Not even Whatsapp is Private anymore!

Paul1 Reply
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Whatsapp and Privacy

I’ve been using whatsapp for 2 years now and never thought a thing about it.  Recently I have been logging into Whatsapp and seeing the Facebook logo on the start screen of it on my mobile device.  Facebook bought Whatsapp in February 2014 about 6 years ago.   So I didn’t know about this until recently when they decided to update the apps on Google Play.  We all thought Whatsapp was end to end encryption.   Then I had Facebook ads start showing stuff that I didn’t even talk about or say anything on the Fb messenger.   I won’t explain what as been showing up with it because I want to keep my life private but I will say it’s a little disconcerning.   There’s even a post from another blogger named Sk babu about this such problem.  Is our encrypted message being unencrypted by Facebook and bots and people reading our messages.  

Should I stop using Whatsapp?

This has been a sour point with me and keeping my conversations with friends private.   Many bloggers around the world are suggesting we stop using Whatsapp because Facebook will sooner or later embed content moderation into our conversations.   So how are they going to do that if it is encrypted.   Simple, they have the master key to all encrypted content.   WhatsApp even said some of this in their blog posting 2016.

But by coordinating more with Facebook, we’ll be able to do things like track basic metrics about how often people use our services and better fight spam on WhatsApp. And by connecting your phone number with Facebook’s systems, Facebook can offer better friend suggestions and show you more relevant ads if you have an account with them.

Metrics and Phone Numbers?

What metrics is Facebook and Whatsapp tracking?  I can imagine if it’s end to end encryption that they can track much.   If this is really being tracked then how are they doing this?  Why would I want to connect my phone number to Facebook, if I wanted to be a private about this with other such applications.   It is really concerning in my mind and thus I want to move from WhatsApp to another app.

3 Apps that Might be an alternative to Whatsapp

I’ve been searching Google play and I have come up with a list of apps that look promising and these are:

  • Threema —  I was drawn to this app because it has a ranged of security features such as Trusted Contacts, and Highest level of encryption.  I do see a small set back is that it cost money to buy the program.  So there is that but I like that it has a level of trust for people by verify there identity with a qr code.
  • Signal Private Messaging App —  This is an open sourced and uses Open Whisper Systems.   It is also free but there isn’t much way to verify someone on Signal but it is secure and you can keep private by routing your calls through the server to avoid your ip from showing.  I’ve tried and it looks promising.
  • Telegram — I’ve used telegram from gaming and other such activities and I am impressed with it but there is much to desired by it because you can’t verify anyone’s identity without your Telephone number.

These are three that I recommend and have used 2 out of the 3.  I might just buy Threema and check it out and tell you what I think.   Do you have a secure messaging app that you want to recommend.  Why not leave a comment and tell me your experiences on it!

Windows 7 End of life – What you need to know!

Paul
Photo by Max DeRoin from Pexels

Goodbye Window’s 7!

As of January 14, 2020, Microsoft has issued the End of Life (EOL) for the popular Windows Operating System.  This has been coming for years and most tech enthusiasts knew about this and prepared their system for this date.   If you haven’t know this until you turned saw that dreaded screen that talked about it being end for Windows 7.   You’ll probably asking what does that mean and why is Windows telling me this.   I will explain it to you and what you need to know!

No Windows 7 Support

When Microsoft issues this than it means that you will no longer get any Windows 7 updates and any programs you download and install will not be supported by Microsoft to run on Windows 7.   You are still mostly protected by having all the updates installed on your system but you will no longer be getting any security updates or have to worry about needing to reboot due to updates, since you are no longer getting them.  In the short term, there isn’t much to worry about and you can run windows just like every else with no worries.

In the long run, you will need to consider just how long you plan to use Window’s 7 and if you plan to keep the system for a really long time if your hardware can support Window’s 10. If you plan to install Windows 10 than I wouldn’t wait no more than a year!

What if you Don’t want to install Window’s 10?

