I'm looking for privacy-conscious options for a cycling computer or possibly a wearable fitness tracker.

Recording activities has become sort of a journal for me. I like being able to look up when I did a particular ride/hike, or how long it took, where I hit a max speed, whether or how often I've taken a certain road, etc. I also like seeing basic metrics like average speed/distance/time YTD, year over year, or for specific date ranges.

I do track heart rate and time in zones, but would be willing to let that go. I never wear a wearable 24/7 and don't track sleep/hydration/stationary workouts.

I've been using Garmin devices for years, and really like them for ease of use - getting all of my data into one place "just happens automatically" and is available for further analysis. But, I don't like that that one place is, well, Garmin, not to mention that their supporting and data visualization apps are completely enshittified at this point.

Three alternatives spring to mind:

• go back to a "dumb" computer (maybe not such a bad thing!)
• keep my Garmin devices but take them offline - mount them as USB and copy the files locally
• use a phone-based app like CoMaps

Are there any good alternatives out there? Maybe even an all-in-one platform like Garmin, but where the company really puts privacy front-and-center... or platforms that facilitate storing data locally?

Thanks!

TL;DR tried to leave Gmail for Proton Mail, but ended up running them both simultaneously which created a mess. Later added Proton Pass over Bitwarden and SimpleLogin, but run into autofill bugs and a growing sense of vendor lock-in. I'm planning to consolidate everything into Mailbox.org, Bitwarden and either SimpleLogin or Addy and use a personal domain this time to avoid being locked in again. My fumble was never fully committing to one solution.

Sometime in 2018 I wanted to get off Google (Gmail). I did research and created a Proton account. I imported all my email from Gmail to Proton. It looked good. I bought a domain name, attached it to Proton, redirected all future Gmail emails to Proton to catch them all and update the addresses in the services that I use. I was also using Bitwarden at the same time.

After a few months I needed to look up some purchases in my email archive. I couldn't find them. I was doing it on my Android phone. I tried various combination. I KNEW what I bought and the keywords to find it. It was not there. Did Google lose my email?! Was I going crazy? No, it's just that the mobile Proton Mail app does not support fulltext search. I know why, but I still think it's doable the same way as in the web browser. Anyway... that was a deal breaker to me. But now I already had Gmail + Gmail imported into Proton Mail + emails I received while already on Proton. I started to look for ways to go back to Gmail but also to take my Proton mail with me. I set up Thunderbird with IMAP and started to move them around. I didn't finish that process because it was manual and there was just too much, I couldn't keep track of it properly. I just created a mess for myself with doubled emails, etc. Sigh. I went back to Gmail for a few years.

Then as I started using Thunderbird more and more I realized its fulltext search works across all inboxes even if the provider doesn't support it. I had the urge to give Proton another go. This time I was also already using SimpleLogin (before Proton bought them). I had a different personal domain. What I now created is that I have TWO inboxes (Gmail and Proton) and never moved fully away from Gmail. But I do use SimpleLogin for both. It was because I wasn't sure if I could commit 100% to Proton, given my past experience.

At this stage, I was still using Bitwarden. So I had Bitwarden + Proton Mail + Gmail + SimpleLogin. But I knew of Proton Pass, which a couple years earlier was lacking compared to Bitwarden, but supposedly has improved. I decided to give it a try after Proton bought SimpleLogin, because it seemed like it would be cheaper to user Proton Mail + Proton Pass + SimpleLogin, I wouldn't need Bitwarden anymore. I really like the UX of Proton Pass. The desktop app is pretty and functional. I love how 2FA codes in desktop web browsers are displayed automatically in a notification and I can use them by clicking a single button. Autofill on Android also works 90% of time. So I imported everything from Bitwarden into Proton Pass and decided to "test drive" for a bit. Part of the test was creating new logins in PP. At first I manually added them to Bitwarden. After some time, I didn't. I created a bunch of passkeys in PP, also part of the functionality test. So they are now not in Bitwarden.

Meantime, I started to be bothered by some Proton things. Some login forms don't autofill, for example a bank website that I use many times every month. I reported it to Proton on November 6 last year. They said they forwarded it to their team and that it will get fixed in the next release. It didn't. It still does not work 5 months later. In the meantime I stumbled upon several other websites where Proton Pass' autofill does not work. But at least Proton launched a few half-baked products since then. Fulltext search on Android doesn't work, either. It's been only 8 years or so, I can wait.

I also realized that I probably don't need an encrypted inbox. It's not even E2EE, because that's simply impossible in email domain (unless it's something like S/MIME or PGP, but both parties have to use it). It's only encrypted on rest. I am no activist nor a journalist. I just add extra work for myself, having to run Proton Bridge, having to use their apps, not having a working fulltext search in the mobile app, not having normal IMAP.

I feel like them launching more and more apps and services is going the way of creating an "ecosystem". I was happy having SL as an independent service, now it's also Proton. I feel like an Apple customer (been there), I see the garden walls being built around me and have an encroaching feeling of vendor lock-in.

