From 8fd103138ad90aaa89588662c52aa9963391c8f6 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Kumar Damani <me@kumardamani.net>
Date: Sat, 10 Sep 2022 16:11:17 -0400
Subject: routine updates

---
 self-host.html | 70 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++--------------------
 1 file changed, 46 insertions(+), 24 deletions(-)

(limited to 'self-host.html')

diff --git a/self-host.html b/self-host.html
index 1808ed8..e2b1444 100644
--- a/self-host.html
+++ b/self-host.html
@@ -13,9 +13,11 @@
 
     <h2>Digital freedom/independence</h2>
     <p>
-        To put it simply, if you use another service to store your data, <em>you do not own it</em>.
-        You are <em>trusting</em> corp. X to store it, secure it, and make it accessible to you.
-        Beyond the obvious privacy pitfalls with this <em>trust</em>, there are many other things that
+        To put it simply, if you use a service such as Lastpass, iCloud, Dropbox, GDrive, OneDrive, etc. to store your
+        data, <em>you do
+            not own it</em>.
+        You are <em>trusting</em> 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:
     <ul>
         <li>Corp. X could vanish/close/"declare bankruptcy" (as with many crypto corps. lately), and you lose your data.
@@ -23,17 +25,17 @@
         <li>Corp. X could make a policy change and lock you out from accessing your account.</li>
         <li>Or you could "forget" to pay the bills a few times and get locked out.</li>
         <li>Corp. X could get hacked, and your data gets stolen. This is the latest trend!</li>
+        <li>Many other doomsday 💀 scenarios.</li>
     </ul>
     </p>
 
     <p>
         Personally, I don't feel comfortable depending on the existence of corp. X <em>for data that is important to
-            me</em>.
-        I have a lifetime's worth of files, photos, media, passwords etc. and I 💤 much better at night knowing
-        I am avoiding most if not all of the risks above.
+            me</em> 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.
     </p>
 
-    <h2 id="privacy">Privacy at the population level</h2>
+    <h2 id="privacy">Privacy</h2>
 
     <p>Normies often ask me some variation of:
     <ul>
@@ -49,7 +51,7 @@
 
     <dl>
         <dt>
-            To such questions, I respond with the following question:
+            To such questions, I follow-up with:
         </dt>
         <br>
         <dd>
@@ -80,17 +82,23 @@
         </dd>
         <br>
         <dd>
-            Instagram (etc.) designs its apps/products based on user behaviour data
-            to keep its user-base on its platform for as long as possible [0].
+            Instagram (etc.) designs its apps/products optimizing for maximum addiction [0].
+            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 they collect, and techniques they develop from <em>your usage</em> enables platforms
-            to target not just your, but <em>all</em> users on the platform, including the most vulnerable.
+            The data collected, and techniques developed from <em>your usage</em> enables platforms
+            to target not only you, but <em>all</em> users on the platform, including the most vulnerable.
+            <br>
             <br>
             Unfortunately, many of these kids will end up suffering from mental-health,
-            body-image, self-esteem issues, and for some it <strong>will be fatal</strong>.
+            body-image, self-esteem issues [1], and for some it <strong>will be fatal</strong>.
             I do not think this is morally acceptable, and is primary reason I refuse
             to participate in social-media platforms.
+            <br>
+            <br>
+            <a href="https://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2018/dopamine-smartphones-battle-time/">[0]</a>,
+            <a
+                href="https://onlinedegrees.unr.edu/online-master-of-public-health/impact-of-social-media-on-youth-mental-health/">[1]</a>
         </dd>
         <br>
         <dd>
@@ -100,12 +108,16 @@
         </dd>
         <br>
         <dd>
-            By now, it is well known that Facebook's (etc.) targeted advertising
-            played a significant a role in the 2016 US Elections [1].
-            Many of the policies implemented during this time has real world consequences to millions
-            of people, and will continue for many generations.
-            <em>This affects us all.</em>
-            Even if we don't have/use Facebook, we (most of us) cannot <em>opt-out</em> of policy changes.
+            By now its well known that Facebook's (etc.) targeted advertising
+            played a significant a role in the 2016 US Elections [2]. 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 as real world consequences to millions
+            (if not billions) of people, regardless of their <em>individual</em> Facebook usage.
+            It undermines the very purpose of a democratic republic. Regardless of your political affiliation,
+                it should worry you that this <em>can</em> happen.
+            <br>
+            <br>
+            <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2017/12/11/16761016/former-facebook-exec-ripping-apart-society">[2]</a>
         </dd>
     </dl>
 
@@ -127,7 +139,7 @@
 
     <p>
         Start by <strong>valuing your privacy</strong>.
-        Next, you can follow some of the tips below to <em>say no!</em>
+        Then, follow some of the tips below to <em>say no...</em>
     <ul>
         <li>
             <strong>Limit your exposure to these services.</strong> If a friend stops talking to you because
@@ -147,19 +159,29 @@
             Instagram both have popular options available.
         </li>
         <li>
-            Check out my list of tools and programs I use. Not for normies.
+            <strong>Stop using Chrome.</strong> If you must use it, use <a href="https://brave.com/">Brave</a> instead.
+            I advocate for <a href="https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/?redirect_source=firefox-com">Firefox</a>.
+            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 <a href="https://ublockorigin.com/">uBlock Origin</a>
+            on both of them.
+            Don't forget to do the same on your mobile device!
+        </li>
+        <li>
+            Things get more complicated on cell-phones.
+            I suggest switching to a privacy respecting operating-system such as <a
+                href="https://grapheneos.org/">GrapheneOS</a>.
+            Short of this, you can only limit your usage.
         </li>
         <li>
-            Support govts policies that respect user-privacy.
+            Support government policies that respect user-privacy.
         </li>
     </ul>
     </p>
 
     <br>
     <big>
-        <img src="pix/kumarsmall.gif" alt="Kumar pix">
         <a href="index.html">Return to main page</a></big>
-
 </body>
 
 </html>
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