Originally this was a reply to this article about a Windows feature called Recall, but there’s a good argument the author’s concerns resonate far beyond Windows and Meta to proprietary generally.
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https://distrosea.com/ this is amazing for previewing linux OS flavours right in your browser, no need for a USB stick or installation! Linux Mint, Zorin, Ubuntu and Fedora are the winners for me in terms of being normie friendly.
wtf does this have to do with facebook, and why are us party politics from months ago relevant for this post?
A) what does this have to do with the post and B) im fairly sure the Israelis are committing as much or more atrocities if not more than before the election
“Nunclear Brickmanship” interesting way to describe the Russian invasion of Ukraine
You don’t know what either of those words mean, do you.
There is only country that regularly gets on teevee with nuclear threats and it ain’t the US
Point out in the image file where this is relevant to the topic in the OP, please.
!agedlikemilk
Look, Software shouldn’t be free and open Source. I really like that we probably have a decade left of it before it gets bundled with ad services which it should have been from the start. The more people that adopt it means that it’s only a matter of time as long as we all just passively watch it get usurped
you should add a /s
Are you a not, a troll, or an idiot.
The fediverse isn’t ready for this level of sarcasm. Look at those downvotes, lmao.
It’s hard to tell sometimes. Especially when it’s such a sensitive issue where normies will parrot the same ignorant crap over and over again. I one went off on someone, not even considering it was in-jest, because is was so convincingly written.
The /s is important people. I know it slightly reduces the impact of the joke but some people believe that shit 110%.
even if they are not joking, its not necessarily their fault they think like this
Ok fed
It’s feRd
When facebook was all over removing anti-vaxx posts and “misinformation” that later turned out to be very close to the truth that guy was okay with “working close with the regime”, now he suddenly isn’t. I wonder…
I switched from Fedora to openSUSE recently and it has been painless. Would recommend to anyone who are looking to get away from US companies and US jurisdiction.
Tumbleweed or Leap or something else?
Most likely Tumbleweed. As it is the most modern of them. Because it is rolling.
Correct, Tumbleweed is the one I started using.
As a long time debian user, I have my eyes on Leap. I value stability (in the unchanging functionality sense) over latest versions.
For me Tumbleweed is rock solid even though it is rolling. But if you don’t like subtle changes it might not be fore you.
I don’t mind changes, but I want to be able to decide when they happen. Maybe I’m just traumatized from the last time I used a rolling release distro and suddenly Gnome 3 landed and replaced Gnome 2. I did not like that.
Can I ask which rolling distro that was. I presume arch?
No matter which OpenSuse people end up choosing, it’s a super solid decision. Even though it relies on infrastructure by SUSE S.A., a company that unfortunately has ties to the US (mostly hosting with offices and employees in the US) but got its HQ in Europe, it’s the most solid and user-friendly distro out there if you look for rather independent distros (the only user-friendly one that’s fully independent would be Mageia, but that one really isn’t where it would have to be imho). And the existence of bootable snapshots in case something happened is extremely useful. The biggest problems I’ve found are just 2: Problems with the Nvidia driver (especially if you use said snapshots), and Flathub not coming preconfigured (not a Problem in KDE since there’s a button new users can stumble over, but for Gnome you have to know something rather important is missing to look up the command to add it since there isn’t a GUI to add Flatpak repos yet).
Other than that the whole OpenSuse ecosystem is just great.
Mmm interesting. I have not hat any issues with rolling back and snapshots. Even though I do use nvidia. Configuring flathub shouldn’t be too difficult I think. But I don’t use a DE eather
Which Nvidia driver setup do you use? The problems arise with the proprietary driver; if you roll back or use a different kernel than the current default (as specified by the repo) both my brother and I had the unfortunate situation of the driver kernel module missing. Nouveau or NVK probably don’t cause such issues.
Flathub not coming preconfigured
Huh, that’s odd. I’ve been test driving different Linux distros lately for my move away from Windows, and Tumbleweed was one of the ones I tried. KDE Discover in Tumbleweed had Flatpak options for software, and I’m pretty sure it was tied to Flathub and not a different repo like Fedora does. Maybe I’m misremembering? Or did you mean that it doesn’t have the Flathub application itself?
Like I said it’s less of a problem with KDE, they even got a button to add Flathub specifically in Discover. It’s more of a thing with Gnome and Gnome Software where no “Add Flathub” button exists (and also no GUI to add repos -> they have to look up the whole CLI command), so newer users won’t necessarily be aware that something rather important is missing.
