And they keep making it harder and harder to not use a Microsoft Account.

https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/microsoft-is-removing-known-mechanisms-for-creating-a-local-account

Here’s a nice list.

https://areweanticheatyet.com/?search=&sortOrder=desc&sortBy=status

Online multiplayer games are the most likely to have anti cheat. EA (Battlefield) is the most visible unsupported one. They view running under any virtualization or compatibility layer as an opportunity for cheating, so they intentionally deny it. EasyAntiCheat supports running in Linux, but not all game developers enable it. The success of the Steam Deck is starting apply pressure to change this, though.

True, nvidia does work great when it’s configured properly. Those distros that have the nvidia specific install option have done the work to do the extra config and keep it up to date. My preferred distro is not one of those. If I was buying new gpu hardware, I would go with one that has a fully open source driver.

Hello, friend. There will be gatekeepers in any community, but there are many Linux users willing to share their knowledge and experience with others.

I think the best way to adopt Linux is to jump in with both feet. Your productivity will take a hit for a while, but will grow as you learn how to do your daily tasks in Linux. Dual-booting is a complicated trap, and running a virtual machine is cumbersome. Buying or assembling a new machine dedicated to Linux will make switching easier. Normal internet browsing and web-based applications will generally work without problems, but you should check for any Windows-only applications that you can’t live without. Gaming on Linux is better than it ever has been, but there are some games that just won’t run on Linux. Avoid Nvidia graphics due to driver complexities.

Here are a couple of articles that might help: https://www.zdnet.com/article/thinking-about-switching-to-linux-things-you-need-to-know/ https://drewdevault.com/2021/12/05/How-new-Linux-users-succeed.html

While I wouldn’t recommend Arch for a new user, their wiki has a lot of deep technical info adaptable to most distros. https://wiki.archlinux.org/

Assuming that you trust what Proton says, when they receive a (possibly unencrypted) message they re-encrypt it with your key as soon as possible and they don’t log the content. So, after that point, they (or anyone else) can’t read the email contents. If it was also encrypted in transit, then there’s only a small window inside their email processing system where the plaintext was passed from one encryption to the other. It’s only decrypted again in your browser or proton mail app with the key that only you have. It’s not bulletproof, but it’s better than most providers.

Your fiber ONT box (where the fiber signal gets converted to copper ethernet) probably has a backup battery in it. This is especially useful if you have VOIP landline phone service through your fiber provider so you can call for help if necessary when the power is out. You or your provider will need to replace this battery every few years, just like with a UPS.

Your domain name could be ordered to be removed from US-based dns providers, no matter which TLD it is. That would essentially block your website from most US-based viewers without actually shutting down your hosting. Advanced users could still get to it, though. Consider hosting through Tor and a .onion address for more resiliency.

Configuring and maintaining nvidia drivers on Linux continues to be a pain. I recommend using an amd-based gpu because their drivers are open source and more well integrated.

Look into https://simplelogin.io/

They make creating random aliases for custom domains like this easy.

As for the domain name itself, anything that already looks like a mail service is good. “examplemail.com” or “mailexample.com”

I am protected!

Or the “too critical and poorly documented so nobody dares change it” code. Good Luck!

Tailscale (https://tailscale.com/) works great for remote access to your private services. Once the wireguard tunnel is established, then the traffic is peer-to-peer (assuming it’s configured correctly) and not through their centralized servers. Even from a mobile device.

You might enjoy reading Extreme Privacy by Michael Bazzell

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/217289412

I second this. You need physical ethernet cable for the length of your house. Hard-wire anything that needs uninterrupted access. Then install multiple WiFi access points as needed for WiFi coverage. All WiFi access points can use the same WiFi SSID name. Note the difference between a “router” that connects to your internet provider and may also provide WiFi, vs a WiFi “access point” which only provides WiFi. You need one router and multiple access points connected to each other via physical ethernet cable. Keep in mind that even the best WiFi, being a wireless radio connection, will occasionally have dropouts due to radio interference. Prefer 5GHz channels over 2.4GHz channels for less interference. Another commenter recommended the Ubiquiti UniFI line, and I agree. Just avoid the cloud-based login that they try to push, and use a local-only login.

Edit: the “buy it for life” option is hard-wired (CAT-6 or better) ethernet everywhere. Wireless is convenient, but ultimately less reliable.

Not defending Elon, but he did already become a naturalized US citizen in 2002.

https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2024/dec/05/threads-posts/elon-musk-has-been-a-us-citizen-since-2002/

Rollerball (1975) has similar corporate city themes

In the year 9595 I’m kinda wonderin’ if man is gonna be alive

I thought I just had a stroke. But it is not the first thing that I hear people do when I see a picture like that in a movie and it makes my brain go crazy because of that picture and it is the most accurate representation of what happened in my life that makes me think that it is a real person that has been in the past.

Go to their shows. Buy their merch. That’s where the creators get the most profit.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement www.ice.gov