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Am I the only one worried with the OS wars lately? Microsoft and Apple trying to gain even more control on everything and Linux remaining at less than 2% on the desktop. People are oblivious to the fact that their personal freedom is at risk, and don't you dare tell me otherwise. Companies knowing what we search or what files we have on our computer, having the ability to control us and force us to follow their rules. We have a choice, and I'm not talking about destroying the economical system a la Mr. Robot, but moving to the Open Source world, not because it's more secure, faster or some such shit, but because it's the only way to ensure freedom on one of the biggest part of our lifes, the digital part. My concerns may be exceeding the normal, and I'll hate it to be right, but I'm afraid that if this goes on, in a few years, we'll understand that we made a big mistake...

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  • 0
    whats abt ur mobile? by the way just subscribing. will love to hear other people before I will post something sensible.
  • 2
    Android, heavily modified Linux plus other things from Google and Meizu, in my case. I also believe that mobile has gone the wrong way for years, what with all those apps, those millions of useless apps that clutter the app stores and leave almost nothing of use to be found... We should had focused on the browser side of things, or at least that's my modest opinion.
  • 6
    no matter the OS, your isp knows everything about you. Alongside with social media, messaging apps, search engines etc.
    There is nothing secret on the Internet. Someone can even identify you just by the moves of your mouse.
    We are doomed, get over it.
  • 0
    @superuser True-true, Internet is a pipe, the guy who sells you the pipe can see what's in the pipe, but now we go to the next step: seeing what's in your computer or having to follow their rules in what you do with their system, because it remains their system, doesn't matter if you bought it or pirated it or whatever, it's just a service. Basically, you can't what is rightly your own...
  • 1
    As I said, we are doomed. Get over it.
  • 0
    Uhhh, this has been going on for 20 years.
  • 1
    @antoni4040 lol you think Android + Google is more secure? Hate to break it to you buddy but google is infinitely worse at user privacy than Apple, or even Microsoft.

    Every time you google something you just gave up part of your privacy
  • 0
    ISPs don't have to know everything about you. But not enough people care about their privacy to use something like TOR.
  • 0
    Lastly, apps are generally better for privacy because they're walled off. You won't have cookies from one website talking to another.
  • 0
    @xroad Still, that is understandable, since Google is a service. One of the reasons Google search results are the best is because they keep records of what everyone is searching for and thus can understand what you really want to find. It's a sacrifice, but understandable. And as I said, I think mobile has gone wrong for years, and that for multiple reasons. But still, an OS should not be a service, it's one of the most basic things people need, it should be something you can own and change and develop for without any constrains. I don't understand why you people find that so outrageous...
  • 0
    @antoni4040 why shouldn't it be a service? By your argument if something can be made better at the expense of
    privacy why can't we include OSes in that?

    For example, I can sync everything to iCloud so if I lose my phone or have to upgrade devices I can log in with my Apple account and all my apps and data will be downloaded to it automatically.

    It's hard to achieve convenience and privacy at the same time. IMO Apple does a way better job at it than Google.
  • 0
    Apple, the company that made back in 1984 an ad about smashing the Big Brother IBM and became the ultimate Big Brother? The founder of Kickass was found because he bought some songs on iTunes, in case you felt safe with Apple... And NO, seriously, NO, an OS is not a service, unless you want your computer to be a service. If you want your computer to belong to someone else, good for you, and I suspect you already do, supporting Apple...
  • 0
    @antoni4040 you must not have heard of how the FBI couldn't hack into someones phone and Apple was willing to fight them in court. Ever wonder why you never hear of that happening with Google? Besides the fact that Android has more security holes than Swiss cheese it's because with Apple you buy the product and that makes you the customer. With Google YOU are the product. Their entire business model is based around selling your data.

    Yes, there's a long way to go as far as privacy issues are concerned, but just because someone's motto used to be "don't be evil" doesn't mean they can't do no wrong.
  • 0
    And saying that an OS can't be a service is being close minded. I prefer my OS to be standalone but there are benefits in having your OS integrated with other services.

    And if you're so concerned about that wait till you hear about this OS called Chrome.
  • 0
    try Tails it is perfect for ur needs.
  • 0
    @xroad An OS as a service, as I said, is like your computer being a service. If you are OK with that, then no problem, just don't argue when you start feeling as if you don't own a big part of your life, when the most democratic medium becomes a jail. Thinking I'm overeacting? That's fine as well, leave me and continue as if you never heard a word I said. I won't mind. I won't judge. But, I will feel less guildy, knowing that I tried to convince people. Also, that Apple vs FBI thing was just a show, they are best friends, they share everything, including, let's say, fingerprints...
  • 0
    @rookiemaverick I'm not Stallman, I'm looking for the middle ground...
  • 0
    @antoni4040 tails has nothing to do with stallman. it is a tor os.
  • 0
    @rookiemaverick That was not my point... I'm talking about change of attitude more than software. I don't think you understand my concern...
  • 1
    @antoni4040 as long has people has the right to choose, they have the freedom. And some may choose to spread awareness (like you). I respect that. It is not always possible to convince to choose something that we follow (I am a diehard linux user since 2006). just a word of caution, when you install linux based os do not forget to cross check md5 checksum, else ur kernel may contain a backdoor.
  • 0
    @rookiemaverick I thought you mentioning Tails was more of a joke, to tell you the truth. I agree with what you say and I think that everyone has to worry about his right of choice and fight for it. You seem to focus on the technical aspect of it, and that's good, but I'm focusing on the attitude of people, that "well, it's ok, the system works fine, why should I care about what's actually going on?" kind of thing that we are going to regret, I'm afraid...
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