I regret my choices. I did fumble. I want to go back.

I'm thinking of subscribing for Mailbox.org. I looked at Tuta (have to use their apps, not easy to export), Posteo (doesn't allow for custom domains) and FastMail (I had issues in 2018, don't remember what exactly, besides I want an EU product). Because of how butchered my Proton inbox is, I think the best approach will be to delete all Gmail messages from it (after I confirm they are still in Gmail) and then export all and import to Mailbox.org. Separately, export all from Gmail and also import into Mailbox.org. That should give me a clean slate. I will also change ownership of aliases in SL. Sadly, I used many passmail.com aliases which are probably bound to Proton Mail and I am not sure I can continue using them if I pay for SL, but not for Proton (though, my subscription is still valid for many months).

I want to migrate back to Bitwarden. Based on my search it's not possible to selectively import entries from Proton Pass to Bitwarden. Currently my Bitwarden vault is outdated, Proton Pass has many newer logins and other items and several passkeys. I think what I have to do is backup my Bitwarden vault (just in case) and then create a new empty vault and import everything from Proton Pass. I also need to re-create any PP passkeys in Bitwarden and either switch the websites to use that or add Bitwarden passkeys if a website supports more than one passkey.

I am also not sure about staying on SL. I am considering Addy, but it's run by just one guy, so I'm not sure about it. This time, I plan to buy another personal domain and use it for email aliases rather than to rely on the domains provided by the service. This way I can migrate in the future if I need to.

btw I also switched from Windows 11 to Linux

The core issue here is that I couldn't commit . I wanted to try things and instead of committing to one and sticking to it, I used both at the same time. Chaos.

I just need to get this off my chest. Thanks for reading. I appreciate if you have anything constructive to say.

cross-posted from: https://lemdro.id/post/38681402

I'm looking for sites that offer free instances of self hosted apps.

Like these:

• https://hostux.network/en/
• https://gravitywell.xyz/#services
• https://riseup.net/
• https://www.inventati.org/services/
• https://disroot.org/#services
• https://nolog.cz/en/#services
• https://www.systemli.org/en/service/
• https://www.esiliati.org/
• https://cheredeprince.net/
• https://facil.services/
• https://services.siick.fr/
• https://woodpeckersnest.space/
• https://bloat.cat/
• https://garbaye.fr/
• https://canine.tools/services
• https://www.chapril.org/-services-.html
• https://tchncs.de/en/
• https://wiki.bsd.cafe/

Turns out catbox is blocked by like everyone, are there any good private alternatives that are not blocked by the masses that I can use to send files under 2gb with a "delete after X hours" feature?

Before you say Lufi, it refuses to finish requesting the file on the DL end, times out every time, on a 22.15MB file no less.

Any help would be appreciated. Trying to send a relative who "doesn't want to turn off her wifi" on her iPhone lest "it mess something up" a video. No shot I can get her to log into her router and disable the stupid "security" hijack that blocks catbox.

Publication croisée depuis https://feddit.org/post/28359831

also an article on itsfoss:

https://itsfoss.com/news/session-call-for-donations/

Indeed from outside STF seem like a pretty strong foundation with a plan lied out and everything, but the reality says a different story.. Session is on life support

Session is asking for a community investment of 1million dollars, which i would say is alot considering the short period of time they have left, but not alot considering the size of operations that they have

the STF has received approximately $65,000 in donations. This is enough to maintain critical Session infrastructure for the next 90 days. We are extremely grateful for the support Session has received from the community, but unfortunately this is not sufficient to retain full-time developers. As a result, all paid staff and developers will have their final working day on April 9, 2026. After this date, some team members will continue on a primarily volunteer basis to help maintain Session until July 8, 2026.

If the fundraising is successful, the foundation would be able to continue active development of Session, including launching Session Pro and Session Protocol v2.

If it is unsuccessful, the lack of funding would mean the foundation is not able to support Session in any capacity and will need to be shut down. As a result, Session would be removed from the app stores, and critical infrastructure like the Session file server, push notification server and seed nodes will go offline.

Session plans to donate the rest of the money to the EFF in case this fundraising campaign turns out to be unsuccessful

We also want to assure you that if the STF is unable to secure funding sufficient enough to meet its goals within the next 90 days, any donations that cannot be used in accordance with the STF's constitution will be publicly donated to the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

Crossposted from https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/post/66918676

Reason number 5,386 to delete your Reddit account and encourage your friends & loved ones to do the same.

(This is a question for people like me who don't self host their email.)

I've noticed more and more companies are able to detect when emails are from a temporary or alias email service. With emails being as important to identity as a phone number or address nowadays, I use proxy emails to bypass corporate registration and tracking, at least to an extent. I don't give out my actual email unless it's for something genuinely important.

Are there services anyone out there uses that are reliable in getting around company filters that detect when an email is a temp mail?

