AmpBenzScientist @AmpBenzScientist@qoto.org
Toughbook fan, Mathematician and Locksmith with limited success in other areas.
Political stance is far right and far left. Proponent of First Aid Kits and PPE. Easily disheartened by big tech. Partially hinged personality and stubborn enough to not write this in the First Person.
Distrust of Psychology and a fan of satire. I love a good joke and contradict myself. Somewhat serious but easily distracted.
Joined Jan 2020
@thendrix We live in a humid subtropical climate apparently. Should be close enough.
I use the term FLOSS (Free Licensed Open Source Software) because it points out the license and it is a preexisting word.
In theory, as well as reality, the code running is possibly not the same as what is stated. The GPLV3 makes an appearance here as it requires AGPLV3 code for legal use. Supply line and obfuscation attacks don't mind either way.
Signal is the best way to use a smartphone.
AmpBenzScientist
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@AmpBenzScientist You can't know if open source (for the sake of pedanticism, I use that term for all OSS, FOSS, FLOSS etc) servers really are running the code they say they are; it's more like source available, at best.
Metadata can cause issues in some situations and threat models, but most people won't need that level of metadata stripping, especially at the cost of authentication/verification of their contacts.
I do think Briar's local connections via same network or Bluetooth are quite good, but it certainly doesn't impress me in any security or privacy aspect over Signal or other Signal protocol-based messengers (I'm an advocate for per-session keys, which allow you to see if an app has been tampered with or an account has been logged into from a different device or device state, such as after a factory reset or app reinstall; things which are impossible with Briar, Session, and Tox).
It does have its use cases, along with Session and Tox, but it's more of a when needed service for me, not a go-to daily driver for everyday use.
Metadata can cause issues in some situations and threat models, but most people won't need that level of metadata stripping, especially at the cost of authentication/verification of their contacts.
I do think Briar's local connections via same network or Bluetooth are quite good, but it certainly doesn't impress me in any security or privacy aspect over Signal or other Signal protocol-based messengers (I'm an advocate for per-session keys, which allow you to see if an app has been tampered with or an account has been logged into from a different device or device state, such as after a factory reset or app reinstall; things which are impossible with Briar, Session, and Tox).
It does have its use cases, along with Session and Tox, but it's more of a when needed service for me, not a go-to daily driver for everyday use.
@thendrix Apparently well enough to become a tree.
@thendrix I did not know that it was a tree. How well does it grow here?
@inference That's a fair assessment.
I will point out that Briar omits certain features but it does this to allow for deniability. Outside of a war zone, this can indeed cause problems. It is surprisingly feature rich for what it is and not difficult to use.
Signal is the best for now. It has the best encryption I've seen implemented and ease of use. There's not much reason to not use the service, even from a FLOSS viewpoint. (IE hypocritical to criticize a non Libre service that almost entirely relies on non free infrastructure.)
AmpBenzScientist
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@AmpBenzScientist Briar has no verification system and possibly lacks authentication. Session and Tox are the same.
You do hide metadata with those services, but it's not worth the security risks of talking to someone who has compromised an account and make you believe you're talking to your real contact. There are no per-session keys like what Signal, XMPP, Matrix, and even WhatsApp, have; you are blindly trusting that you're talking to the real contact and their account has not been compromised.
Signal does the best job at hiding metadata without an onion service, and its security/encryption is what almost every other messenger today is based on, including XMPP, Matrix, and WhatsApp; you can't get any better.
You do hide metadata with those services, but it's not worth the security risks of talking to someone who has compromised an account and make you believe you're talking to your real contact. There are no per-session keys like what Signal, XMPP, Matrix, and even WhatsApp, have; you are blindly trusting that you're talking to the real contact and their account has not been compromised.
Signal does the best job at hiding metadata without an onion service, and its security/encryption is what almost every other messenger today is based on, including XMPP, Matrix, and WhatsApp; you can't get any better.
@inference I saw where you previously critiqued Matrix and said Signal is good enough. I agree that security could have been implemented better with Matrix. I remember using Riot years before Element, while the service implemented more and more advanced encryption, it was implemented worse than previous attempts.
I agree about Signal. It's a solid service and open enough.
What are your thoughts on Briar? I've found it quite usable and it seems secure enough. If you haven't tried it I hope you have two working phones to use.
I think my project might not include training sets. This better fits the theme and it is likely that they will not be necessary. There are a few tricks being utilized with this.
Hopefully I can optimize it enough to lower the hardware requirements. Progress is slow but that's okay. I really want to release it on time or as close to it as possible.
@thendrix It's not a Pine Beatle so you don't need to do a controlled burn. Pine Beatles are black and I've never seen one that flew.
AmpBenzScientist
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STOP MAKING ME MAKE ACCOUNTS TO USE WEBSITES. STOP MAKING ME MAKE ACCOUNTS TO LOOK AT THINGS. I HATE INTERNET I HATE WEBSITE
AmpBenzScientist
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Christian techno & rave music
Top christian techno artists
https://www.last.fm/tag/christian+techno/artists
AmpBenzScientist
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For 35 years, CARE has been the voice for truth in the public square.
Our mission is to bring a uniquely Christian insight to the policies and laws that affect our lives. We believe in a better story for our society and culture, one where the life of every human being, from conception to natural end, is respected and upheld
https://care.org.uk/
@saminaalhusseini I had no idea this was a real thing.
@inference The older NEMA standards were and still are pretty cool. Most of my experience is in DC but I've had to deal with AC. I've had to use suicide cords before to get mains power hooked up to a home. I've seen the greenish blue gas phase from copper or brass because of 240VAC. 3 pin connectors for that same voltage, no grounding. Just 120VAC each with a common earth.
One of the few good things about the standards is that we do have Polarity with the 2 prong design. 60Hz is pretty useful too.
@inference Yes. I've been hit by 120v and 240v here.
@inference How did you like our electrical outlets?
I should probably get a benchtop power supply. Variable voltage type.
@inference @thor 72 hours up 24 down and 48 up used to be my week. I managed to go 5 months like that rather well.
Toughbook fan, Mathematician and Locksmith with limited success in other areas.
Political stance is far right and far left. Proponent of First Aid Kits and PPE. Easily disheartened by big tech. Partially hinged personality and stubborn enough to not write this in the First Person.
Distrust of Psychology and a fan of satire. I love a good joke and contradict myself. Somewhat serious but easily distracted.
Joined Jan 2020
