@unknownuniverse@noc.social

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· 5mo ago

Reclaiming the desktop is as much about philosophy as it is about software.

I've published a practical overview of my move to Linux, covering the strategy behind my distro choices, transitioning away from "big tech" cloud storage, and the reality of app compatibility in 2026.

No corporate fluff; just a direct look at the transition.

https://the.unknown-universe.co.uk/linux-foss/linux-migration-guide/

#Linux #FOSS #Privacy #GamingOnLinux #Nextcloud #KDEPlasma

the.unknown-universe.co.uk

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· 5mo ago

Replying to

@justaguylinux@fosstodon.org I'm not a US citizen (thankfully) but this will affect us all. It will cause a split in the Linux world. Distros such as Ubuntu and others backed by big corporations will probably have no choice but to comply whilst the "rebel" distros, those built by real people will just say no. I just hope that it doesn't lead to an Android like scenario where unless you are on the "official" distro access to certain things like DRM streams or banking are restricted. #Linux #AgeVerification

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· 5mo ago

Microslop is now blocking VeraCrypt and WireGuard updates behind "verification" walls.

It’s becoming a full-time job just to keep privacy tools working on Windows.

My own notes on FOSS and security: https://the.unknown-universe.co.uk/category/privacy-security/

Question: How much "corporate oversight" is the path of least resistance worth to you?

#Windows11 #Privacy #FOSS #Linux #Microsoft #Microslop

the.unknown-universe.co.uk

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· 5mo ago

Switched from Surfshark to AirVPN and the difference is night and day. Speeds are way better, and the privacy side feels much more aligned with how I actually want to use a VPN.

Also nice to see a provider that is FOSS-friendly. Open-source clients, GPLv3, source on GitHub, and a much more sensible privacy stance than the usual marketing-heavy crowd.

Referral link, if useful: https://airvpn.org/?referred_by=804395
#AirVPN #Privacy #FOSS #Linux #VPN

airvpn.org

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· 5mo ago

What started with a 5am video on SmartTube led me down a rabbit hole and the realisation that my VPS was potentially leaking my data! 🤯

https://the.unknown-universe.co.uk/tech-stories/browser-sync-privacy-rabbit-hole/

#privacy #selfhosted #homelab #linux #foss #networking

the.unknown-universe.co.uk

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· 5mo ago

I’ve been looking at the Zorin OS 18.1 release and it’s a reminder that the desktop doesn't actually have to be a constant fight.

Not my daily driver, but I have some thoughts on why this specific release stands out for anyone looking to migrate.

Link: https://the.unknown-universe.co.uk/linux-foss/zorin-desktop-linux/

#Linux #FOSS #ZorinOS #Privacy #WindowsMigration

the.unknown-universe.co.uk

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· 5mo ago

Replying to

Just put this over on #HackerNews to see what the broader tech crowd makes of it. One person has already weighed in with their own iOS logs, seems everyone has "ghosts" in their machines these days. Discussion here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47750775

news.ycombinator.com

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· 5mo ago

My chosen server (noc.social) seems to have stopped working correctly.

I have moved to @unknownuniverse@unkn.uk

@unknownuniverse@unkn.uk

I am self hosting using Akkoma so hopefully I will have more luck over there!

I would be grateful if you, my dear followers would follow me again as migration also seems broken.

Thank you for your continued support

#Mastodon #Migration

noc.social

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· 5mo ago

Brave Origin Nightly exists for people who want the browser to get out of the way. I’ve been using it for a week on Linux to see if it actually delivers.

It is fast and stable, but there is a specific part of the model that just doesn’t make sense to me.

My thoughts on the good and the bad: https://the.unknown-universe.co.uk/privacy-security/brave-origin/

#Brave #Linux #FOSS #Privacy #Browsers

the.unknown-universe.co.uk

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· 5mo ago

Replying to

@EvoScale @Tutanota Winboat is a game changer! It's the only way I have found that lets me use SkyGo on Linux.

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· 5mo ago

Replying to

@rashunda@mastodon.social Thanks. Why Ubuntu in particular? I'm always curious about why people pick certain distros. Happy to answer any questions you may have.

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· 5mo ago

Replying to

@anon_4601@nerdculture.de You missed one! lol 😂 @unknownuniverse@noc.social #Linux #FOSS #SelfHosted

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· 5mo ago

Replying to

@happyborg@fosstodon.org I chose AdGuard Home because it’s a modern, all-in-one binary. Pi-hole is great, but it often needs extra plugins or tools like Unbound to get the same level of function (like DoT). AdGuard has it all baked in. It runs perfectly in a Proxmox LXC—definitely worth a spin for your new lab!

