I understand that my iPhone is not truly mine. Apple ultimately decides what software I am allowed to run on it and they have the ability to completely brick it or turn it into a surveillance tool without my knowledge or consent. So why do I keep it? Because I'm expected to use a phone for work and church purposes, some of the apps I need to use do not run on de-Googled Android, and from my perspective, "Googled" Android phones are even more of a privacy nightmare than iPhones. So it's a situation where I have to choose the lesser of the evils. To mitigate risk, I try to use my iPhone only for the purposes required, and I have a second phone running de-Googled Android with OS-level tracker blocking (/e/OS) for everything else. It's not perfect, but it's better than doing nothing. This is just one of many adjustments I have made by assuming that tech I don't control can be used to spy on me. Beware of the dangers of using Imperial tech and make adjustments accordingly. Every change you make, no matter how small, makes a difference. a href="https://remark.as/p/dallincrump.com/assume-that-internet-connected-tech-can-be-used-to-spy-on-you"Discuss.../a #100DaysToOffload (No. 129) #tech #privacy #AI #smartphones #internet]]> People are freaking out over Ring cameras being used by ICE. But privacy advocates have been warning that this exact scenario was possible – even inevitable – ever since Ring cameras were first released. And now there are rumors of Apple working on an AirTag-sized AI pin you can wear that has multiple cameras and a microphone. What could go wrong?

I've already written about this but it bears repeating: if you do not have control over the tech you use, you should assume that it can – and probably will – be used by those who control it or later gain control of it for nefarious purposes.

This is why I have never owned a smart speaker, smart doorbell, or other such devices, and why I am constantly wary of using an iPhone or a conventional (“Googled”) Android phone.

I understand that my iPhone is not truly mine. Apple ultimately decides what software I am allowed to run on it and they have the ability to completely brick it or turn it into a surveillance tool without my knowledge or consent.

So why do I keep it? Because I'm expected to use a phone for work and church purposes, some of the apps I need to use do not run on de-Googled Android, and from my perspective, “Googled” Android phones are even more of a privacy nightmare than iPhones. So it's a situation where I have to choose the lesser of the evils.

To mitigate risk, I try to use my iPhone only for the purposes required, and I have a second phone running de-Googled Android with OS-level tracker blocking (/e/OS) for everything else. It's not perfect, but it's better than doing nothing.

This is just one of many adjustments I have made by assuming that tech I don't control can be used to spy on me.

Beware of the dangers of using Imperial tech and make adjustments accordingly. Every change you make, no matter how small, makes a difference.

Discuss...

#100DaysToOffload (No. 129) #tech #privacy #AI #smartphones #internet

]]> https://dallincrump.com/assume-that-internet-connected-tech-can-be-used-to-spy-on-you Fri, 23 Jan 2026 17:51:06 +0000 Using AdGuard's Public DNS To Block Ads https://dallincrump.com/using-adguards-public-dns-to-block-ads?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[I can't believe I didn't think of it sooner, but I am now blocking ads and trackers system-wide on my iPhone via AdGuard's public DNS. And anyone can set this up for free on their phones, PCs, or even their home routers. !--more-- There are several different free DNS providers who can do this, but I went with AdGuard for now. I reviewed their Privacy Policy and they make it clear that they do not process personal data via their public DNS. Below is a link to instructions on how to use AdGuard public DNS servers on your devices. You can either use their apps or configure DNS manually. Connect to public AdGuard DNS servers I've already noticed the lack of ads in a few apps that are notorious for them and it's been wonderful. I'm going to set it up on my wife's phone next. a href="https://remark.as/p/dallincrump.com/using-adguards-public-dns-to-block-ads"Discuss.../a #100DaysToOffload (No. 110) #tech #internet #smartphones #privacy]]> I can't believe I didn't think of it sooner, but I am now blocking ads and trackers system-wide on my iPhone via AdGuard's public DNS. And anyone can set this up for free on their phones, PCs, or even their home routers.

There are several different free DNS providers who can do this, but I went with AdGuard for now. I reviewed their Privacy Policy and they make it clear that they do not process personal data via their public DNS.

Below is a link to instructions on how to use AdGuard public DNS servers on your devices. You can either use their apps or configure DNS manually.

Connect to public AdGuard DNS servers

I've already noticed the lack of ads in a few apps that are notorious for them and it's been wonderful. I'm going to set it up on my wife's phone next.

Discuss...

