The fight begins. Organizations and tools to fight for Democracy.
Last edited Thu Dec 12, 2024, 11:21 AM - Edit history (2)
Title: The fight begins. Organizations and tools to fight for Democracy.Version 20241211a
This is just a start, and the idea is to regularly update it and kick it.
Random actions aren't going to have much effect.
I suggest that existing organizations (to be listed) coordinate efforts so that actions have real impact and can't be just ignored.
An example is the Activist Calendar at protest.net
https://protest.net/
Second, there are electronic tools to help each of us
• Communicate more safely with each other,
• Coordinate, and
• Share
I have followed riseup.net for some time, as an open-source software advocate, and plan to explain the software and services they offer. Their services are online, and only their own VPN software needs installation.
I can't say more today because, logically, you have to sign up for services, and they are not visible to the public, as DU is. Burt I'll say more over time. When, not if, this page gets too long, I'll split it up or post elsewhere where it can be organized and linked, perhaps in a wiki fashion.
• First order of business: VPN
There is a VPN comparison table here:
https://vpns.gg/
Riseup.net offers one of their own:
https://riseup.net/en/vpn
For Linux, Mac, Windows and Android
iOS makes this very difficult to do, but if your home router has VPN capability, your non-cellular traffic also will have it, (more later)
VPN's have limitations, please note:
https://riseup.net/en/vpn/limitations
• Second order of business: Secure Messaging.
I use Signal Messenger right now. People don't like that it has a low adoption rate compared to encrypted messaging like WhatsApp, but I can't trust Meta as far as I can fart into the wind.
SIgnal has grown up and allows encrypted group calls
https://signal.org/blog/how-to-build-encrypted-group-calls/
and lots more. It doesn't need your phone number as a user ID any more. You can pick a name.
https://signal.org/#signal
• Third order of business: Securing your computer, data and traffic.
First item is using Tor, a.k.a. Onion.
https://www.torproject.org/
Downloads are for Linux, Mac, Windows and Android
Onion browsers do exist for iOS.
As of this writing, only Orbot is free without in-app purchases, and maybe one or two are "pay once". (more to come)
Second item is the TAILS distro.
https://tails.net/
Tails is a portable operating system that protects against surveillance and censorship.
Linux, Mac and Windows.
"Installation" instructions are given. This is the general idea (mac and windows) Linux differs in one step (using dd instead of Balena etcher)
Big Deal: TAILS boots and runs from a USB stick. This used to be a DVD and still is if you have an optical disk.
Note: Mac Tails is for intel only. Find a use for that old mac you abandoned for M-series Apple Silicon.
More Info:
EFF
https://www.eff.org/
Privacy is a key topic and lots of advice is here:
https://www.eff.org/issues/privacy
That's all for now. More to come.
If you've got valuable input, please reply to this OP.
Permission to clone and update is given.
I don't use Github (because Microsoft owns it and runs copilot on it)
We can discuss "pull requests"
EDIT 1
There is some overlap.
• Tor creates a VPN for your browsing, not all your activity.
• Tails is an entire operating system that does not trash your existing operating system. Tails includes a Tor browser.
• A VPN encrypts (secures) all your computer activity. Some sites may balk and not operate well. See the caveat above.
• As for cellular devices, for now, use a Tor/onion browser and secure messaging (like Signal or apple-apple or android-android messaging. (Do not mix)) since data and text messages go straight to your ISP/tower and the entire device cannot be secured, only individual apps with end to end encryption.
• I'll shorten this post for non techies, or just list some brief guidelines. "The Internet is one tough town" and the bad guys are well-armed to take away your privacy.
• Right now, I only discussed tools. Organizations and Services will be added.
= new reply since forum marked as read
and 
I possess the technical IQ of about 10, but I know someone who really knows what he's doing, and I'm going to have him come over and help me do all of these things.
Some of the items duplicate each other, but a techie can unravel what is best based on your needs.
I doubt that you are a journalist working in hostile territory, but you might be and I won't ask. 
One, I would never be in hostile territory. Two, if I were a journalist, I would have probably quit my job, and tried to find a place where they still have courage and print the truth.
I have a neighbor/friend who works in IT. In his off hours, he helps folks in the neighborhood when they have computer or phone issues. Charges a very minimal fee. I'm going to need help with both, because I'm going to be switching from an Android to an iPhone. And my computer is sorely in need of updating. So I think he's going to more than earn some money! 
I bookmarked your OP. I'm going to hand my phone to him and say 'do this!' 
Then again, HE actually might be hostile. I'm not sure of his politics. Might have to take notes from what you wrote and just hand him a piece of paper!