Hi everyone, its me, just another lurker surfaced to get the dang coins.
For once I'd like to contribute with something I might have some knowledge of, and that I'm pretty sure everyone is atleast somewhat aware of.
This will be a bit of a read, sorry, that's just the way I do things, but I'll try to keep it brief.
We live in an age where information is valuable, and your personal information is likely of very great value to companies which sell ads - think Alphabet (Google), META (Facebook, instagram etc.), X (formerly known as Twitter before Musk fucked it up).
The information you hand out by googling stuff or posting about, often shapes the ads your shown as the algorithms by various companies can extract patterns from what you're doing online and turn that knowledge into something that can be sold.
Now there is a lot you can do to not hand out free information, don't use apps/site that harvest your data - yeah everyone can just stop googling and stop using Facebook, right?
Alright, that's not a viable way of securing your data, so what can you do?
You can be vague, confusing and mess up the algorithms by occasionally deep-diving into something that has your interest, it'll confuse the hell out of Youtube when indian folk music and polka are your latest fancies.
If anyones familiar with the term Maskirovka, then this is the ghist of what I'm trying to bring forth here - if not then Maskirovka is good thing to google as its an interesting concept that can be applied in a multitude of situations both online and IRL.
Better yet, be vague, obfuscating and do it while on a VPN, I'm from Holland isn't that wierd? Or am I from Singapore? Or USA? Or ...
Its actually somewhat funny to see just how many ads are directed at your nationality.
Now if you're here, you're probably already aware that parts of LC might be considered 'grey', an even better reason to thread carefully and beware what footprints you've left behind.
Generally, from what I've seen, we're pretty good at this, but I did also notice that in the lurker megathread someone asked what country people where from, and as a rule of thumb I'd never reveal where I'm from.
Now that might seem a bit paranoid, but knowing where someone is from can target ads better, and if you're ever caught with your hands in the figurative pie, then knowing where you're from is the first step for any unpleasant attention towards this community.
As is written elsewhere, if things get hot, that is something becomes illegal (AI generated porn of certain categories for instance), then duck and cover.
If you feel the need to talk about it, consider that something does not become illegal all of the world, atleast not very often, so discussing something that just happened might reveal where you're from.
Where you're from, who you are, what your real name is, what your occupation is, what your age is, what your gender is, what your marital status is is all things that can quickly narrow down a person and become evidence if there would ever be case.
We are not under threat per se, as is, but we have had occasions of arseholes who're just here to ruin everyone elses fun.
What I am trying to say is - beware what information you give out, to who and where.
What to do?
Be very selective with your information, use a noninvasive browser and a noninvasive search engine as standard, go TOR if in doubt (although slower its endlessly safer than Incognito mode).
Frankly, having a debate about staying safe online is likely more relevant than ever given the state of things in general.
I hope this does not come across as condescending or as a reprimand from a paranoid lurker forced to the surface, I just want to contribute something serious.
Chime in if you'd like to add something, I always love to discuss ways to keep hidden on the net, and now that lurking is out of the picture, we might as well discuss next best thing.
For once I'd like to contribute with something I might have some knowledge of, and that I'm pretty sure everyone is atleast somewhat aware of.
This will be a bit of a read, sorry, that's just the way I do things, but I'll try to keep it brief.
We live in an age where information is valuable, and your personal information is likely of very great value to companies which sell ads - think Alphabet (Google), META (Facebook, instagram etc.), X (formerly known as Twitter before Musk fucked it up).
The information you hand out by googling stuff or posting about, often shapes the ads your shown as the algorithms by various companies can extract patterns from what you're doing online and turn that knowledge into something that can be sold.
Now there is a lot you can do to not hand out free information, don't use apps/site that harvest your data - yeah everyone can just stop googling and stop using Facebook, right?
Alright, that's not a viable way of securing your data, so what can you do?
You can be vague, confusing and mess up the algorithms by occasionally deep-diving into something that has your interest, it'll confuse the hell out of Youtube when indian folk music and polka are your latest fancies.
If anyones familiar with the term Maskirovka, then this is the ghist of what I'm trying to bring forth here - if not then Maskirovka is good thing to google as its an interesting concept that can be applied in a multitude of situations both online and IRL.
Better yet, be vague, obfuscating and do it while on a VPN, I'm from Holland isn't that wierd? Or am I from Singapore? Or USA? Or ...
Its actually somewhat funny to see just how many ads are directed at your nationality.
Now if you're here, you're probably already aware that parts of LC might be considered 'grey', an even better reason to thread carefully and beware what footprints you've left behind.
Generally, from what I've seen, we're pretty good at this, but I did also notice that in the lurker megathread someone asked what country people where from, and as a rule of thumb I'd never reveal where I'm from.
Now that might seem a bit paranoid, but knowing where someone is from can target ads better, and if you're ever caught with your hands in the figurative pie, then knowing where you're from is the first step for any unpleasant attention towards this community.
As is written elsewhere, if things get hot, that is something becomes illegal (AI generated porn of certain categories for instance), then duck and cover.
If you feel the need to talk about it, consider that something does not become illegal all of the world, atleast not very often, so discussing something that just happened might reveal where you're from.
Where you're from, who you are, what your real name is, what your occupation is, what your age is, what your gender is, what your marital status is is all things that can quickly narrow down a person and become evidence if there would ever be case.
We are not under threat per se, as is, but we have had occasions of arseholes who're just here to ruin everyone elses fun.
What I am trying to say is - beware what information you give out, to who and where.
What to do?
Be very selective with your information, use a noninvasive browser and a noninvasive search engine as standard, go TOR if in doubt (although slower its endlessly safer than Incognito mode).
Frankly, having a debate about staying safe online is likely more relevant than ever given the state of things in general.
I hope this does not come across as condescending or as a reprimand from a paranoid lurker forced to the surface, I just want to contribute something serious.
Chime in if you'd like to add something, I always love to discuss ways to keep hidden on the net, and now that lurking is out of the picture, we might as well discuss next best thing.