#100DaysToOffload (No. 110) #tech #internet #smartphones #privacy

]]> https://dallincrump.com/using-adguards-public-dns-to-block-ads Fri, 21 Nov 2025 21:31:53 +0000 Trying To Break Away from Big Tech Again https://dallincrump.com/trying-to-break-away-from-big-tech-again?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[For a long time - at least a decade and a half - I have been learning about and gaining greater understanding of the problems with Big Tech and how pervasive it is in our lives. I have tried numerous times to move away from using proprietary, corporate-controlled technology but have always been drawn back to using it for one reason or another, burying my concerns in the dark recesses of my mind. But recent events have drawn those concerns again to the forefront of my thoughts. And I feel a great sense of urgency to try to adopt and use freer technologies. !--more-- By "Big Tech" I am referring to the largest and most influential technology companies in the world, including but not limited to Alphabet (which owns Google), Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Nvidia, and Meta (which owns FaceBook, Instagram, and WhatsApp). These companies create and provide the hardware, software, and services which governments, companies, and individuals use in most of the "free" world. The technologies these companies provide have, without question, enabled us to do some amazing things. They have allowed us to communicate, learn, work, and live in ways that I only dreamed about as a child watching my favorite TV show Star Trek: The Next Generation. But these benefits have come at a cost - a cost which I have long felt is too great, and has only been increasing over time. Almost daily we find more evidence of just how much control these companies have over the technology we use. For me, the recent story that drew my attention back to this issue is Apple removing apps from their App Store that have allowed people to lawfully report and track the locations of ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents based on their visible public activities. They have also removed an app that simply archived media documenting ICE abuses. Apple have done this in response to pressure from the U.S. federal government. This is just the latest in a long train of abuses on the part of Big Tech. But it is one that comes at a critical time in the history of the United States and the world when many governments are becoming more authoritarian and are pressuring Big Tech to assist them in censorship, surveillance, and the infringement of human rights. These companies generally bow to the wishes of the governments of the countries in which they do business because they want to continue to do business. Apple have been resisting giving governments backdoor access to their iCloud service, but I believe it is only a matter of time before they give in on that, too. And so, it's time for me to try again to divest myself of the products and ecosystems of Big Tech to the extent possible. The sobering reality of the situation is that Big Tech has become so enmeshed in the fabric of my everyday life that this will be a difficult and painful task. But it is necessary. And I believe it will be worth it, especially if I can help others to follow suit. Over the coming weeks I will be assessing all of the technology I personally use and seeking freer replacements - or choosing to do without, if necessary. And I will, of course, be documenting and sharing my experience for posterity and in the hopes that it will inspire others to do the same. a href="https://remark.as/p/dallincrump.com/trying-to-break-away-from-big-tech-again"Discuss.../a #tech #BigTech #politics #privacy #smartphones #socialMedia ]]> For a long time – at least a decade and a half – I have been learning about and gaining greater understanding of the problems with Big Tech and how pervasive it is in our lives. I have tried numerous times to move away from using proprietary, corporate-controlled technology but have always been drawn back to using it for one reason or another, burying my concerns in the dark recesses of my mind. But recent events have drawn those concerns again to the forefront of my thoughts. And I feel a great sense of urgency to try to adopt and use freer technologies.

By “Big Tech” I am referring to the largest and most influential technology companies in the world, including but not limited to Alphabet (which owns Google), Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Nvidia, and Meta (which owns FaceBook, Instagram, and WhatsApp). These companies create and provide the hardware, software, and services which governments, companies, and individuals use in most of the “free” world.

The technologies these companies provide have, without question, enabled us to do some amazing things. They have allowed us to communicate, learn, work, and live in ways that I only dreamed about as a child watching my favorite TV show Star Trek: The Next Generation. But these benefits have come at a cost – a cost which I have long felt is too great, and has only been increasing over time.

Almost daily we find more evidence of just how much control these companies have over the technology we use. For me, the recent story that drew my attention back to this issue is Apple removing apps from their App Store that have allowed people to lawfully report and track the locations of ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents based on their visible public activities. They have also removed an app that simply archived media documenting ICE abuses. Apple have done this in response to pressure from the U.S. federal government.

This is just the latest in a long train of abuses on the part of Big Tech. But it is one that comes at a critical time in the history of the United States and the world when many governments are becoming more authoritarian and are pressuring Big Tech to assist them in censorship, surveillance, and the infringement of human rights. These companies generally bow to the wishes of the governments of the countries in which they do business because they want to continue to do business. Apple have been resisting giving governments backdoor access to their iCloud service, but I believe it is only a matter of time before they give in on that, too.

