Best of Privacy — 2025

  1. 1
    Article
    Avatar of hnHacker News·1y

    Obsidian is now free for work

    Obsidian's Commercial license is now optional, allowing free usage of the software for work. There's no account requirement, no ads, and no data tracking, with all data stored locally in plain text Markdown files. The change aims to simplify the license terms and align with Obsidian's principle of enabling clear thinking and effective organization. Large organizations like Amazon and Google already use Obsidian, and organizations can still support its development by purchasing licenses.

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    Article
    Avatar of allfrontendAll Frontend·42w

    Dev Tools: The Ultimate All-in-One Toolkit for Developers

    Dev Tools is a privacy-first, all-in-one developer toolkit featuring 21 essential utilities that work entirely client-side. Built with Next.js 15, TypeScript, and modern web technologies, it includes text processing tools, encoding converters, development utilities, and generators. The platform processes all data locally in the browser without backend servers or data collection, making it ideal for privacy-conscious developers who need quick access to common development tasks.

  3. 3
    Article
    Avatar of thedevcraftThe Dev Craft·52w

    I built this Chrome Extension, roast me.

    Introducing Entropy, a Chrome extension designed to automatically hide secrets and personally identifiable information (PII) from your screen during screen sharing. This feature addresses security concerns around information leaks. The creator welcomes feedback and ideas for improvement.

  4. 4
    Article
    Avatar of thomashanningThomasHanning.com·1y

    Why Building Mobile Apps Is So Much Harder Than It Looks

    Mobile development is a demanding field requiring careful management of limited hardware resources, unpredictable network conditions, strict app store review processes, and high privacy expectations. Developers must optimize for smooth performance, handle offline capabilities, and ensure robust security, all while meeting high user expectations and dealing with difficult testing and debugging processes.

  5. 5
    Article
    Avatar of braveBrave·34w

    Brave browser passes 100 million monthly active users

    Brave browser reached 101 million monthly active users in September 2024, growing at 2.5 million users per month. Brave Search now handles 20 billion annualized queries with its independent index. The company has expanded into a privacy-focused ecosystem including Leo AI assistant, VPN services, and a cryptocurrency wallet, while building sustainable revenue through privacy-respecting ads, search API, and premium subscriptions. Brave emphasizes privacy-by-default design across all products, using aggregate analytics that don't collect personal user data.

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    Video
    Avatar of fireshipFireship·1y

    DeepSeek stole our tech... says OpenAI

    OpenAI has accused DeepSeek of intellectual property theft, claiming that DeepSeek used OpenAI's outputs to fine-tune its models, a process known as distillation. This accusation comes as a second Chinese model enters the competition, creating a China vs. China AI race. Despite these controversies, open-source AI models are gaining traction, allowing developers to create innovative products. Privacy concerns have also been raised regarding the use of DeepSeek.

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    Article
    Avatar of itsfossIt's Foss·1y

    How I am Moving Away From Google's Ecosystem

    The post discusses the author's decision to move away from Google's ecosystem due to privacy concerns, the desire to explore innovative alternatives, and support for open source solutions. It outlines various Google services and suggests alternatives like ProtonMail for email, DuckDuckGo for search, and Jitsi Meet for video conferencing. Replacing Google's document suite, photos, videos, and maps is noted as more challenging.

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    Article
    Avatar of hnHacker News·45w

    Open-Source Agentic Browser

    BrowserOS is an open-source browser built on Chromium that integrates local AI agents for automating web tasks. It emphasizes privacy by running AI models locally using Ollama, avoiding data collection by search and ad companies. The browser includes features like automated workflow execution, semantic search over browsing history, and an LLM-based ad-blocker. Compatible with existing Chrome extensions, it targets users seeking privacy-focused browsing with AI-powered productivity tools.

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    Article
    Avatar of we99meso20lw9ax54rjopTatiana·24w

    Proton rolled out Proton Sheets - a spreadsheet Google can’t peek into.