I've noticed more and more things that require an email signup to be able to detect when an email is from a temp service. I've been using Smailpro.com for years now but it seems companies are wising up to proxy emails like those. With email being as important to identity as a phone number or address nowadays, I only use proxies unless it's something I deem important enough to use my real email for.

Anyone out there experienced with temp emails? Are there services that can still get through company filters?

Hard to imagine this is an important message from 1998...

I had one SIM-card left that had been "grandfathered" into the current system, in which you are required by law to have the card registered with your social security number. Because Gestapo, that's why. Anyway, I was keeping it hidden away in my wireless earbuds' case, taped under the lid, but it must've gotten loose. Ah well... I wasn't really using it for anything, keeping it around just in case.

Are we going to see decrease in apps available?

Read the whole thread

However, we don't have a "hardened security" approach, we aren't developing a phone for pedo(censored) so they can evade justice.

For reasons that boggle my mind, I am required to keep a Google account for work (ties into some proprietary software the company uses)

Earlier today, I got the following -

Yes, I’m certain people under the age of 16 are known for their use of very specific EHR software that requires professional license to subscribe to in the first place. Makes perfect sense.

Anyone else get one of these “for you protection” msgs from Big evil?

This is a shoutout to the app QuickTiles and the developer and contributors thereof.

While at first glance it may not seem like a privacy focused app, however, ultimately, improving digital privacy is more often than not a balance between convenience/ease of use and, well, privacy^[There will always be know-it-alls and above-it-alls in the privacy community who trashtalk normies and/or beginners, acting like this and that is never a tradeoff. If you happen to be one of those, think about whether your attitude helps or hampers our efforts.]

I was almost about to let out a big sigh, thinking do I have to learn kotlin and java for this...? and then I found this app. It has some neat "add-ons" for the quick tiles panel on Android systems. Personally, I was looking for a quick setting to enable/disable data saver. This app had a "data usage" tile, which reduces the amount of requires "clicks" from 5 to 2.

EU will require all member states to have digital profiles of citizens with birth certs and IDs

Ireland is getting a new, universal 'Digital Wallet' app that will collect info, including birth certs, driving licences and PPS numbers for individual citizens - as per European Union requirements for 2027.

And the Government is asking for volunteers to take part in testing and trial runs. The Digital wallet will be used to access a range of public services, including welfare support, such as the Working Family Payment. It could also store data such as health profiles, along the lines of the so called 'vaccine passports' that were in use during the Pandemic.

The digital wallet aims to allow people to securely access documents such as birth certificates or driving licences and register for key welfare support, such as the working family payment.
It has also been suggested as an age-verification tool by Tanaiste Simon Harris, who has said children under the age of 16 should not be on social media in the wake of the Grok AI controversy.
The Government is legally obliged, under EU regulations, to ensure there is a digital wallet for accessing public services by the end of the year, and for private services by the end of 2027.
The public testing phase of the wallet is to begin in early April and is seen as “critical” to ensure it is designed “to satisfy user needs and expectations”, the Department said.
The first stage, for which people can opt in, gives people the chance to view the design of the wallet, understand its proposed features, provide feedback and sign up for further testing.
The second stage allows people aged 16 or older to download the wallet and test limited functions.
People can register to be part of the testing phase at gov.ie/DigitalWallet.

Minister for Public Expenditure and Public Service Reform Jack Chambers said the app would “make it simpler” for people to verify their identity, apply for support and access entitlements, as he launched the public consultation on Friday.

He said: “The wallet is designed so that all personal data is fully protected, and the user stays in control of what information they put in the wallet and choose to share,” he said. "Only the details needed for a service will be shared, and nothing more. Big life events, such as having a baby, moving home, or starting a new job often require dealing with several different public service providers. The digital wallet aims to reduce that administrative burden, making it easier, faster and more secure to access the supports people need. This testing and consultation phase is an important step in building a digital wallet that genuinely works for people. We want to hear the public’s ideas, concerns and expectations. The public’s feedback will directly shape how the wallet looks, how it works, and how it supports everyday life.”

I need to encrypt my files and store them locally as well as on my phone and sometimes on the cloud as well. Currently i'm using Paranoia File Encryption https://paranoiaworks.mobi/ everywhere. Is this good or does anybody else have a better suggestion. I also saw Cryptomator popping up in few places. Is that a better option?

The UK government is like: "submit ID first before you use iPhone", like WTF? As apparently, they are considering on making that the default way to unlock a cellphone whilst spying on you (like they already are) keeping tabs on what apps you're currently using, have downloaded or purchases made online.

Their Online Safety Act is stupid ever since it was enforced last year as that has done nothing except for making people bypass it entirely (like there's cases of game characters used to circumvent age verification & facial scans) so I'll assume the same will happen with this (fake ID's) just to unlock iPhones.

cross-posted from : https://lemmy.zip/post/61888435