Attack on privacy

[NotATether]

With the amount of countries, governments and social platforms all of a sudden censoring and banning VPNs all at once (they are using pr0n as an excuse to destroy our internet privacy) over the last few days, the utility of Tor has just skyrocketed.

While it's not directly related to Bitcoin, I do run a Bitcoin node accelerator and a smaller Lightning network accelerator, I am thinking of running a Tor accelerator as well.

People will come, run Tor nodes, and get merit. x10 merit and perhaps some sats if they run an exit node (dangerous but necessary!).

Of course less people will do it, so I will just stick it in Off Topic maybe.

But given that we are literally sleepwalking into 1984, I just felt like I had to do something about it.

However small it may be.

Anyway I just want to hear your thoughts about this.

[Mia Chloe]

With the amount of countries, governments and social platforms all of a sudden censoring and banning VPNs all at once (they are using pr0n as an excuse to destroy our internet privacy) over the last few days, the utility of Tor has just skyrocketed.

Even if we are decentralization enthusiasts the bitter fact is everyday that passes centralization is taking over every thing and sadly people no longer value decentralization as it should. Running nodes and lightning channels are also enthusiastic moves and it was over time when I knew more about nodes I found out how important it is to run a node for absolute privacy.

As for your suggestion it's a fine one tor VPNs have that feature in their software. So long anyone isn't put at risk I bet members here will buy the idea too.

[NotATether]

Even if we are decentralization enthusiasts the bitter fact is everyday that passes centralization is taking over every thing and sadly people no longer value decentralization as it should. Running nodes and lightning channels are also enthusiastic moves and it was over time when I knew more about nodes I found out how important it is to run a node for absolute privacy.

I am furious at this coordinated attack on privacy.

So that's why I want to do something about it.

[Cookdata]

With the amount of countries, governments and social platforms all of a sudden censoring and banning VPNs all at once (they are using pr0n as an excuse to destroy our internet privacy) over the last few days, the utility of Tor has just skyrocketed.

While it's not directly related to Bitcoin, I do run a Bitcoin node accelerator and a smaller Lightning network accelerator, I am thinking of running a Tor accelerator as well.

People will come, run Tor nodes, and get merit. x10 merit and perhaps some sats if they run an exit node (dangerous but necessary!).

Of course less people will do it, so I will just stick it in Off Topic maybe.

But given that we are literally sleepwalking into 1984, I just felt like I had to do something about it.

However small it may be.

Anyway I just want to hear your thoughts about this.

I'm not sure if people are self aware that privacy is a right and a freedom, I mean there is basic Privacy that everyone can have, it will cost nothing practicing it, there is no place that says privacy is wrong because even the government are hidden some high profile information from public, it's their right to do so and so is everyone that want censorship resistance.

Centralization is winning each day as more people are become self awareness about cryptocurrency, I wish there is a broader way people can learn privacy before understanding what they are going to be doing with Bitcoin. Some people don't even know nodes broadcast Bitcoin transactions with otter peers, they only know that you need a wallet address and all of that. Sometime, I am disappointed how people are so cool with Trust wallet and holding Bitcoin in there, it irk me and get me mad. Of all available wallets, you pick Trust wallet as right choice to create a wallet for Bitcoin.

That thread is best place is beginners and help, if it's goes off topic it wouldn't have a wide reach because I'm not sure if people even go there. Beginner and help board with merit as incentive will make people to want to practice everything about Bitcoin node and privacy.

[Nwada001]

With the amount of countries, governments and social platforms all of a sudden censoring and banning VPNs all at once (they are using pr0n as an excuse to destroy our internet privacy) over the last few days, the utility of Tor has just skyrocketed.

Even if we are decentralization enthusiasts the bitter fact is everyday that passes centralization is taking over every thing and sadly people no longer value decentralization as it should. Running nodes and lightning channels are also enthusiastic moves and it was over time when I knew more about nodes I found out how important it is to run a node for absolute privacy.

People no longer cared, as if they ever cared for it in the first place. You said it as if it was something they considered very important in the past and no longer do now that we are in the future full of decentralized attacks.

If a pure and honest review is being conducted on those who make use of crypto now and in the past, you will notice that the majority of people who are into crypto today (not just holding bitcoin) are into it not just because they care about decentralization and privacy but because they want to make a profit. How can someone who is from day one profit-oriented care about privacy?

Only a few were involved in Bitcoin because of its decentralization and privacy feature in the past, and few of them still know the importance of privacy and protecting it, and only a few of the new users consider it important.

Of course less people will do it, so I will just stick it in Off Topic maybe.

Fewer people will do it because fewer people care about privacy; some will do it or are already running their own node and might not report to the thread, and aside from the little SATs and the merits, how many among the few who participate thoroughly understand what they are doing or even keep the node running after the 14-day period?

But given that we are literally sleepwalking into 1984, I just felt like I had to do something about it.

Your effort is very much appreciated…

[KingsDen]

Anyway I just want to hear your thoughts about this.

"...if men has learnt how to shoot without missing, birds have also learnt how to fly without petching". Just as you have come up with a way to encourage people to run nodes. Do your best, privacy can never be defeated and decentralisation has come to stay.

