SPN - COMMENTARY & MUSINGS
WRITER/AUTHOR
RECOMMENDED SOFTWARE
Original: 2020 / JUNE
Updated: 2020 / AUGUST
Updated: 2020 / OCTOBER
Updated: 2021 / MAY
Before starting, it is important to take the time to think about what works for you. It is far from wise to haphazardly jump into using software / apps, and services without considering the implications of using it, and further what/how you are sharing in terms of information. Don't lazily dismiss your rights to privacy and security, it is not an entitlement, but a right to exercise.
Not all the software I have listed is open source, privacy or security focused, as unfortunately a balance of both proprietary and open source and/or FOSS, has yet to reach a healthy equilibrium. Ultimately there appears to be too much divide and discussion (if not tribal nonsense, arguments, and foolish loyalty) in which software/apps/tools are used, rather than achieving good results, and engaging in healthy debate for the betterment of development and creativity.
In the end, you shouldn't just take my word for it, there's no need to just trust me, please research and look at other sources.
Here are a few frequently updated sites with more focus on privacy/security focus, and recommendations/guides/advice:
Electronic Frontier Foundation: Surveillance Self-Defense
With that said, please find my curated list of alternate and recommended software below.
Table of Contents
Windows AntiSpyware / Telemetry
Emergency Toolkit / Rescue Disks
Bootable / Live USB (Flash Drive) Creators
Instant Messaging / Chat / Video / Voice Calling
Protocols (with apps available)
VFX (Visual Effects) / Post Production
VFX / Computer Graphics / Animation (3D / 2D)
DAW (Digital Audio Workstation)
Screen Filter (Red/Blue Light)
Operating Systems - GNU/Linux
New to Linux
Daily Driver
Qubes (depending on use case)
Persistent / Portable
ParrotOS (Home)
Tails (amnesia + encrypted volume)
Security Focused
ParrotOS (Home)
Windows AntiSpyware / Telemetry
For more options: Ghacks - "Comparison of Windows 10 Privacy tools"
Firewall - Windows
Emergency Toolkit / Rescue Disks
VIPRE Rescue Virus Removal Tool
Anti-Virus / Anti-Malware
Password Managers
KeePassDX (F-Droid / Google Play)
Tip: Think pass-'phrase' rather than pass-'word.' Using a mix of alphanumeric characters, for example: "Pies are 100% delicious!"
Bootable / Live USB (Flash Drive) Creators
UNetbootin (multi-platform)
MultiBootUSB (multi-platform)
Rufus (Windows)
YUMI [multiboot] (Windows)
Instant Messaging / Chat / Video / Voice Calling
Linphone (SIP)
Jitsi (app or browser based) -- Note: make sure to choose a unique/uncommon room name, and use a password.
ProtonMail (free option)
Tutanota (free option)
Mailfence (also has cloud/docs etc.)
Web Browser
Firefox (with addons/extensions, and modified settings)
Iridium (with addons/extensions, and modified settings)
GNU IceCat (Linux / Android)
Note: for Android recommendations see below.
Add-ons / Extensions
- HTTPS Everywhere
- Ublock Origin
- Umatrix (Discontinued - 2020 / September)*
- Cookie AutoDelete
- Decentraleyes
- Privacy Badger*
- Firefox Multi-Containers
- NoCoin
- Temporary Containers
Note: Use either Umatrix or Privacy Badger. Umatrix although discontinued, still works. As an alternative, pending use case, consider: Privacy Badger + Privacy Possum.
VPN (Virtual Private Network)
ProtonVPN (free option)
TunnelBear (limited free option)
Protocols (with apps available)
Search Engines
Maps
Office / Text / Writing
Markdown
Sublime (unlimited trial)
Code
Sublime (unlimited trial)
Notes
Productivity Tools
Ebook Editor / Creator
Screenwriting
Sublime (unlimited trial)
Office
FocusWriter (Documents Only)
Desktop Publishing
Encryption
Archiving
7zip (windows)
File Sending / Sharing
Firefox Send (discontinued)
Download Manager
Graphics / Media Software
Graphic Editing Manipulation
Draw / Paint / Sketch
Photo Editing (RAW)
Graphics Utilities / Renaming
Bulk Rename Utility (Windows)
ImageTuner (Windows)
Gallery / Viewer
Vector Graphics
VFX (Visual Effects) / Post Production
Blackmagic Fusion (included within DaVinci Resolve)
VFX / Computer Graphics / Animation (3D / 2D)
NLE (Video Editing)
Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve (includes/integrated Fusion and Fairlight)
DAW (Digital Audio Workstation)
Note: Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve features Fairlight.
