Techstuff
Technology recommendations from Raven
- switch to Linux on a laptop, use this as your main computer
- become a touch typist by practicing typing on MonkeyType
- switch to GrapheneOS, use this for your phone but use your laptop more
- don’t use any generative AI tools
- switch to Signal Messenger as your main tool for group chats and DMs
- get a yubikey to protect your accounts from account takeovers, to store passkeys, and to store a SSH key
- use Bitwarden or 1password as your password manager
- build or buy a small desktop computer for gaming on steam and for remote backups with borg and borgmatic
- setup Tailscale so you can get into any of your devices from anywhere
- obtain a Mastodon account and switch to it as your main means of social media
- uninstall IG, FB, Messenger, Tiktok, etc. from your phone and only check ocassionally on your laptop
- sign up for alerts from haveibeenpwned
- create a simple journal
- use directories (folders) and the mpv program to play your audio and video
- get comfy with the command line (it’s just better)
- use ente.com for remote photo storage (and automatic backup from your phone)
- get nice pairs of wired overear headphones and wireless inear earbuds
- use calibre for ebooks
- create a plain-text workflow for your files; markdown is simple, LaTeX can be easily edited in Lyx, and pandoc is a nice program to easily create PDFs or convert your files between formats
- block ads with ublock origin lite and DNS based blocking
- use the tor browser for anonymity, not a VPN
- don’t pay for services like “DeleteMe”. Most of the stuff about you (full name, DOB, address) is considered public information and regardless of these companies promises, your data is out there. Even SSNs are out there, so make sure to freeze your credit with all the credit agencies.
- use a different email provider. I like Fastmail.
- public wifi is usually fine, no need to freak out about being a public network if all your devices and apps have been updated to the most recent available version