    Proton launched Proton Sheets, an end-to-end encrypted spreadsheet application with zero-knowledge architecture. The service encrypts all data including file names, preventing third parties (including Proton itself) from accessing user content. This privacy-focused alternative to Google Sheets aims to protect user data from Big Tech surveillance and AI training data collection.

  10. 10
    Video
    Avatar of fireshipFireship·32w

    Apple and Google won’t like this...

    The Free Software Foundation announced the Libriophone project, led by Rob Savois, aiming to create a fully open-source smartphone by replacing all proprietary firmware, drivers, and binary blobs with free software alternatives. Unlike existing solutions like LineageOS that still contain proprietary code, this initiative seeks complete software freedom through reverse engineering. The project faces significant challenges including the massive technical undertaking of replacing closed-source components, limited historical adoption of similar efforts like Replicant, and the dominant Apple-Google duopoly that controls mobile ecosystems.

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    Article
    Avatar of lobstersLobsters·1y

    Postman is logging all your secrets and environment variables

    Postman has been found to log secret strings and environment variables, compromising user privacy. Despite claims of protecting sensitive data, the app sends unmasked variables to its servers, posing risks especially for healthcare applications. Users are advised to block Postman's analytics endpoints to prevent data leakage.

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    Video
    Avatar of communityCommunity Picks·1y

    It's time to move to Linux

    Microsoft's new feature, Recall, which records everything on your screen, has sparked privacy concerns among users. Despite Microsoft's assurance of privacy, past actions suggest it may become mandatory. Alternatives like Mac also have issues with choice and autonomy. With improving compatibility, gaming, and device support, Linux is becoming a viable option, even though it still has minor limitations.

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    Article
    Avatar of itsfossIt's Foss·1y

    Top 7 Best Open Source Skype Alternatives In 2025

    With Skype being retired by Microsoft on May 5, 2025, there are several open-source alternatives available for secure and reliable video communication. Options like Jami, Linphone, Jitsi Meet Online, MiroTalk, Element, Wire, and Nextcloud Talk offer features such as end-to-end encryption, peer-to-peer networking, and the ability to self-host. These alternatives provide enhanced privacy and customization options compared to traditional communication tools.

  14. 14
    Article
    Avatar of webtoolsweeklyWeb Tools Weekly·1y

    CSS Tools, Git/CLI, AI Tools

    Explore a range of cutting-edge tools in this comprehensive post. Discover CSS and HTML tools for design and art creation, including CASCII, Scales, and Brands Tail Color. Enhance your Git and command line experience with tools like Lefthook and RelaGit. Dive into AI innovations with GPT Crawler and Tabby, and leverage powerful new platforms like Proton Pass for improved online privacy and security. Each tool is designed to boost productivity and creativity across various development and design projects.

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    Article
    Avatar of hnHacker News·1y

    Everyone knows your location

    A recent investigation revealed a massive geolocation data leak from Gravy Analytics, involving over 2000 apps secretly collecting user location data. The author discovered their precise location data was sent through requests, even with location services disabled. They explored real-time bidding (RTB) and OpenRTB protocols, shocked by the amount of data shared. Unity Ads and Facebook were among those receiving data without adequate consent. Despite attempts, the author couldn't buy their data from brokers due to high costs. The investigation highlights major privacy concerns in the digital advertising ecosystem.

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    Article
    Avatar of allthingsopenAll Things Open·1y

    10 open source tools you can start using today

    Explore a variety of open source tools designed to improve security, productivity, and creativity. The post highlights powerful applications across categories like web browsers, password management, messaging, office tools, media repositories, video conferencing, educational resources, and podcasting. These resources provide robust features and customization options while promoting community and collaboration.

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    Video
    Avatar of linuxexpThe Linux Experiment·1y

    I'm ditching Firefox & Mozilla, and I think you should too...

    The post discusses recent changes in Firefox's terms of use which include vague language about data usage and updates without user consent. The author believes these changes may pave the way for Mozilla to integrate AI features, possibly at the expense of user privacy. The author suggests switching to Firefox forks or other browsers due to concerns over Mozilla's direction.

