Welcome to My Blog!

Articles:

On Writing The Privacy Dad Blog
Writing The Privacy Dad blog has been a rewarding two-and-a-half year journey, and I hope to keep writing, albeit at a slower rate.

Paying for Mullvad VPN Anonymously with Monero
Mullvad provides a user-friendly, private VPN service, but also shows that anonymous digital transactions without logging any user data are a viable way forward.

[INTERVIEW] What's It Like Using CalyxOS Every Day?
For my oldest child, who is now a young adult, CalyxOS feels no different to using regular Android, with a couple of exceptions (interview).

DeGoogle a Smartphone with CalyxOS in under 30 minutes
If you own the right smartphone, you can deGoogle and have it up and running within 30 minutes with CalyxOS.

Trying out /e/OS with Easy Installer on a FairPhone
If you have a compatible device, e Foundation's Easy Installer makes installing /e/OS a breeze.

PostmarketOS(Phosh) on the PinePhone in 2024
The PinePhone with PostmarketOS works well as a news reader and audio consumption device.

Ubuntu on a Windows Surface Go 3
Installing Ubuntu on a Microsoft Surface Go 3 tablet improves its speed and usability significantly.

Using Android Without a Google Account
You can set up an Android phone without a Google account and with some independence from the Play Store.

Ten Open Source RSS News Readers for Smartphones
Ten open source RSS news reader apps for smartphones ranked by positive user experience.

[100th!] On Giving Light Phone my Contacts List
Digital minimalism does not necessarily overlap with privacy.

Compartmentalisation with Dedicated Devices
You can compartmentalise your data by using dedicated devices at a reasonable cost.

From Windows to Pop!_OS
Making Linux desktop your default system is an excellent way to wean yourself off Windows and MacOS.

Taking Control with Bodhi Linux
If you are a passive user of Linux desktop, Bodhi Linux could be the perfect distro to push you out of your comfort zone and discover customisation.

Punkt. MP02 as a Feature Phone for Kids
A few navigational issues aside, the Punkt. MP02 is a good feature phone for kids, if you can live with the price.

Kieran Setiya on Projects and Processes
Categorising life's activities as projects or processes can take change our perspectives on success. This is also true for privacy bloggers!

What is the Cloud?
There is no cloud. It's a bad metaphor.

Parents: Are Your Kids Backing up Their Data?
Children need a hand creating backups of their data, and parents can help.

Why I'm Sticking with Standard Notes
Standard Notes and Notesnook are both excellent note-taking apps with encryption, and that is a win for privacy.

My Family Nextcloud Server
Setting up a home Nextcloud server is a great mid-level project for anyone interested in privacy.

Final Decision on Chromebook Case in Denmark
The Danish Data Protection Authority issues an injunction in the Chromebook case.

How Can I Use Monero in Day-to-Day Situations?
Why should I exchange fiat for Monero, in order to buy a fiat gift card to spend on a shopping platform? The current reality of not being able to spend your Monero legally as a regular consumer (not as a vendor) is not discussed enough.

Running a Whoogle Instance on the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W
Spreading applications over different hardware devices in your home can create a more stable overall experience; running a Whoogle Search instance from a dedicated Raspberry Pi is a good example of this.

Mining Monero
Mining Monero can be as simple or complicated as you want it to be.

Discovering Monero
Ownership of Monero is the most effective way to learn and get a sense of how it works.

What Is a GUI?
'GUI' stands for Graphical User Interface.

Basic Linux Commands: ls, pwd, cd
Managing your system and files using typed commands can be a rewarding learning experience.

Private and Secure Journaling with VeraCrypt
VeraCrypt is a simple but powerful encryption tool with a wide range of real-world applications.

My Remaining Social Media Accounts
Some level of compromise on social media is useful, even for privacy bloggers.

Thirteen Months of The Privacy Dad
Writing a digital privacy diary has been a joyful and rewarding experience.

Privacy for Students on a Budget
Successful separation of school and personal profiles can be achieved at little or no cost.

Is Human Psychology Monero's Achilles' Heel?
Monero nodes must be maintained by people, and people are generally risk-averse.

Trying Out the PinePhone in 2023
Linux phones may not be a working reality yet, but the PinePhone takes us in the right direction.

[INTERVIEW] Jesper Graugaard (Part 2)
When Jesper Graugaard first discovered poor handling of his children's data through the use of Chromebooks in school, he started a case against Google that is still ongoing in Denmark today.

The Problem with Education as a Solution for Digital Privacy and Security
Playing devil's advocate to the argument that education is the solution to today's digital privacy and security concerns.

[INTERVIEW] Jesper Graugaard (Part 1)
Jesper Graugaard describes his battle with Google over Chromebooks in schools (part 1).

Quitting Instagram
It feels good to be consistent in decisions around deleting privacy-invasive accounts; quitting Instagram was the right choice.

Next-gen Smart Glasses Are a Test of Privacy as a Social Value
Hopefully, Mark Zuckerberg's new, AI integrated live streaming glasses will be such a success that it will confront all of us with the limits of our tolerance for privacy invasion.

Manage your Ebook Library with Calibre
If you are looking for an ebook management system that is privacy-preserving, free and just easy to use, I can't think of a better recommendation than Calibre.

Speaking Up at Parent Meetings
It is important to know when and how often to raise privacy concerns with your child's school.

An Argument for Using Schools in the Fight for Digital Privacy
While surveillance doomsday scenarios seem inevitable, we already have the potential to begin moving away from such scenarios through schools.