Audio / Recording
Voicemeeter (Windows)
Wavosaur (Windows)
Media Transcoder
Media Players
Video Players
MPC-BE (Windows)
MPC-HC (Windows)
Music Players
QR Code
Offline QR Code Generator (by rugk) - Firefox Addon
Android
- If more privacy conscious, it is recommended to use F-Droid and skip Google, however most apps listed are on both the Google Play and F-Droid.
- Remove bloatware / spyware.
- Be wary of phones owned by Chinese companies, and avoid their apps (ie. WeChat, Zoom.)
- Remember to opt out of telemetry in settings.
- Regardless, be selective about what apps are installed (and from where,) why you are installing them, and what permissions are actually needed when requested (and if opting out is an option.) Be vigilant and conscious.
Browsers
Firefox
Fennec F-Droid
IceCat Mobile
Firefox Focus / Firefox Klar (F-Droid)
Bromite
Brave
Tor Browser
VPN (Virtual Private Network)
ProtonVPN (free option)
IVPN
TunnelBear (limited free option)
Wireguard
OpenVPN
AdBlocker
Blokada (Note: Uses Android VPN service, so short of using a rooted device, another VPN service can't be used simultaneously.)
2FA/OTP
Aegis
andOTP
Password Managers
KeePassDX
Bitwarden
Launchers
KISS Launcher
Open Launcher
Slim Launcher
T-UI
Taskbar
Phone
Open Contacts
Simple Contacts
Simple Dialer
Chat / Video / Voice Calling
Linphone (SIP)
Jitsi (app or browser based) -- Note: make sure to choose a unique/uncommon room name, and use a password.
SMS
Silence
QKSMS
Simple SMS Messenger
Maps
OsmAnd
Here We Go (Not a recommendation, but a good Google Maps alternative if using Google Play)
QR Code Scanner / Generator
QR Scanner (Privacy Friendly) (SECUSO)
SecScanQR
Camera
Open Camera
Image Gallery Viewer / Tools
Simple Gallery
LeafPic Revived
Secure Photo Viewer ("media-viewer that functions ontop of your lockscreen")
Scrambled Exif ("remove the metadata from your pictures before sharing them")
E-book Reader
FBReader
Libera PRO
PDF Viewer
MuPDF Mini
Writing / Markdown
Markor
Notepad (farmerbb)
Writeily Pro
Dictionary / Thesaurus
Poet Assistant
Notes
Standard Notes
Turtl
Cryptee (browser based)
Joplin
Keyboard
Simple Keyboard
Hacker's Keyboard
AnySoftKeyboard
Video Player / Tools
MPV
Simple Gallery (features video playback)
Video Transcoder
Music Player
Music Player GO
Odyssey
Vinyl
Musicolet
Audio Recorder
Audio Recorder (axet)
Simple Voice Recorder
Call Recorder (axet)
YouTube Player
NewPipe
MusicPiped
Weather
Weather Forecast
Forecastie
Clock / Alarm
Simple Clock
Clock+
Alarmio
Suntimes
Calendar
Simple Calendar
Calculator
Simple Calculator
File Manager
Simple File Manager
Tuner / Metronome / Piano
Cythara (Music Instrument Tuner)
Tonality - a free piano
Semitone
Screen Filter (Red/Blue Light)
Red Moon
Misc
Private Location
WiFiAnalyzer
Net Monitor
Port Authority
Ad-blocking Filter List
- https://easylist-downloads.adblockplus.org/easylist.txt
- https://easylist-downloads.adblockplus.org/antiadblockfilters.txt
- https://easylist-downloads.adblockplus.org/adwarefilters.txt
- https://easylist-downloads.adblockplus.org/fanboy-annoyance.txt
- https://easylist-downloads.adblockplus.org/fanboy-social.txt
- https://easylist-downloads.adblockplus.org/malwaredomains_full.txt
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Dawsey21/Lists/master/adblock-list.txt
- https://easylist.to/easylist/easylist.txt
- https://easylist.to/easylist/easyprivacy.txt
- https://easylist.to/easylist/fanboy-annoyance.txt
- https://easylist.to/easylist/fanboy-social.txt