And so, it's time for me to try again to divest myself of the products and ecosystems of Big Tech to the extent possible. The sobering reality of the situation is that Big Tech has become so enmeshed in the fabric of my everyday life that this will be a difficult and painful task. But it is necessary. And I believe it will be worth it, especially if I can help others to follow suit.

Over the coming weeks I will be assessing all of the technology I personally use and seeking freer replacements – or choosing to do without, if necessary.

And I will, of course, be documenting and sharing my experience for posterity and in the hopes that it will inspire others to do the same.

Discuss...

#tech #BigTech #politics #privacy #smartphones #socialMedia

]]> https://dallincrump.com/trying-to-break-away-from-big-tech-again Fri, 10 Oct 2025 19:36:13 +0000 Amazon Blackout May 6-12, 2025 https://dallincrump.com/amazon-blackout-may-6-12-2025?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[It's interesting the things you come across online when you wake up in the middle of the night. For some reason at 2:30am today, my half-conscious-but-apparently-not-tired-enough-to-sleep brain decided to search Startpage for "boycott Twitch" and discovered there is an actual Amazon boycott starting today. I took that as a sign. I'm joining the boycott. I won't be streaming on Twitch this week. !--more-- The organization behind this boycott is The People's Union USA. They've done boycotts against Amazon and other companies before. They're politically non-partisan and are seeking to unite and organize people against "corporations, the billionaire class, and the political parasites that have been feeding off our work, our wages, and our rights for far too long." The stated purpose of the boycott is: [A] strategic, peaceful act of economic resistance against one of the most powerful corporations in the world. Amazon has become the face of unchecked greed: - Exploiting workers - Crushing small businesses - Profiting off surveillance and data - Feeding a system that no longer serves the people It's about promoting ethical business, real community, and actual freedom in the market. This is a cause I care about, so for the next seven days I will avoid using or spending money on the websites, apps, products, and services of the following Amazon companies, subsidiaries, and brands: Amazon.com Whole Foods Market Amazon Fresh Amazon Prime Video Audible Twitch Ring Amazon Basics Kindle Amazon Music Goodreads IMDB Will you join us? Even for a day. I believe if enough of us care and take action, we can make a difference. (Note: I realize a good chunk of websites and online services run on AWS, but this is a consumer boycott and for practical reasons I think it makes sense that AWS wasn't included.) #Twitch #tech #business #privacy #PositiveNotes]]> It's interesting the things you come across online when you wake up in the middle of the night. For some reason at 2:30am today, my half-conscious-but-apparently-not-tired-enough-to-sleep brain decided to search Startpage for “boycott Twitch” and discovered there is an actual Amazon boycott starting today. I took that as a sign. I'm joining the boycott. I won't be streaming on Twitch this week.

The organization behind this boycott is The People's Union USA. They've done boycotts against Amazon and other companies before. They're politically non-partisan and are seeking to unite and organize people against “corporations, the billionaire class, and the political parasites that have been feeding off our work, our wages, and our rights for far too long.”

The stated purpose of the boycott is:

[A] strategic, peaceful act of economic resistance against one of the most powerful corporations in the world.

Amazon has become the face of unchecked greed:

  • Exploiting workers
  • Crushing small businesses
  • Profiting off surveillance and data
  • Feeding a system that no longer serves the people

It's about promoting ethical business, real community, and actual freedom in the market.

This is a cause I care about, so for the next seven days I will avoid using or spending money on the websites, apps, products, and services of the following Amazon companies, subsidiaries, and brands:

  • Amazon.com
  • Whole Foods Market
  • Amazon Fresh
  • Amazon Prime Video
  • Audible
  • Twitch
  • Ring
  • Amazon Basics
  • Kindle
  • Amazon Music
  • Goodreads
  • IMDB

Will you join us? Even for a day. I believe if enough of us care and take action, we can make a difference.

(Note: I realize a good chunk of websites and online services run on AWS, but this is a consumer boycott and for practical reasons I think it makes sense that AWS wasn't included.)

