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diff --git a/content/post/self-host/index.md b/content/post/self-host/index.md deleted file mode 100644 index 238186a..0000000 --- a/content/post/self-host/index.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,125 +0,0 @@ -+++ -author = "Kumar Damani" -title = "Why do I self-host?" -date = "2022-09-12" -description = "Overview of why I self-host." -tags = [ - "personal", - "tech", -] -+++ - -My reasons for self-hosting. -<!--more--> - -## Digital freedom/independence - - - -To put it simply, if you use a service such as Lastpass, iCloud, Dropbox, GDrive, OneDrive, etc. -to store your data, **you do not own it**. - -You are *trusting* corp. X to store it, secure it, and make it available to you. -Beyond the obvious privacy pitfalls with this, there are many other things that -could go wrong with your data being stored this way: - -* Corp. X could vanish/close/"declare bankruptcy" (as with many crypto corps. lately), and you lose your data. -* Corp. X could make a policy change and lock you out from accessing your account. -* Or you could "forget" to pay the bills a few times and get locked out. -* Corp. X could get hacked, and your data gets stolen. This is the latest trend! -* Many other doomsday 💀 scenarios. - -Personally, I don't feel comfortable depending on the existence of corp. X *for data that is important to - me* i.e. a lifetime's worth of documents, memories, and passwords etc. -I 💤 much better at night knowing I am avoiding most if not all of the risks above. - - -## Privacy -Normies often ask me some variation of: -* Why do I care if corp. X has my data? I have nothing to hide! -* Since I'm aware of targeted advertising, it won't work on me, - so why should I care if corp. X has my data? - -{{< figure src="why.jpg" alt="my pic" width="75%" >}} - -To such questions, I follow-up with: -> **Do you want to contribute to a dystopian ([Orwellian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orwellian) future?** - -{{< figure src="police.jpg" alt="thought police" width="75%" >}} - -If your answer is *yes*, then no need to read further, the following will not change your mind. - -If your answer is *no*, but you aren't convinced that/how these are related, -then the *argument goes something like this...* -* We live in a world of mass data-collection/surveillance. -* This enables corp. X to use techniques such as ML (Machine Learning) to build/train models (or "AI" - - Artificial Intelligence)that aim to predict human behaviour. -* That by itself is not a problem here. -* The problems arise when corp. X use these techniques for profit without - regard for the harm they cause at a *population level*. - -I have unfortunately lived through enough of these cases to be able to cite a few recent examples: -* Instagram (etc.) designs its apps/products optimizing for maximum <cite> addiction[^1]</cite>. - Think slot-machines. - You might think you are "too smart" to fall for these tricks, and you might be right, - but what about the millions of adolescents using these platforms who aren't as wise as you? - The data collected, and techniques developed from *your usage* enables platforms - to target not only you, but *all* users on the platform, including the most vulnerable. - - Unfortunately, many of these kids will end up suffering from mental-health, - body-image, self-esteem <cite>issues[^2]</cite>, - and for some it **will be fatal**. - I do not think this is morally acceptable, and is primary reason I refuse - to participate in social-media platforms. - -  - [^1]: [Smartphones and dopamine](https://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2018/dopamine-smartphones-battle-time/) - [^2]: [Mental health and social media](https://onlinedegrees.unr.edu/online-master-of-public-health/impact-of-social-media-on-youth-mental-health/) - -You could say "well that's due to bad parenting", but the point remains that -more and more of the digital world is having <em>real world</em> negative consequences regardless of -your individual participation level. Another example: - -* By now its well known that Facebook's (etc.) targeted advertising - played a significant a role in the 2016 US <cite>Elections[^3]</cite>. - Facebook was able to do this thanks to its users voluntarily giving personal information for two decades. - However, the policies that come out of this election has real world consequences to millions - (if not billions) of people, regardless of their *individual* Facebook usage, which - undermines the very purpose of a democratic republic. - Regardless of your political affiliation, it should worry you that this *can* happen. - -  - [^3]: [Excerpt from Facebook ex-exec](https://www.theverge.com/2017/12/11/16761016/former-facebook-exec-ripping-apart-society) - -To summarize, it might not be a problem if individuals disregard their -privacy at the individual level, but in aggregate, a <em>population-wide</em> disregard -has dystopian consequences. - -So the question you have to ask yourself is: -> **What can I do?** - -Start by **valuing your privacy**. -Then, follow some of these tips to *say no...* -* **Limit your exposure to these services.** If a friend stops talking to you because - of this, then congratulations, you've just gotten rid of a fake friend. You're welcome. -* [Self-host](https://wiki.r-selfhosted.com/getting-started/what-is-self-hosting/) - as much as you can. - You can see how I [implement](https://gitlab.com/kdam0/vps) this and replicate it yourself, - though it is a bit involved for normies. -* If neither of the above work for you, then you'll need to do some research to - find an alternative source that you can trust isn't doing the same thing. - Use [this](https://github.com/awesome-selfhosted/awesome-selfhosted) - as a starting point and try to search (Ctrl+f) for your service. For eg. Twitter, and - Instagram both have popular options available. -* **Stop using Chrome.** If you must use it, use [Brave](https://brave.com/) instead. - I advocate for [Firefox](https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/?redirect_source=firefox-com). - Neither are perfect, but both offer privacy respecting options in their settings. - Specifically disabling cross-site tracking is important. - Beyond that, install an ad-blocker extension such as [UBlock Origin](https://ublockorigin.com/) - on both of them. Don't forget to do the same on your mobile device! -* Things get more complicated on cell-phones. - I suggest switching to a privacy respecting operating-system such as [GrapheneOS](https://grapheneos.org/) - Short of this, you can only limit your usage. -* Support government policies that respect user-privacy. - -{{< figure src="office.png" alt="office pic" width="75%" >}} |