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· 6mo ago

Replying to

@Archie1@fosstodon.org My sister isn’t very technical, so I went with OnlyOffice because it has the best Microsoft Office compatibility out there. She needs to work with Word and Excel files without hassle. I personally use LibreOffice and it’s great, but the occasional quirks with docx/xlsx formats aren’t something I want her to bother me about, I don't need phone calls about shifting margins or broken fonts 😂

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· 6mo ago

Replying to

@Arcticulate @thelinuxEXP Vulkan isn’t a silver bullet. F1 could use it tomorrow and we would still hit the 'Anti-Cheat Wall'. Porting kernel-level DRM to Linux is a massive hurdle big devs like EA won’t jump if Proton 'fudges' it for free. As a Linux-first user who only keeps a Windows partition for the F1 series, I worry we’re just trading one dependency for another.

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· 6mo ago

Replying to

#BrowserGate Update: The consensus is clear—basic "Shields" don't stop LinkedIn’s 6,000-point plugin inventory. Firefox users: Multi-Account Containers are your best defense. For Chromium, I’ve updated the breakdown with uBlock Origin filters to kill the script at the source. Technical hardening guide here: https://the.unknown-universe.co.uk/privacy-security/linkedin-browsergate/ #Privacy #FOSS #SelfHosted #LinkedIn #Microsoft #uBlockOrigin

the.unknown-universe.co.uk

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· 6mo ago

Yesterday my sister presents me with a 2020 MacBook Air she was gifted. It was slow and not working properly, so how did I fix it? I put #Linux on it of course!

Fedora Asahi Remix to be precise. It was a bit of a faff on the M1; I had to nuke a 153GB ghost user account just to make room for a firmware update before I could even shrink the partition. It's now a KDE Plasma 6 machine with OnlyOffice for her coursework. Proper FOSS liberation for Apple hardware.

#AsahiLinux #Fedora #M1 #FOSS

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· 6mo ago

Replying to

@Olly42 As a dedicated PC #gamer and massive #F1 fan with a racing sim setup, Windows is strictly for that game only—I’ve tweaked it as much as possible to stop the constant phone home. Luckily, I run AdGuard on my network to keep the rest of my devices private. Everything else? #Linux all the way. I just use Windows as a compatibility layer now. Finally feel like I own my PC, not the other way around.

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· 6mo ago

Replying to

@tehstu I've just finished a Linux install on my sister's MacBook, those A1419 iMacs are perfect candidates for a similar revival. The 7th gen i5 and 8GB RAM will fly on a lightweight distro like Mint or XFCE compared to bloated modern macOS. You should watch out for the Broadcom Wi-Fi drivers which often need a manual nudge after the first boot. It makes a brilliant privacy-respecting family browser once you've cleared the EFI hurdles. Drop me a mention if you get stuck on the driver firmware.

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· 6mo ago

Replying to

@thelinuxEXP The OnlyOffice vs LibreOffice split shows how messy open-source office suites still are. It’s wild how community and big companies mix, especially with Nextcloud trying to unite them. Hitting 5% Linux gaming share feels like a win, but I wonder how much is Proton vs native games. Curious what you think about Wayland—will it smooth gaming or cause more headaches?

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· 6mo ago

Replying to

@Arcticulate @thelinuxEXP I get the optimism, but I worry we’re building a house on a foundation someone else owns. If we hit 70% share entirely because of Proton, developers have even less incentive to write native code—they'll just target Windows and let the translation layer deal with the mess. It's a win for accessibility, sure, but a bit of a nightmare for long-term platform independence. We don't want to become just a 'Windows-compatible' kernel, do we?

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· 6mo ago

Replying to

@Arcticulate @thelinuxEXP Hope you're right, but 'good enough' via translation often becomes a permanent crutch. I’ve played F1 since the start of the CodeMasters era, it’s the only reason I still have a Windows partition. Using an entire OS as a glorified compatibility layer for one series is ridiculous. Even at 70% share, if devs like EA just rely on Valve to 'fudge' the difference, do we ever actually get first-class native support?

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· 6mo ago

Replying to

@Arcticulate @thelinuxEXP Valve is the main one trying with 'Proton-aware' EAC and BattlEye, but the real hurdle isn’t the code, it’s trust. Big devs like EA aren't convinced they can maintain 'competitive integrity' on an open kernel where the user has root access.

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· 5mo ago

Replying to

@burek@metalhead.club I hear you on Alexa, it’s exactly why I’ve engineered myself out of the loop with Home Assistant and physical buttons. But in a family home, pulling the plug entirely on the music system others rely on is a quick way to lose support for the home lab!

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· 5mo ago

Replying to

@burek@metalhead.club It is always a compromise! I have been tinkering with Home Assistant voice, but it is just not ready to replace the Alexa system yet for a smooth family experience. Until it is, I would rather use FOSS tools to build a wall around the speakers than force a broken experience on the household.

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· 5mo ago

Replying to

@ln@social.linux.pizza It’s absurd, isn't it? 10 times a minute for something that should be sitting idle is just data harvesting masquerading as "connectivity checks." My logs show Microsoft and Amazon doing the same thing. Once you see the frequency, you realise your network isn't yours until you put a shield in the middle.

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