I’ve been wondering about a similar change, or possibly to Arch. What I’m still wondering about is security: Fedora has Selinux enabled all over the system, and Opensuse and Arch do not. Anyone know what level of risk this mitigates?
I think OpenSUSE Tumbleweed has SELinux enabled now too. I’m not sure what you mean by all over the system, as I’m not that familiar with SELinux yet. I believe that Tumbleweed used to use AppArmor but recently switched to SELinux? I also believe that Leap (the stable version of OpenSUSE) still uses AppArmor.
Based on opensuse’s docs, it seems to be in permissive state, whereas on my Fedora by default:
$ selinuxenabled && echo yup yup $ getenforce EnforcingNot sure if the warm fuzzy feelings I get from this are justified (like what are the actual applied rules on apps? I have no idea), but it is a bit warmer and fuzzier.
Protests crack down on the internet has been going on for quite some time, don’t just blame it on trump but on the whole government and its infrastructure.
And Facebook as an integrated part of the international surveillance state has been firmly established since Snowden leaked the PRISM program.
Like, there are a lot of reasons to switch to linux and plenty of them are compelling. But its an absolute fantasy to believe you’re somehow immune to surveillance because you’re using the same software as Amazon’s EC2. Does anyone really believe the NSA hasn’t cracked Linux Mint yet?
Or, for that matter, that using a linux desktop is going to insulate you from being spied on via a public facing 3rd party social media forum?
Like, there are a lot of reasons to switch to linux and plenty of them are compelling. But its an absolute fantasy to believe you’re somehow immune to surveillance because you’re using the same software as Amazon’s EC2. Does anyone really believe the NSA hasn’t cracked Linux Mint yet?
It’s much harder for the government and bad actors to hide backdoors in open source software than making a deal with a private company
For the proprietary software, a lot of it is front-doors. Literally just pay-to-prey. Government agencies pay the big data companies to access their warehouses of scrapped data that come directly off their clients’ machines through explicit information harvesting protocols.
That said, it is technically harder to have a covert backdoor in an open source system. But it isn’t impossible, or even particularly impractical, so long as the vulnerability remains reasonably obscure. It would be naive to assume your standard array of linux oses are unassailable.
You mean with the USA Intel or AMD CPUs?
Think that it doesn’t matter what you use as OS as the microchip inside the CPU chip can read anything it wants
Sure. Although that’s just a matter of unplugging your computer from the Internet. Also, at least in theory, Linux isn’t actively leaking all your data into various Cloud services. Microsoft OneDrive and Google Drive are just invitations for the NSA to paw through your file system.
I just can’t imagine how Linux protects you from posting on Facebook.
It wont protect there.
Also, I remember articles back then mentioning 5G Towers could create a dystopia because every company could easily put a 5G chip into the product and secretly track you regardless of Wifi.
Not my case (ARM) and maybe is time to give some love to RISC-V.
Unsure if qualcom has some backdoor too.
I’ll just make my own cpu with a breadboard and a few wires!
To all the people who are criticising this guy for working for Meta, I would like to remind you of the phrase, “Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer”.
I am very much a left-winger, but I still read right-wing papers and articles, I like to know what the other side is thinking.
Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer”.
Bruh, it’s not game of thrones. People just need to work.
If you can get a job at Facebook then you could easily find employment elsewhere. And no it’s not Game of Thrones, but I would love to see Zuckerberg get the Joffrey treatment.
Less criticism and more pity.
Sheryl Sandberg seems like a Grade A asshole to work for - possibly the only woman CEO I’ve ever heard of getting #MeToo’d. Zuckerberg is an absolute baby-brain completely up his own asshole with delusions of grandeur, outright comparing himself to Roman Emperors.
But if you get into the tell-all released by Sarah Wynn-Williams, all you really take away from it is that this company is as corrosive to the body public as it is ravenous for economic expansion. There’s no “keeping close” that’s going to be good for you in the long run. Might as well try to keep a rabid dog on a short leash.
I am very much a left-winger, but I still read right-wing papers and articles, I like to know what the other side is thinking.
I’m not above peaking in on Citations Needed or QAnon Anonymous to see how the other side lives. But the actual right-wing material itself is really ugly stuff, particularly in the modern moment. When it isn’t nakedly xenophobic or Mean Girls callously cruel, its just pumping your eyeballs and ear holes full of the dumbest fucking advertisements imaginable.
Its just not good to ingest that stuff.
What does linux need to try?
To stop insisting upon itself for like, five fucking minutes.
