this post was submitted on 03 Jul 2024
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Privacy

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I like Techlore (https://www.techlore.tech if you don't know) and I usually regard them as one of the most impartial and most trustworthy Youtubers out there. But for the past few months, I couldn't help noticing their somewhat heavy bias towards some of their video sponsors. Still, everybody has to eat right?

This time though, it looks like Synology flew them over to Taiwan, and if you watch their video at the event, it's wall-to-wall Synology shilling. I'm really disappointed.

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[–] sub_ubi@lemmy.ml 27 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I lost interest when they moved from matrix to discord

[–] ExtremeDullard@lemmy.sdf.org 14 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Oh I didn't know that. Privacy-wise, Discord is... suboptimal to say the least.

[–] electro1 18 points 1 year ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (3 children)
[–] Zozano@lemy.lol 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

privacytools.io doesn't even list NordVPN as an ad anymore...

Is there another trustworthy site which compares different platforms?

[–] Zozano@lemy.lol 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Wait, I'm confused. Why would privacytools.io host this article?

[–] electro1 0 points 1 year ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)
[–] Zozano@lemy.lol 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I think I got confused by this Lemmy post claiming it was taken over, not "attempted". If it was taken over, then why would they shoot themselves in the foot?

This is all really insane. But there are people here saying that privacyguides are reputable.

Privacytools seems shadier though, even if they're claiming to be victims.

This is all too much drama.

[–] electro1 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)
[–] Zozano@lemy.lol 0 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Thanks for the detailed breakdown, I think I get the broad strokes now.

It's difficult to parse when your brain defaults to "one of these parties are unfairly maligned" - when the truth is they're both shitty.

It's a shame. Some years ago I got a lot of value from both websites, but haven't really followed digital privacy trends lately. It's such a time sink to gauge the value of everything by yourself.

[–] electro1 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)
[–] Zozano@lemy.lol 2 points 1 year ago

I used to watch Techlore too, but the final nail in the coffin for me was saying he was using stock Android

[–] sic_semper_tyrannis@lemmy.today 18 points 1 year ago

I used to like his content and still like Surveillance Report but Henry always talks about how Apple is so private and a good option for an OS ecosystem. It's closed source, it looks like they (Apple) push "privacy" so they can have a monopoly on the data, and are anti consumer in many ways. Now his push for Synology has been growing.

Seems like he takes the easy way out with privacy. I understand life is busy (as he mentions a lot) but in order to make positive change you have to believe in and follow values that give power to open source tech and not the giants who steal your data, monetize you, and are in bed with the government

[–] jeena@piefed.jeena.net 12 points 1 year ago

I was very surprised about the Synology video too. There was no critical word about anything in it.

Sure they offer a selfhosted sollution for things but their software is closed source for example.

[–] unrushed233@lemmings.world 12 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That's pretty sad to see, Techlore is one of the main ways how I got into digital privacy and security, but ever since they removed GrapheneOS from the mobile OS recommendations section on their resources page, I don't feel like it's a trustworthy source anymore. Removing the most private and secure mobile OS from your OS recommendations, while claiming to give people privacy and security-focused recommendations is pretty hypocritical. Instead they recommend CalyxOS which rolls back default AOSP security features, LineageOS which doesn't even work with a locked bootloader and microG which requires root access. It just feels like a bad joke.

[–] user@lemmy.world 9 points 1 year ago
[–] umbrella@lemmy.ml 8 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

that has been the case for a long time. there was a time there he was recommending google services, saying apple services are private, etc.

[–] tisktisk@piefed.social 7 points 1 year ago

Enshittification can apply to content creators too it seems. Sad, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't see it coming.

[–] Dominion0236@lemmy.one 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I lost interest in them after they had their beef with GrapheneOS and stopped recommending them. I get it, they hate the old lead dev cause he was a jerk but how are you going to spread the word of privacy and not recommend the most superior OS in privacy and security? If you truly want to help people achieve the best results with their privacy and security then you should be unbiased with your recommendations. They are doing the privacy space and all the new people looking for advice a disservice because they hold a grudge. Now they're taking free trips to review products? Sounds like they're using their subscription count to spread their own agenda.

[–] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 8 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I don't have any issues with people not recommending Graphene OS but they also suggested Google Android which is very bad for privacy.

[–] digdilem@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 year ago

I think you have to be exceptionally strong to resist this sort of thing. You can justify sponsorship in a hundred ways - not least to yourself. But in every case, it changes everything. That, of course, is why companies spend money influencing the influencers.

Buyer beware, as always.

[–] yessikg@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

He's also kind of a Brave fanboy

[–] user@lemmy.one 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Privacy guides and intel techniques ebooks are my main 2. Techlore is just an extra info for me.

[–] Anono14168@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Can you give me the link of these sources , I enjoy reading about privacy.

[–] sic_semper_tyrannis@lemmy.today 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)
[–] Anono14168@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 year ago

Thanks man just got a copy of 1 of their book, after reading it I may buy more of them, deponds.

[–] user@lemmy.one 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

This and https://www.privacyguides.org/en/

Don't buy all the ebooks. Unless you really want to. But the big 2 ebooks, extreme privacy 4th edition and Resources for Uncovering Online Information - 10th Edition (2023 are the best ones cause they cover a lot. But they are currently being updated and going to be re-released next year.

The smaller ebooks are for specific topics. Monthly updated forever. You may find these ebooks online. Very hard to find. I have linux devices, don't mind doing swaps for 'Leaks, Breaches, & Logs - Digital Edition (2024)' and or 'The Ultimate Virtual Machine - Digital Edition (2024)' if somebody has them. We can do a simplex chat. Well done on your journey op. It's a rabbit hole.

[–] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

They are good and bad. I think they have some good intentions but it gets lost sometimes in the form of bad advise. I do like that they have a Matrix Space and a Peertube instance.

Also I agree with them on Graphene OS. People need to realize that by just not using Google Android they are much more private. I think there is to many fans. They are almost as bad as Apple fans.

[–] AceFuzzLord@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

My biggest problem with not using android is the last 3 phones I've had are pretty much as far as I'm aware unsupported by 3rd party ROMs in general. While yes it is my fault for getting phones that are more budget phones, it'd be nice to see support or ROMs focusing on lower end budget phones instead of mostly just the major flagship models. That, and US model sams*ng phones not being the devil to root, if even possible on any US model.

[–] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Well depending on the device you can port Lineage OS. You need an unlocked bootloader and the GPL source code.

[–] AceFuzzLord@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Tried unlocking the bootloader on my current Samsung after it arrived in the mail. The best I got was it not unlocking after leaving it for a few hours. No screen changes or prompts appearing on screen. Nothing.

[–] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Samsung is famous for being bad from a software perspective. They also make a lot of money from bundling software so it isn't in there interest to let you get out of the ecosystem.

[–] krolden@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago

I really would like to start a YouTube channel to get free stuff but I dont want to put my face on YouTube.

[–] Anono14168@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 year ago

Yeah man! same I loved his content but recently he has been taking side with colgomarates.