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    Article
    Avatar of lobstersLobsters·1y

    GPSTracker - A self-hosted alternative to Google Maps Timeline

    GPSTracker is a self-hosted alternative to Google Maps Timeline that preserves user privacy while offering similar features. The author describes the appeal of storing location data but highlights concerns with Google’s privacy practices and inconsistency in maintaining services. The post explains how to build and run GPSTracker, integrate it with external data sources, and set up ingestion pipelines using Android apps like GPSLogger. The web app uses OpenStreetMap for displaying data and includes timelines and various statistics.

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    Video
    Avatar of awesome-codingAwesome·33w

    The browser monopoly is in big trouble...

    Brave browser has reached 100 million monthly active users by prioritizing privacy and performance. Built on Chromium, it blocks ads and trackers at the browser level, resulting in up to 3x faster page loads. Brave operates its own independent search index (one of only three in the western world), offers a privacy-focused business model with opt-in ads that reward users with tokens, and is developing AI capabilities with strict context isolation. The browser's growth accelerated 50% in the EU following the Digital Markets Act, demonstrating that users actively choose privacy-first alternatives when given the option.

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    Article
    Avatar of tcTechCrunch·1y

    How to delete Facebook, Instagram, and Threads

    Meta's recent decision to relax its content moderation policies and remove its third-party fact-checking system has led to a surge in users searching for ways to delete their Facebook, Instagram, and Threads accounts. The post provides detailed instructions on how to download personal data from Facebook and Instagram before deletion and outlines the steps for permanently deleting accounts on these platforms.

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    Article
    Avatar of itsfossIt's Foss·24w

    Is Helium the Browser Brave Was Meant to Be?

    Helium is a privacy-focused web browser built on ungoogled Chromium that aims to deliver privacy by default without unnecessary bloat. It includes built-in uBlock Origin with Manifest V2 support, native DuckDuckGo bangs for quick searches, and Helium services to anonymize external connections. The browser stores everything locally with no sync or password manager, blocks third-party cookies by default, and enforces HTTPS. Notable features include split-view tabs and cleaner customization options. However, it's still beta software with some limitations: login issues with bundled uBlock Origin, no DRM support for streaming services, and users must bring their own solutions for password management and syncing across devices.

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    Article
    Avatar of communityCommunity Picks·1y

    I finally started using Zen browser and I should have sooner

    Zen browser stands out for its enhanced UI/UX with a vertical sidebar, smooth animations, and the Gecko rendering engine, offering an alternative to Chromium-dominated browsers. It features effective tab management using workspaces and containers, supports Firefox extensions, and is available across major desktop platforms. Zen modes allow customization through community-made plugins and themes, promising future developments.

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    Article
    Avatar of phProduct Hunt·26w

    Onyx: Free, local-first 4K screen recorder

    Onyx is a free, privacy-focused screen recorder that runs entirely in the browser without requiring cloud uploads or subscriptions. It captures studio-quality 4K video with high bitrate, storing recordings locally on your device. The tool eliminates common limitations like time restrictions and quality downgrades found in cloud-based alternatives, making it suitable for creators who need to share their work while maintaining full control over their data.

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    Article
    Avatar of communityCommunity Picks·1y

    GitHub - addyosmani/recorder: 📹 Record is an open-source web app to record screen and camera directly in your browser

    Record is an open-source web app that lets you record your screen and camera directly in your browser without any downloads or installations. It supports screen-only, screen-and-camera, or camera-only modes, and features a picture-in-picture view, customizable camera shapes, a built-in teleprompter, and MP4 conversion. It works specifically with Chrome and Chromium browsers and prioritizes privacy by keeping all recordings local.

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    Article
    Avatar of hnHacker News·39w

    A German ISP tampered with their DNS - specifically to sabotage my website

    A German developer created a website to expose blocked domains by the CUII (Copyright Clearinghouse for the Internet), a private organization that decides what websites German ISPs should block. After publishing an article about CUII's mistakes, Telefonica (o2's parent company) modified their DNS blocking mechanism, making it harder to detect blocked domains. The timing suggests this was done specifically to sabotage the transparency tool, as Telefonica first tested their own domain on the website, then changed their blocking method two hours later.

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