Am I paranoid?

[Train27]

I'm a computer science student in Spain, 20 years. The thing is, I'm very concerned with privacy and mass surveillance. I'm slowly moving towards linux systems, I've quitted Facebook, Twitter and even my whole Google account (and recently I also quitted Whatsapp, a facebook messenger-like app that was bought by Fb some time ago).

 

I do currently have a smartphone, an iphone that my gf lend me, but I jailbroke(?) it. I always keep the locator turned off and once a week I check how many data has each app used to know if it did connect to the internet and why.

I have a few e-mail alias and I'm planning on passing to ProtonMail all of my e-mail activity. I've learned to efficiently use the Dvorak layout to avoid having people touching my laptop at the university or at home and I also have set a password on the bios, so it won't boot anything until unlocked.

 

Not to mention I've used a lot of VPN's (ZenMate, TunnelBear, SurfEasy...) and anti-trackers (Ghostery & UBlock Origin). Have all my browsers set to the most private setup and almost only use open-source programs.

 

Because of quitting Whatsapp (a major if not the only form of communication for a lot of people here in Spain) my gf and I kinda argued, because she said I was a paranoid. I offered alternatives to keep constant contact (SMS, e-mails, Steam chat and a p2p encrypted chat app called SureSpot).

 

It really made me ask myself if I'm just a little paranoid, or if I'm just fighting for my privacy. I want to do big things, but everybody keeps telling me I ain't gonna change anything and that I should piss off, that "nobody is listening", that if I "have nothing to hide then I've got nothing to fear", you know, the typicals...

What do you guys think? Just looking for a second thought or a different point of view, because I believe in what I do, but I haven't been getting much moral support to say the least...

 

Thanks in advance.

[QuetzTBD]

In my opinion I think you really aren't. I do the same thing. I have ProtonMail, never use Facebook or any social media (sometimes Instagram but it's set to private and Snapchat), my iPhone is jail broken and I use the tweak Protect My Privacy which fakes my location, I use VPNs for certain occasions like web browsing or Skype. I lock my stuff out to the point where you can get in without knowing three security steps. I feel that I am just being safe. I know a few people who I play video games with who also keep themselves on the low (one is a hacker) and he gave me tips on how to hide on the Internet. Overall I think it's not being afraid of paranoid, it's just about being safe and secure. I also forgot to say I don't use Facebook or Twitter mainly because I lost interest in it and also I don't need to have accounts I never use floating around.

[Canada EH]

What about GPS in your phone, they can track you easily.

What about camera's in public spaces.

What about facial recognition camera's, It think Vancouver has them in their transit locations. The camera's are big, not like simple normal ones.

What about your vehicle.

[ShadowCaptain]

13 hours ago, Train27 said:

Because of quitting Whatsapp

You do know that Whatapp is encrypted end to end?

 

Honestly, I agree mass surveillance is wrong, but equally, does it effect your life in any meaningful way.... 

to me, everything I put on facebook, instagram, whatsapp, is public knowledge anyway to anybody that knew me, so a company has my photo and data, does it effect my life? nope, I still work, have friends, do normal stuff

It sounds exhausting having to worry about that stuff when the chance it effects the quality of your life is very low, 

 

Life is short, and eventually you will be dead, you can either try and have as much fun as possible without worrying about things, or you can spend all your effort tying to stay hidden for literally no discernible reason