To stop overachieving
I want to get into Linux and I need a new laptop. I’m happy to go secondhand but I actually want a half decent thing that can play some games, not the cheapest box I can put Linux on and use fake word.
Am I best off just buying a new windows laptop than I can dual boot? Or any other suggestions?
Windows is US$ 139.00. So I figured if I buy a laptop without windows it will be 139 less but I guess manufacturers get windows for like $20 so there are no saving anyway.
There are a lot of options if you’re experienced with Linux and know how to get things to work/are willing to do research. However, if you are new, then you should definitely play it safe to avoid frustration.
My current laptop is an Asus PX13, which is an awesome value and probably the most powerful machine you can buy at its size. Unfortunately, Asus does not support Linux on its laptops at all, and any support that exists comes from volunteers. I’m very happy with my current setup, but there are some rough edges that come from the lack of official support.
Lenovo recently started shipping laptops with Linux at a discount. But its probably better to buy a laptop from a Linux seller so that you know the hardware compatibility is being maintained.
Yes, at least Lenovo Linux laptops are 140$ cheaper.
Take a look at Framework, or System76 for Linux first hardware.
Thank you. I didnt know about lenovo so that’s good to know.
System76 seems especially out of my price range. I haven’t bought a computer for 12 years, can’t believe laptop’s cost more now (even accounting for inflation) than they did back then. It’s unbelievable. Might have to work out if I want a good one to last a long time (which is risky) or to get a cheaper one and expect to replace earlier.
By thank you that is helpful.
If you want to buy second-hand, make sure to take a look at linux-hardware.org to see if Linux supports all drivers.
Generally, every laptop will work, with the exception of fingerprint sensors, webcams, or Bluetooth.
i would recommand also tuxedo computer, they based in Germany, their laptops offer various keyboards layout, and if you need cheaper option, refurbished pro laptops are a good options, look for informatic broker : they buy by lots from enterprises and the quality is overall good, maybe the battery will be a bit less consistant.
Was considering migrating from Fedora and getting a MacBook, but this is making me reconsider.
I use Ubuntu. Can someone tell me if that’s “independent and outside US jurisdiction”? I know it’s made/maintained by canonical.
What are some Linux distros that we should avoid? What are some that are independent?
It’s UK based
I don’t trust the UK either after they left the EU.
Debian is a community distro. Ubuntu is downstream of it.
FUCK YEAH, YEAR OF THE LINUX DESKTOP
It’s funny how they’re saying “You need to use Linux” and not “You need to get off Facebook”. How’s Linux going to save you from Facebook spying on you?
I think the be careful what you do on Facebook is implied. He’s highlighting something that’s less expected, where you may need to be careful what you do on Windows systems.
They mentioned Microsoft updating privacy agreements at the same time as other companies, and OP mentioned that the context was a discussion of a Windows ultra-keylogger type of feature, the implication is they’re in on this shit too, and Linux is a way to not use Windows.
Back in 2020 when I took my class for my A+ cert I remember the instructor directing us to a Windows 10 debloating video tutorial to speed up a Win10 computer. If I recall correctly In that video the host point’s out that one of the Microsoft services that ran in the background of every standard distribution of Windows 10 was a keylogger. It was one of the many things that got permanently turned off in the in the tutorial.
They literally work for the Fediverse branch of meta, sure its an evil corp and zucks intentions aren’t exactly pure (more than likely an effort to lower server costs) but it is something likely to put more eyes onto the fediverse which I definitely think will benefit the fediverse in the long run.
I read the post like you at first, but I don’t think he works on the fediverse. I think it was just a poor/unclear sequence of clauses in his post.
Threads has fediverse integration, the fediverse like the internet is decentralised its not an entity.
My uncle works at the fediverse and gets all the games before they come out
Does that mean that fedora is not recommended?
Fedora is an international collaborative effort but Red Hat is the main sponsor and it is US based. We will have to be careful and observe
And the new leader (whatever the fuck it’s called) is going to be a Red Hat employee. It’s why I left Fedora despite liking it quite a lot. That’s way too close to IBM for my liking
What do you recommend thats as complete as Fedora out of the box ? I used to be on Arch but it was time consuming to tune everything up and Fedora was the bullseye between the flexibility of Arch and a complete solution without much tinkering needed.
I was in the same spot not too long ago. I would probably recommend CachyOS or Endeavour. They’re Arch-based but a lot of the preconfiguration has been done (e.g., you will have a browser, and printer support, out of the box. Try using Ventoy and just throwing some ISOs on it, makes it really easy to try different distros
