I want to like this page but there are many problems...
* Who is the target demographic for this page? If it's lay-users, many of the suggestions are inappropriate: no-script, arch linux, "host-your-own cloud provider"... these are useless if you're not a programmer.
* Many of the suggestions don't do anything to improve your privacy. As tptacek noted, host-your-own may protect you from gmail handing your emails over en masse, but it doesn't protect you from yourself (you eliminate one attack surface but add many many new ones). Switching your email client... again, if the gov't can just ask your provider for all your mails, your client is irrelevant (excepting gpg which is a different question). It seems like many of these will create a false sense of security, which is even worse than no sense: "Yay I switched from outlook to icedove, take that NSA."
* There are way too many alternatives listed. What is the point of listing six different linux distributions? Pros are aware of the fact that there are many distros, newbs need a recommendation, not a dizzying list of alternatives with no guide to how to pick one. (I see mint is listed as newb choice; why are qubes, trisquel, etc. listed at all?). Ditto mail clients, browsers, and especially social networks. It seems little care was taken to ensure that the software on this list has any merit beyond being "free." Hey I made a free [barely functional, never updated] chat client, why isn't it on your list??
* The list reeks of politics over practicality. Seriously, IceDove? Trisquel? I'm a linux user at home, have used tbird, pidgin (& finch), adium, OTR, debian, ubuntu, mint, etc. etc. and I've never even heard of these tools. I suspect they are being listed because they are "FSF Endorsed" not because they are actually more useful. This is an AWESOME way to alienate new users: steer them toward ideologically pure but hard-to-use or nonfunctional software.
My suggestions:
* pare down the list (only list 1 or 2 of the best alternatives, maybe with a "more options" link for IceDonkey or whatever);
* Indicate how much technical expertise is needed for different tools. NoScript is USELESS for lay-users, disconnect.me (if it's like ghostery) & adblock are set&forget, very low friction options for new users. Ditto arch linux &c.
* Don't include things just because it meets the requirements of being "free"!! You don't need every half-functional email client in the world because it's "free"- this makes the list worse, not better.
* Make clear what tools do and don't do!! Merely switching to pidgin to connect to your does nothing for you, your list suggests it does. Blocking google analytics does not stop the NSA or whomever from requesting information from your ISP about your browsing habits!!! This needs to be more clear on your list.
* Don't make outlandish, inaccurate, unrealistic claims! "Stop the American government from spying on you by encrypting your communications and ending your reliance on proprietary services." 90% of these tools have nothing to do with encryption and/or aren't any more secure by default. You can't "opt out of prism." You're not "stop[ping] the American government from spying on you" by hosting your own wordpress. This claim is horsefeathers and it needs to be removed.
Oh well... at this point I'm feeling that in its current state your list does more harm than good, overwhelming users with too many (shitty) choices, creating a false sense of security, and muddying the waters about online privacy like crazy. These tools require attendant tech education: you can't just dump Adium in someone's lap and say "now you're protected from spying."
* Who is the target demographic for this page? If it's lay-users, many of the suggestions are inappropriate: no-script, arch linux, "host-your-own cloud provider"... these are useless if you're not a programmer.
* Many of the suggestions don't do anything to improve your privacy. As tptacek noted, host-your-own may protect you from gmail handing your emails over en masse, but it doesn't protect you from yourself (you eliminate one attack surface but add many many new ones). Switching your email client... again, if the gov't can just ask your provider for all your mails, your client is irrelevant (excepting gpg which is a different question). It seems like many of these will create a false sense of security, which is even worse than no sense: "Yay I switched from outlook to icedove, take that NSA."
* There are way too many alternatives listed. What is the point of listing six different linux distributions? Pros are aware of the fact that there are many distros, newbs need a recommendation, not a dizzying list of alternatives with no guide to how to pick one. (I see mint is listed as newb choice; why are qubes, trisquel, etc. listed at all?). Ditto mail clients, browsers, and especially social networks. It seems little care was taken to ensure that the software on this list has any merit beyond being "free." Hey I made a free [barely functional, never updated] chat client, why isn't it on your list??
* The list reeks of politics over practicality. Seriously, IceDove? Trisquel? I'm a linux user at home, have used tbird, pidgin (& finch), adium, OTR, debian, ubuntu, mint, etc. etc. and I've never even heard of these tools. I suspect they are being listed because they are "FSF Endorsed" not because they are actually more useful. This is an AWESOME way to alienate new users: steer them toward ideologically pure but hard-to-use or nonfunctional software.
My suggestions: * pare down the list (only list 1 or 2 of the best alternatives, maybe with a "more options" link for IceDonkey or whatever);
* Indicate how much technical expertise is needed for different tools. NoScript is USELESS for lay-users, disconnect.me (if it's like ghostery) & adblock are set&forget, very low friction options for new users. Ditto arch linux &c.
* Don't include things just because it meets the requirements of being "free"!! You don't need every half-functional email client in the world because it's "free"- this makes the list worse, not better.
* Make clear what tools do and don't do!! Merely switching to pidgin to connect to your does nothing for you, your list suggests it does. Blocking google analytics does not stop the NSA or whomever from requesting information from your ISP about your browsing habits!!! This needs to be more clear on your list.
* Don't make outlandish, inaccurate, unrealistic claims! "Stop the American government from spying on you by encrypting your communications and ending your reliance on proprietary services." 90% of these tools have nothing to do with encryption and/or aren't any more secure by default. You can't "opt out of prism." You're not "stop[ping] the American government from spying on you" by hosting your own wordpress. This claim is horsefeathers and it needs to be removed.
Oh well... at this point I'm feeling that in its current state your list does more harm than good, overwhelming users with too many (shitty) choices, creating a false sense of security, and muddying the waters about online privacy like crazy. These tools require attendant tech education: you can't just dump Adium in someone's lap and say "now you're protected from spying."