Adam @adam@librem.one

#Coy.im is a fairly new, cross-platform, desktop chat app, for the #Jabber network (#XMPP protocol). It's privacy-focused, for example it uses #TOR and #OTR encryption for all chats by default (not #OMEMO, interesting choice). Also, they're avoiding implementing some features, like highlighted links, they say could add unnecessary complexity and more risk of bugs and thus security flaws. They say they are looking for people willing to do security audits on their code:
https://coy.im/what-is-coyim/

I wish nobody used #reCaptcha. Not only does it forces users to allow Goggle to run scripts in their browser, making users do unpaid mechanical turking for Goggle is just rude. If it contributed to a data commons, like training free code AI, I would't mind so much.

People who've done FOSS/self-hosted home automation, what system(s) did you use and how well does your setup work?

Wow, we did not expect the level of interest you all have had in the #PineTime!

More info:
- Cost will be approximately 25USD
- Charging dock included in price
- Built-in heartbeat monitor
- Case built of Zinc alloy and plastic
- Battery life measured in days
- Sorry, can't run Linux itself. SoC is nRF52832, which uses a Cortex-M4 core. That's why we need FreeRTOS :)

This is the PineTime. A companion for your Linux smartphone, and new side-project of ours. More news coming in the future...

(If you have experience with FreeRTOS or mbed, and are interested, please get in touch!)

♲ @MalwareTechBlog@twitter.com: The new twitter recommendation algorithm means that just replying to an account boosts their profile. When someone is being an ass, ask yourself if telling them they're an ass is worth being their PR agent for free.

The progress of #pinephone hardware

from left to right: Project Anakin, Project Don't be evil and the final hardware

We all know that Google (with Chrome-ium) has at least close to 90% of the browser marketshare on the internet.

Which is your primary browser on your computer?

Remember that Brave, Opera and Edge are Chromium derivatives. I consider Safari to be separate since it's Webkit and not Blink.

Retoot this to get more votes in.

#poll #browser #firefox #chromium

Wow, Huawei just accused the US govt of launching cyberattacks to infiltrate its intranet and internal information systems: https://www.huawei.com/en/facts/voices-of-huawei/media-statement-regarding-reported-us-doj-probes-into-huawei (h/t @Viss and campuscodi)

Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly

I wrote a blog post that's a fairly detailed how-to on conducting usability testing for free software: https://samuelhewitt.com/blog/2019-08-27-how-to-run-a-usability-test-on-free-software-linux

This article does a good job on presenting the many different ways that data about your credit card purchases are shared without your knowledge or permission: #privacy https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/08/26/spy-your-wallet-credit-cards-have-privacy-problem/

At the end of the day Google is becoming so dominant on the web that they practically *are* the web, so you either use Google products or you avoid touching a computer. I can't quit Google entirely (Chrome DevTools, GMaps, YouTube are the big ones for me).

How do you deal with something that builds amazing products but also does it in kind of a sleazy way? And maybe is becoming way too powerful? I suppose you become a tech vegan sneaking occasional bites of cheese pizza. https://nolanlawson.com/2019/05/31/tech-veganism/

"Basically, software remains vulnerable because the benefits created by insecure products far outweigh the downsides. Once that changes, software security will improve—but not a moment before."

https://danielmiessler.com/blog/the-reason-software-remains-insecure/

♲ @computerfact@twitter.com: programmers love to use titles like "architect" or "engineer" or "designer" instead of the more accurate "plumber" or "custodian" or "firefighter"