You can always keep Windows 7 for as long as you own your system but the longer you use the more likely some hackers will find flaws in the system and exploit the system.  Just like Windows XP it was a strong system but as it got older and not updated we started seeing exploits in the system that brought viruses and Trojans to the system.  So I will give you some other operating system that you can use instead Window’s 10!

Linux Operating Systems

I personally use Linux on old systems that can still be used for everything.   Most of the Linux systems I recommend are all new user friendly and you can really quickly know where to go as soon as you start using it.   Most of the Linux systems that I will recommend have Windows Similarity.   You will probably have to learn how to use it a little more than you would with Windows operating system but they can be learned quickly enough.

Linux Mint

An Ubuntu version that is highly modified to look even more like Windows than the original.  I’ve found this system to be the best of both worlds.   You can run everything you want on it with very little configuration and it works really well.   It will run like Windows and update like windows without much prompting if you so desire it to,

Ubuntu

Ubuntu is a good system for those who aren’t completely novices when it comes to Linux.   Most of the time I find Ubuntu to be a little more rigid than I like but I does what I like when I want it to.   I still prefer Linux Mint because of how well it does with looking like a Windows Operating system.   You can do everything in Ubuntu as you can with Linux Mint but you don’t have to do it manually and move stuff after installation. 

These are the main two that I suggest to new users to Linux but if you want to see if there is one that you like more than another.   You can go to Distrowatch and check out each Linux and download and try them as you wish.   Each one has their own unique qualities and does essentially the same thing.   Most of them a Free to download and free to use but a few require payment just like Microsoft and Apple to use for long term.   They however do let you try them out for free most of the time.  I do recommend you install them on a USB and use them on USB and play around with them until you figure out which one you like to install.   If you are using a Windows system, you can use a program like YUMI to install multiple Linux Distros on a USB and try them out at your leisure.  Have Fun!

Got a favorite Linux operating system why not leave a comment and talk about why you like it.   Don’t Forget to subscribe to receive updates on my website.   

How to Cope with being in LDR!

Paul
Photo by Helena Lopes from Pexels

Distance is Hard!

Every day you are talking with your girlfriend or boyfriend.   It’s hard, lonely and even downright depressing.   I’ve been experiencing this since I left her a few weeks ago.   You get depressed and start missing them because you were so happy together and thinking about how nice and great it was to be with them or something like that.  Each person is really different so I am sure it is different for every person.   I figured I would write about my experiences and help with the distance who might be experiencing these things!

Constant Sadness

After the visit with your girlfriend or boyfriend, you will be sad and maybe even need to cry.   It can be quiet hard to get out of bed and start the lonely routines that you had before you he/she came and now you are wondering how do you get through it.  

  • Create Goals —  I’ve found creating goals can be a tremendous help with fighting the Sadness and putting your mindset on something. 
  • Find friends — Another good way to get past the constant sadness is finding friends to talk about this because you won’t feel so lonely.
  • Schedule the next Trip — If you can start thinking about  the next trip and keeping your mind positive is very important in an LDR.

These are just a few that I can think of right now but I am sure if you are looking for more ways to cope with the distance you can google it.   

Other ways to Deal with it!

Now before I talk about this,  I am no doctor so do this at your own risk.   I know it helps me so I thought I would at least mention these and let you decide if you want to try this.   I strongly recommend you talk to your doctor before you try some of the the herbal remedies:

 Amazon Affiliate links!  If you want to help support this site please click away but if not you can find these on amazon by just searching for them!

  • Ashwagandha 450mg — I’ve been talking this for the past few weeks and my mood has been generally better.   So you can try it yourself.
  • Gaba 750mg —   This is a naturally produced in the brain and an Amino Acid.   It helps to calm my mind at night but I also have been using it in the morning due to the LDR.  So it works really well for me from being moody!
  • L-Theanine 200mg —  It can be found in any sleep formula but I also like to take this at night to help with my sleeping because you know how your mind likes to keep you awake.   This one is really good also for LDR but should be used at night only.

These are what I do to help with the who Long Distance sadness and missing her but I am sure there are even more things you can do to get through those long periods of not being together physically!  If you have tips and tricks and want to share just leave them in the comments section.   Remember to subscribe to my blog for even more stuff about LDRS!  