It's okay in the topic board, but assuming the long suggested privacy board was created, it would have fit better there. Alternatively, you can use Service Announcement Board

[SmartGold01]

I can take this forum for instance; only few people here cares about privacy and again how do we think of privacy while most of our data are already in the centralized system.. such as before trading on centralized exchange they would be asked to pass kyc, and also before we gambles today we are asked to pass documentations which entails that we do less cared about our privacy except such person(s) must entirely avoid these platforms even as that some of the decentralized platforms do also asked for verification whenever they noticed unusual activities.

In line with @Nwada001 said, people are having different mindset towards Bitcoin and they aren't focusing on the privacy aspect rather they looks at what they benefits from it and like I know people aren't using Bitcoin to the purposes of its creation rather they saw it as an investment tools which would give them specific amount at the end of their investments plan.

I so much love your efforts and courage to push up about privacy but the question there is are others care about privacy as you do? It's easier to start a Ride but many couldn't end up to their destination due to some unforeseen circumstances.

[NotATether]

It's okay in the office topic board, but assuming the long suggested privacy board was created, it would have fit better there. Alternatively, you can use Service Announcement Board

I really wish we had that Privacy and Security board.

Mods?

[Africolo]

Decentralized system has always been a threat to the Govemment and it didn't start Today and won't end with our generation unfortunately.

Of course less people will do it, so I will just stick it in Off Topic maybe.

This isn't going to help for visibility purpose; I've only clicked their once since I registered here.

[hopenotlate]

It's okay in the office topic board, but assuming the long suggested privacy board was created, it would have fit better there. Alternatively, you can use Service Announcement Board

I really wish we had that Privacy and Security board.

Mods?

I think this is indeed a good idea and those matters are something that this forum, because of its origins and its nature, should care a lot about : there a lot of useful threads about this topics here and they would be better organized in a dedicated board to help promote them and help users put into practise .... even if it is becoming every day more difficult.

[Hatchy]

Decentralized system has always been a threat to the Govemment and it didn't start Today and won't end with our generation unfortunately.

Not a threat, government has always been a pervert. They just want to be aware of everything and everyone's activities. And honestly decentralisation has been the only way to hide away from them but they had long began to cut off all roots and branches that strengthens decentralisation.. they just want to exercise full power on others so they feel alive..

[PowerGlove]

But given that we are literally sleepwalking into 1984, I just felt like I had to do something about it.

Nicely put.

Allow me to quote from the 48-page essay that Phillip Rogaway wrote to accompany his 2015 IACR Distinguished Lecture:

But, despite all these arguments, I am skeptical about rationalist accounts of ethical affronts, be it mass surveillance or anything else. If we behave morally, it is not because of rational analyses, but an instinctual preference for liberty, empathy, or companionship. As Schneier points out, animals don’t like to be surveilled, because it makes them feel like prey, while it makes the surveillor feel like—and act like—a predator. I think people know at an instinctual level that a life in which our thoughts, discourse, and interactions are subjected to constant algorithmic or human monitoring is no life at all. We are sprinting towards a world that we know, even without rational thought, is not a place where man belongs.

The whole essay is really worth reading, IMO. (I recommend printing it out and setting aside enough time to sit down and consume it slowly, carefully, and contemplatively; I only say that because there's a tendency these days for people to blast through things as quickly as they're able to, and while that's OK when you're consuming hastily-produced or otherwise low-effort content, it's a real shame when you "save time" by only superficially digesting something that was put together with much care/thought.)

I really wish we had that Privacy and Security board.

Yup.

It's a yes from me. It would be nice to have a place to post about security/privacy topics (e.g. Tor, Tails, Qubes, Whonix, etc.) and help other members to improve their opsec and keep their BTC safe.

Right between B&H and Off-topic seems like a good spot:

[Free Market Capitalist]

With the amount of countries, governments and social platforms all of a sudden censoring and banning VPNs all at once (they are using pr0n as an excuse to destroy our internet privacy) over the last few days, the utility of Tor has just skyrocketed.

It would be good if you had specified which countries you are referring to, as I am sure they all fall on the same side of the political spectrum. If I google it, the first 10 results are:

China
Belarus
Turkey
Russia
Iraq
Iran
North Korea
UAE
Oman

In other words, a mixture of neo-communists and authoritarians, which are usually linked. The latest controversy in this regard has been in the UK, whose government seems determined to bring to life the novel 1984 that you refer to.

I think it's important to emphasize this because I keep seeing people on the forum arguing that the best guarantor of society's well-being is a strong state that controls evil corporations, lest they make too much money, and other such nonsense.

[SuperBitMan]

In line with @Nwada001 said, people are having different mindset towards Bitcoin and they aren't focusing on the privacy aspect rather they looks at what they benefits from it and like I know people aren't using Bitcoin to the purposes of its creation rather they saw it as an investment tools which would give them specific amount at the end of their investments plan.

