Yep - same here. Yes, you do have to monitor your privacy every time you go on the Internet, open a browser, respond on Facebook or Twitter, use Google, post on Pinterest, talk on your phone, etc...
My iPhone has an EyePatch case and my iPad has a case that can hide the cam too. I have patches over my laptop cams, - undecided about what to do with the device microphones - but faraday cases come in handy.
I use Google to search for anything techie (never anything that is sensitive in nature) or that can follow me around the webs. I use Startpage.com and have used the getcocoon.com Firefox privacy plugin since 2010 (hey, I consult with them). I also use a VPN (Cyberghost - because they collect 0 logs and I never turn on the TOR browser until my VPN is on [because I do not trust my ISP]. Am I doing anything wrong? No. I just do a ton of sensitive research, speak with people that "might be of interest", and some of the areas I cover could add me to a gov list or I could get my kneecaps shot off by some pissed off Deepweb psychopath!
According to Facebook I've lived in Moscow and visited Antarctica. Why? Because I choose to feed them disinformation on a regular basis because I believe that they are one of the biggest spy machines on Earth period. Oh, and I also manage Facebook biz pages, and I still need a personal (real life) profile to admin them with.
I'm also a baby boomer and I've seen vast changes over the decades and I can tell each of you that we are living in a surveillance society today. We are at a time in history where those of us who are brave enough not to follow the sheep over the cliff, may be targeted by the NSA simply for searching for a keyword such as "TOR" in the Google search engine. This is not a conspiracy theory - it is the reality that we all live today.
Basically - we all have decisions to make from within. When is "enough" really enough?
Every day in America, our constitution and liberties are trampled upon. I am deeply saddened by a President that does not comprehend what freedom and liberty means to those of us who have tasted its fruit. But at the same time, I know he is a puppet in the overall political global theme.
There still remain ways to retain some sense of "privacy" online - but even "anonymous" data can be connected with each one of us. So, if that is the case, choose disinformation when you have to be "transparent" online. That does not mean outright, bold-faced lies - it simply means screw with the algorithms that screw with you.Got it?
Use encryption whenever and wherever you can. My main Wordpress sites are all encrypted - and all other sites that I manage that are not https - I use either Cocoon or HTTPS everywhere to access the back-end. I use PGP and .onion mail servers to communicate anything sensitive in nature.I also frequently use the Wickr messaging app for texting.
I NEVER use my iPhone to speak with anyone who is an activist or related to anything that any gov could target me or the other connection with. I do look at my iPhone as another spy machine. I am serious about that too!
So, we have come to a point in history where we have to self-censor ourselves prior to putting the data out there and quite frankly that pisses me off.It should piss you off too.
Why should I have to tuck my iPhone into a Faraday case just to use the bathroom? Think about it. Do I really want the NSA tweaks to sing a "tinkle" song as background music?
Keep up the great work here - really love this thread.