[INTERVIEW] Why my Friend Quit Tutanota
The gap between those interested in technology, and those who are not, might be bigger than we think, and this will affect adoption of privacy preserving tools.

Privacy Tools Are Not Worth the Hassle
Privacy tools are often user-unfriendly, and encouraging their adoption can backfire. (Steelman arguments 1)

Kids & Screens: Yes, No, Maybe
Establishing screen rules is not easy, but it is better to have a plan.

So What if Google Sends me Targeted Ads?
Users should opt in to personal data collection in exchange for services by choice, never by default.

Starting Your Own Blog, Privately
A long search for decent, privacy-focused blogging platforms has led to these four recommendations.

From Goodreads to The StoryGraph
The StoryGraph is the better alternative to Goodreads, for readers who want to create some distance between themselves and Big Tech.

[INTERVIEW] Conversations with an IT Security Expert
Friends with expertise in the field can be an invaluable resource, if they are willing to spend the time and answer your questions about privacy and security.

From LastPass to KeePass
KeePass and Bitwarden are good password manager replacements for LastPass.

The Best Blogging Platform for Students
A teacher's quest to find a free and open source blogging platform for high school students.

Tinkering with Hardware
Even a non-technical person can gain confidence in tinkering with computer hardware by practising on old devices; you might even save money in the end.

Onboarding III: Conversations
Having conversations about digital privacy requires empathy, but sometimes, Big Tech lends a helping hand.

Buying a Set of Precision Tools
Buying a set of precision tools is a good step towards a more technical mindset.

Using Multiple Email Accounts for Privacy
Managing several email accounts simultaneously is both doable and advantageous for privacy.

Kids & Screens: Questions for Students, Teachers and Parents
Moves towards a more privacy-respecting society must begin in schools.

Dual Booting on a ThinkPad T440p
Anyone thinking of switching to Linux should take it slowly and in small steps; using a dual-boot system can help.

What Is a VPN?
A VPN provider is also a third party, one you will need to trust your data with, and this is why it is key to choose a trustworthy VPN company.

MoneroTopia 2023 Review
Despite some technical difficulties, MoneroTopia 2023 was a real success.

Using Clonezilla
Cloning your drives seems daunting, but it is doable.

Onboarding II: Between Minimalism and Privacy
Digital minimalism is a much easier concept to grasp than digital privacy, but thankfully there is some overlap between them.

On EU Approval of MiCA and Transfer of Funds Regulations
While new EU regulations for crypto may work for finance, they are a step backwards for privacy.

Research and Reading
IA description of two articles related to privacy.

Kids and Screens: Should I Raise Privacy Concerns with the School?
As a parent, should you voice your opinion on your child's school's use of digitally invasive tools, or is it better to wait?

Onboarding I: Digital Privacy Tools
Is trying to onboard others to digital privacy tools good use of our time?

Using Separate Work and Personal Devices
It is better to have dedicated hardware devices for work and personal use.

[INTERVIEW] The Privacy Dad Special Guest on MoneroTopia Episode #109
I was a guest on Monero Talk's MoneroTopia show this week.

Books That Have Inspired Me
Good books shape better minds in us.

Light Phone 2 Review
The Light Phone 2 is a success story, and the result of a long streak of good decisions made by the development team.

In Between Operating Systems
Taking small steps away from proprietary software might be a more sensible option than a dramatic leap forward.

In Between Projects
It's surprising and strange to experience a sense of deflation when you've completed a project.

Control Your Own Content with RSS and AntennaPod
Curating your own podcasts and news feeds can help you avoid returning to social media and algorithms.

Ergonomics
Working on your computer ergonomically does not need to cost a lot of money.

Kids & Screens: Safeguarding Discussions
When it comes to safeguarding children against online abuse and other dangers, it is better to cultivate open discussions than it is to avoid them because the topics are difficult or embarrassing.

When Things Go Wrong
What to do when self-hosted systems you've invited others to join break down.

Building My First Server
Building a server can be slow-going, but can help teach important concepts about the Internet tools we use daily.

Kids & Screens: Can I Have a YouTube Channel?
How to negotiate your children's requests to join platforms like YouTube.

What Is an IP Address?
An explanation of IP addresses for beginners, and why they are important.

Linux on Old Devices
The combination of old computers and free Linux distros enables anyone to learn how computers and operating systems work.

Why I Still Use Reddit
Reddit is a mainstream social media platform with some redeeming qualities for the privacy-concerned individual.

Managing Your Own Disk Drives
Learning how data is stored on your own computer is a good first step towards managing your data responsibly.

Obsessing over Privacy
Sometimes a genuine interest in digital privacy can lead you down a dark path.

Kids & Screens: An Argument for Video Games
Video games are an important and meaningful form of entertainment for children.

[INTERVIEW] A Conversation with ChatGPT about the Future of Online Privacy
This is a transcript of a conversation between a human and an AI about the future of online privacy.

Exploring Social Media Alternatives: Pixelfed and Odysee
A review of Pixelfed and Odysee as alternatives to Instagram and Youtube.

What Is an Administrator?
A layperson's definition of servers and administrators.

Overcoming Minor Hurdles with LibreOffice Writer
A description of some of the easy minor adjustments someone new to LibreOffice Writer may have to make.

Kids & Screens: Parental Controls or Admin Rights?
A case for ditching parental controls and becoming the admin