#Twitch #tech #business #privacy #PositiveNotes

]]> https://dallincrump.com/amazon-blackout-may-6-12-2025 Tue, 06 May 2025 15:00:29 +0000 December 2022 Two-Week News and Social Media Fast https://dallincrump.com/december-2022-two-week-news-and-social-media-fast?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[Someone in a Discord server I'm on forced me to look in a metaphorical mirror and made me realize how news and social media have negatively impacted my objectivity and mental health in recent weeks. !--more-- It was an uncomfortable moment, but a welcome one. I have gotten way too worked up over Elon Musk and his Twitter antics because that situation is at the intersection of a lot of issues I'm passionate about like #tech, #SocialMedia, #politics, #FOSS, #privacy, and others. When I get too worked up over issues like this, my emotions get the best of me and I don't think clearly. I'm not as articulate or persuasive in my arguments. I get upset, argumentative, contentious. I feel anxious, agitated, frustrated. I lose control. And I don't feel good about myself or others when I'm like this. Over the years, I've made some changes to keep from slipping into this state of mind and continue to participate on social media in productive ways, but it still happens and I don't like it. It's time for another news and social media fast. So here are the changes I'm making starting today and continuing through the end of the year: Log out of Discord, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Mastodon on all devices (these are the only social media platforms I use) Refrain from checking news sources. I will block specific news websites on my devices if force of habit gets the better of me. Strengthen real-world relationships Pray and meditate more Read more Write (blog) more Enjoy holiday festivities Focus on being present and living in the moment When the status quo isn't working, it's time to change things up. So here goes! a href="https://remark.as/p/dallincrump.com/december-2022-two-week-news-and-social-media-fast"Discuss.../a --- 100DaysToOffload (No. 84)]]> Someone in a Discord server I'm on forced me to look in a metaphorical mirror and made me realize how news and social media have negatively impacted my objectivity and mental health in recent weeks.

It was an uncomfortable moment, but a welcome one. I have gotten way too worked up over Elon Musk and his Twitter antics because that situation is at the intersection of a lot of issues I'm passionate about like #tech, #SocialMedia, #politics, #FOSS, #privacy, and others.

When I get too worked up over issues like this, my emotions get the best of me and I don't think clearly. I'm not as articulate or persuasive in my arguments. I get upset, argumentative, contentious. I feel anxious, agitated, frustrated. I lose control. And I don't feel good about myself or others when I'm like this.

Over the years, I've made some changes to keep from slipping into this state of mind and continue to participate on social media in productive ways, but it still happens and I don't like it.

It's time for another news and social media fast. So here are the changes I'm making starting today and continuing through the end of the year:

  • Log out of Discord, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Mastodon on all devices (these are the only social media platforms I use)
  • Refrain from checking news sources. I will block specific news websites on my devices if force of habit gets the better of me.
  • Strengthen real-world relationships
  • Pray and meditate more
  • Read more
  • Write (blog) more
  • Enjoy holiday festivities
  • Focus on being present and living in the moment

When the status quo isn't working, it's time to change things up. So here goes!

Discuss...

#100DaysToOffload (No. 84)

]]> https://dallincrump.com/december-2022-two-week-news-and-social-media-fast Mon, 19 Dec 2022 18:23:07 +0000 Topics https://dallincrump.com/topics?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[To see posts related to a topic, just click on a hashtag below. You can subscribe to specific topics using an RSS reader. Topics of Focus faith - thoughts related to my religion tech - self explanatory Other Topics 100DaysToOffload accessories AI automobiles Bandcamp books business cassette charity Christianity Christmas ChurchOfJesusChrist climate community compactDisc contention COVID19 decentralization DigitalMinimalism economy electronicMusic EveryDayCarry eWaste family FOSS (free-as-in-freedom and open source software) friends gratitude haiku health hobbies HomeOffice humor intentionism internet laptop LessConvenient libraryMusic life Linux loneliness media meditation mentalHealth misc movies music news nostalgia physicalMedia planning poetry politics privacy prophets retro smartphones SocialMedia synthwave travel TV Twitch unity (not the game engine) Utah vaporwave writing]]> To see posts related to a topic, just click on a hashtag below. You can subscribe to specific topics using an RSS reader.

Topics of Focus

#faith – thoughts related to my religion #tech – self explanatory

Other Topics

#100DaysToOffload #accessories #AI #automobiles #Bandcamp #books #business #cassette #charity #Christianity #Christmas #ChurchOfJesusChrist #climate #community #compactDisc #contention #COVID19 #decentralization #DigitalMinimalism #economy #electronicMusic #EveryDayCarry #eWaste #family #FOSS (free-as-in-freedom and open source software) #friends #gratitude #haiku #health #hobbies #HomeOffice #humor #intentionism #internet #laptop #LessConvenient #libraryMusic #life #Linux #loneliness #media #meditation #mentalHealth #misc #movies #music #news #nostalgia #physicalMedia #planning #poetry #politics #privacy #prophets #retro #smartphones #SocialMedia #synthwave #travel #TV #Twitch #unity (not the game engine) #Utah #vaporwave #writing

]]> https://dallincrump.com/topics Sat, 13 Mar 2021 23:20:27 +0000