If only we can be honest to ourselves a lot of us here stated investing in Bitcoin not because of the privacy aspect of Bitcoin infact some investors don't even know anything about the privacy of Bitcoin, the reason they only started Bitcoin investment is because they have seen that if they invest in Bitcoin they will get profit, some set of people don't see Bitcoin privacy what they see is how big Bitcoin can be in the future they forget that the reason why Bitcoin is this big is the privacy that is associated with Bitcoin.
And I think the reason why some investors don't even know about bitcoin privacy and don't care is how they were convinced to start investing in Bitcoin, some set of people head that Bitcoin has become big in price and is growing day by day and that if you invest today that in the future you may because successful.
I think is high time we start speaking about Bitcoin privacy so people will understand that the privacy of Bitcoin made Bitcoin what it is today.

[NotATether]

It would be good if you had specified which countries you are referring to, as I am sure they all fall on the same side of the political spectrum. If I google it, the first 10 results are:

China
Belarus
Turkey
Russia
Iraq
Iran
North Korea
UAE
Oman

In other words, a mixture of neo-communists and authoritarians, which are usually linked. The latest controversy in this regard has been in the UK, whose government seems determined to bring to life the novel 1984 that you refer to.

I think it's important to emphasize this because I keep seeing people on the forum arguing that the best guarantor of society's well-being is a strong state that controls evil corporations, lest they make too much money, and other such nonsense.

I'm referring to the UK, specifically. As you probably remember, I don't even live there, but it still bugs me.

EU is trying something silly like this too, but only for social media counter-privacy for now.

[Lida93]

But given that we are literally sleepwalking into 1984, I just felt like I had to do something about it.

However small it may be.

Anyway I just want to hear your thoughts about this.

TBH, generally it's very a few number of people in the world that understands the importance of privacy on using the internet. A lot just want to get things done ASAP and are ready to click on any requirements to their  data accessibility so long as they can get done with what they're surfing online for.

Even some persons today had to know and take interest in their privacy online just after learning about bitcoin and it's decentralised feature which encourages holders to prioritise anonymity.

As a lot don't care the government feeds on that height of carelessness to increase their surveillance under different guise. But it's encouraging to see that there are persons like you who take it upon themselves to remind the community the importance of not compromising on privacy.

[BtcAnalyst1]

With the amount of countries, governments and social platforms all of a sudden censoring and banning VPNs all at once (they are using pr0n as an excuse to destroy our internet privacy) over the last few days, the utility of Tor has just skyrocketed.

Even if we are decentralization enthusiasts the bitter fact is everyday that passes centralization is taking over every thing and sadly people no longer value decentralization as it should. Running nodes and lightning channels are also enthusiastic moves and it was over time when I knew more about nodes I found out how important it is to run a node for absolute privacy.

As for your suggestion it's a fine one tor VPNs have that feature in their software. So long anyone isn't put at risk I bet members here will buy the idea too.

I don't think centrilization has talking over everything, rather the centralized system had been for centuries before the decentralized ecosystem arrived through the blockchain technology as we all knew. For me, it is not big deal that centrilization has upper hand on everyday activities but it is obvious that decentralization is coming up gradually and in near future we shall see a greater changes to this differences, it is just a matter to little time.

[Free Market Capitalist]

I'm referring to the UK, specifically. As you probably remember, I don't even live there, but it still bugs me.

EU is trying something silly like this too, but only for social media counter-privacy for now.

That's what I thought. Imagine how bad the world must be for Trump to be the leader of the free world, telling off both the UK and EU leaders on this issue. In both cases, they have pushed CBDCs (although according to the latest news, it seems that the BoE is abandoning the project), which means control of all population spending, and since they like control, they want to control the internet as well. In the UK, two-tier policing is particularly outrageous, where (especially if you are a native white person) a tweet or Facebook post criticizing immigration will cost you more jail time than an immigrant committing a violent crime.

You won't see a libertarian government, such as Argentina's, banning VPNs at all, but these type of governments want to control what people do on the internet so they hate VPNs.

[Lucius]

~snip~
People will come, run Tor nodes, and get merit. x10 merit and perhaps some sats if they run an exit node (dangerous but necessary!).

My opinion is that merits should not be used for such things and that some will certainly take advantage of it, as is the case with your other initiatives. Still, that's just my opinion.

Regarding privacy and the use of VPNs, I don't see how the use of such software should be considered privacy protection at all, given that research has shown that most of those who sell VPNs can be connected to various state (spy) agencies around the world. Some privacy can be achieved by using Tor, but it is far from the fact that there are those who cannot find you even then, only if they want to.

When you say "attack on privacy", I ask you, do you still think there is privacy in the online world?

[Free Market Capitalist]

Some privacy can be achieved by using Tor, but it is far from the fact that there are those who cannot find you even then, only if they want to.

When you say "attack on privacy", I ask you, do you still think there is privacy in the online world?

Of course there is. There is a huge difference between the privacy I have on this forum when accessing it through Tor and with a proton.me email address when I registered, and having to use a digital identity to access the internet, where each and every one of my steps will be monitored instantly.

It's the same garbage argument I've heard for accepting CBDCs. If you have no privacy when paying with VISA or Mastercard, what difference does it make if you use a CBDC? Well, there's an essential difference between the central bank having direct access to each of my expenses in real time and needing a court order to obtain them.