privacy 14

While exploring resonant computing tools, I discovered SearXNG, a self-hostable metasearch engine, which aggregates results from multiple search engines. It lets you search using APIs without needing to buy API keys and without being tracked. Pretty useful for research, people discovery, etc. when combined with LLMs. Setting it up for API use seems easy (thought Gemini got it wrong twice): cat <<EOF > settings.yml use_default_settings: true server: secret_key: "local_dummy_secret_key_987654321" search: formats: - html - json EOF docker run -d \ -p 8080:8080 \ --name searxng \ -v "$(pwd)/settings.yml:/etc/searxng/settings.yml" \ -e "SEARXNG_BASE_URL=http://localhost:8080/" \ -e "SEARXNG_SERVER_LIMITER=false" \ searxng/searxng Now, you can run: ...

I got an email from Google Cloud on my work account “excited to introduce you to Gemini Enterprise”. Once I signed up, it said, “you have 30 days to try Gemini Enterprise – Business edition at no cost.” After that, it costs US $21/user/month, which I can subscribe to here. The main differences from Gemini Pro (consumer accounts) seem to be: Data Privacy. Google won’t read or use your data to train. (In Pro, you need to turn it off explicitly. Here, it’s the default.) Admin Controls. Admins can turn off connectors, manage users, retention policies, etc. Copyright Indemnification. If AI infringes copyright and you get sued, Google will find the case. But if you’re using Gemini via your Google Workspace account (i.e. your work account already has Pro subscription), then it makes no difference - it’s all the same. ...

Using the Google Browser Sync extension for Firefox, you can access your bookmarks, tabs, history, saved passwords and cookies from any machine. You can browse from office, go back home, and continue browsing where you left off. Gina Trapani of Lifehacker says Google Browser Sync is not a privacy risk after all.

Finding subversives using Amazon wishlists.

It’s incredible what RFID and GPS are being used to track: cars, trucks, drug bottles, passports, driver’s licenses, ID cards, loyalty cards, luggage, rifles, casino chips, shopping carts, soda cans, newspapers, razor blades, clothing, books, tyres, etc. What’s even more interesting (scary?) is when it’s used to track kids, students, teens, girlfriends, employees, patients and criminals. Comments S Anand 17 Feb 2005 12:00 pm: I use a domain hosting service that uses hidden frames to point to my Geocities site. Know of any better (cheaper) ones? TOPFRAME 17 Feb 2005 12:00 pm: why do you have to keep the URL at “http://www.s-anand.net” when I follow a link from your page? It’s very irritating actually.

O’Reilly on why Gmail is not bad.

A different perspective on Google mail.

Forbes: netizens don’t value privacy all that much. The average surfer that I meet does not know about privacy, and does not worry too much when explained either.

Wired tells you how to disappear. Online and offline.

Who’d have thought that you could steal data by recording LED lights!

Spyware.

Unfortunate, but among the early hits of the attack are privacy and free speech.

PC World’s Best of the Web uncovers gems like Safeweb (like Anomymizer.com but free), MegaPixel (digital cameras), Betanews, ArtistDirect (music search) and Multimedia Library.

After seeing how costly it is to detect hacking, and the fact that anything you say can be logged against you, one wonders if being online is worth it. If you’ve got a permanent Internet connection, keep it switched off.