I’m Back! It’s Been a while!

Paul
The Ruins
The Ruins of Talisay, Negros Occidental, (Copyright by me) All Rights are mine!

8 Years!

It’s been such a long time since I started this blog in 2006 or so. I can’t even remember when I did this! Well Let’s start off by talking about what I have been doing since I ended this blog in 2012. I started my business and traveled half away around the world! That part is special to me, but I am not done with this journey. I decided to start blogging again for reasons that are mine! I am going to go back to the basics with this blog.

Back to Basics!

I’ve decided to go back to basics and blog about stuff that are common problems in Windows and Linux systems. I am currently just going to build my blog from what I know. It should be interesting and challenging all in one. This will be the best blog ever! I intend to find content and introduce my own content later on! I just need to start blogging. I will be working on other things in my life. My love life, my house life, and traveling . So you will get a unique perspective of my life. It should be interesting and challenging to say the least.

My old blog posts!

I don’t know if I kept my old blog post backed up but if I find them, I’ll be uploading them into this server sometime in the coming weeks! You can find some of it at paulstechtalk.squarespace.com, It will become more and more personalized in the coming weeks and month but I am going to put more time into this than I can to build my audience and readers. So until then keep coming back and telling your friends that I am back!

The Bittersweet Taste of a LDR

Paul
affection afterglow backlit blur
Photo by luizclas on Pexels.com

The Struggles are REAL!

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The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman

I can’t state this enough for anyone who is reading this.   Long Distance relationships are extremely hard.  I could talk about the Upsides to an LDR and even the Downsides of a Long Distance relationship and if you haven’t been in one than this would be meaningless or maybe you can get an inkling of just how hard it is.  Either way, if you are here you either experiencing this or want to know what you are getting into before you go find a girl or boy to be in an LDR.

Each relationship is different and it can because of each others needs.   I love the book the 5 Love Languages By Gary Chapman(Amazon Affiliate) and I suggest this to anyone who might be in a relationship long distance or not because it will help you to understand your needs and their needs or wants in any given relationship.

The Touch is the hardest!

For those with the need to touch and be touched.   This is extremely difficult because it is a basic need of our human experience and needs.  You may not know how hard it is if touch is low on your 5 love languages but others might be high or why higher because they want to feel the love from their partner.   Sometimes the first meeting is all about that touch because you might of been talking to them for months or even years and ant to feel them to connect to a higher level.   That is normal for those starting out on this long distance relationships.

Communication is crucial!

51bwjxunfnlWhether this is your first relationship or several, most people don’t communicate as well as they should and that can be another bittersweet problem.   You learn to communicate even more than ever before.   You learn to talk about your feelings and wants to them in ways you never thought you would.   This is really difficult to those who never have done this and it’s a real learning experience to those who want this to be their last relationship.   If you are going into this relationship expecting it to fail than you might as well just leave now and not even try.

You try Harder than a Normal relationship!

You will find out that you will work harder with this relationship than if you had them down the street or in your area.   You will find that you have to work at this one because of the distance.   They will have anxieties, need reassurance, or know they are loved and you will want that some time also. Each time you talk to them you will find out even more about them you probably ever did with the relationships locally.   You probably know their likes, and dislikes and have talked to them constantly because of the distance factor.   You probably already know them better than you have ever imagined.

You must be Creative!

You will find that you will be more creative in how you try to be with that relationship.   You will want to watch videos on Youtube or maybe some other service like Netflix.   If they are international than this will be harder.   You can watch movies and shows from a service like Rabb.it but I find it is harder to do it.  Sending post mail from time to time with themes is another good way to be creative.   You can search youtube or the Web and find out others ways to be creative.

It can be expensive but I have already talked about that in my previous blog post.   You can save money if you know when to buy the tickets and stuff for flights but I won’t get to much more into that one.     These are just a few that I have found that make it so bittersweet, you will have other ones that I might of missed but I am sure it is different for each of us.   I can’t wait to see my girlfriend again.   In the end it’s all worth it.