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View Full Version : Never upgrade your OS or apps?


Carrier
3rd Nov 2015, 14:42
Proposed anti-encryption/privacy laws threaten all. Assuming companies like Microsoft, Google, Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo, YouTube, Skype, AOL, PalTalk and Apple, who are all part of the PRISM government controlled surveillance group, become even worse government Stasi toadies means that all future upgrades to their operating systems and apps are suspect. Indeed their upgrades are risky at present. Who of the public knows exactly what is in them?

What should Joe Sixpack do when faced with a message from one of the above-mentioned spy companies that a “security” or other update is available for the OS or some app on his device? How does he know it is a genuine update to improve security and not an introduction of a backdoor to sabotage his security and privacy?

Snoop companies will promote the false or tampered with upgrade as being urgently required to maintain the security of your device to stop consumers considering the options and implications and taking precautions against government sponsored privacy and security sabotage.

In the good old days sensible people did not buy new cars of a recently introduced model. They waited several years until the deficiencies were corrected and then bought one. A similar approach is recommended for computer upgrades. Do not immediately download and install the upgrade. Wait and watch forums such as this. Give experts and privacy advocates enough time to analyse the upgrade and establish that it is benign. They will publish their opinions on forums like this, in the media such as the Tech/Privacy section of the Guardian and through organisations such as the EFF and Privacy International. Only then should you download and install it.

Next, get all the encryption and privacy stuff in place and working on your device now!

Internet firms to be banned from offering unbreakable encryption under new laws - Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/11970391/Internet-firms-to-be-banned-from-offering-out-of-reach-communications-under-new-laws.html)

https://bananas.liberty.me/youre-a-criminal-in-a-mass-surveillance-world-how-to-not-get-caught/

https://www.eff.org/

Privacy | World news | The Guardian (http://www.theguardian.com/world/privacy)

https://privacyinternational.org/

https://www.bestvpn.com/blog/28721/5...r-2015-update/

https://www.torproject.org/index.html.en

lomapaseo
3rd Nov 2015, 17:39
are not the laws made to protect us from baddies?

Are there some countries where we don't have these pesky laws?

Carrier
6th Nov 2015, 19:47
Often the laws are made by the baddies!

There are no countries that do not have some degree of repressive laws. What is legal today and what is provided innocently and in good faith may be used against the provider in future. That is why ordinary people who consider themselves to be law-abiding citizens should always take precautions. Be grateful for people like Miep Gies, David Montgomery, Harvey Silverglate, John Baker, Glenn Greenwald, Edward Snowden and Alan Rusbridger.

Carefully fully read through and understand David Montgomery’s excellent explanation in the first link:

https://bananas.liberty.me/youre-a-criminal-in-a-mass-surveillance-world-how-to-not-get-caught/

This surveillance bill threatens investigative journalism | Gavin Millar | Comment is free | The Guardian (http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/nov/06/surveillance-bill-threatens-investigative-journalism)

Why is it so hard to convince people to care about privacy? | Technology | The Guardian (http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/oct/02/why-is-it-so-hard-to-convince-people-to-care-about-privacy)