TL;DR
A writer reframes privacy concerns as questions of control and outlines a personal setup intended to reduce third-party influence over their digital life. The piece lists tools and practices for passwords, messaging, phones, email, browsing, calendars and DNS, and discloses the author's employment at Cloudflare.
What happened
In a reflective post published on December 25, 2025, the author argues that conversations about privacy are more usefully framed around control — who can shape how you experience information, influence what you see, or affect your choices. They say everyday services (email, messaging, social media, password managers) hand control to large companies whose incentives may not align with users. To reclaim control, the author describes a personal configuration: a local-first calendar on a Raspberry Pi using Sabre/Baikal, a self-hosted personal domain for email routed through Tuta, and a password store managed with GNU pass (with Bitwarden suggested for better UI). For messaging they prefer Signal but still rely on WhatsApp occasionally; Venmo is disabled. On mobile they run GrapheneOS and install apps from F-Droid. The author also discloses working at Cloudflare and uses Cloudflare Registrar and 1.1.1.1 DNS based on trust in incentive alignment.
Why it matters
- Framing privacy as control clarifies concrete threats like censorship, ad influence, and manipulation of information flows.
- Relying on mainstream services can concentrate control with companies whose business models may conflict with user interests.
- Adopting alternative tools or self-hosting can increase freedom to switch providers and limit third-party access to personal data.
- Device and software choices (OS, app sources) can extend hardware life and reduce dependence on large platform vendors.
Key facts
- The author recommends thinking about 'control' rather than using the word 'privacy' alone.
- Password management: the author uses GNU pass, avoids syncing passwords to phones, and suggests Bitwarden for a friendlier UI.
- Messaging: Signal is preferred; WhatsApp is still used as an exception for staying connected; Venmo is disabled.
- Mobile: the author runs GrapheneOS, installs apps from F-Droid, and highlights granular permission and sandbox controls.
- Battery and longevity claim: disabling Google Play and location services reportedly improves battery life and keeps older phones usable.
- Email: the author uses a personal domain for email addresses and currently uses Tuta as the provider instead of self-hosting.
- Calendar and contacts: hosted locally on a Raspberry Pi using Sabre/Baikal and synced to a phone with DAVx⁵; access limited to localhost.
- Domain and DNS: the author switched to Cloudflare Registrar (disclosing Cloudflare employment) and uses Cloudflare's 1.1.1.1 DNS due to trust in incentives.
- Resources cited include two Ars Technica articles about platform behavior and a linked talk on privacy/control.
What to watch next
- Whether the author eventually adopts the Passage password manager they mentioned wanting to try: not confirmed in the source
- Broader uptake of GrapheneOS and F-Droid among everyday users versus reliance on stock Android/iOS ecosystems: not confirmed in the source
- Changes in registrar pricing or DNS provider policies that might affect the author's provider choices: not confirmed in the source
Quick glossary
- Control (in digital context): The ability to determine who accesses, shapes, or influences your data, the content you see, and how your digital identity is used.
- Password manager: A tool that stores and autofills passwords so users can maintain unique, complex credentials without memorizing them.
- GrapheneOS: A privacy- and security-focused mobile operating system for Android devices that emphasizes sandboxing and granular permission controls.
- F-Droid: An open-source app repository for Android that distributes free and open-source applications outside of centralized app stores.
- DNS (Domain Name System): A system that translates human-readable domain names into IP addresses; DNS providers may offer performance and privacy features.
Reader FAQ
Is privacy just about hiding wrongdoing?
The author rejects that framing and reframes the concern as control over how others influence and observe your digital life.
Should I host my own email and calendar?
The author uses a personal domain and local calendar hosting but says they chose an email provider (Tuta) instead of running a self-hosted mail server.
Does the author recommend Cloudflare because they work there?
The author discloses working at Cloudflare and says they switched to Cloudflare Registrar for price reasons and uses Cloudflare DNS based on trust in incentives.
Is WhatsApp avoided entirely?
No — the author prefers Signal but notes WhatsApp remains necessary for staying connected with some contacts.
On privacy and control 2025-12-25 "I don't need to care about privacy because I have nothing to hide." is an argument that I have heard countless times. I found this…
Sources
- On privacy and control
- Strategies to Help Protect Your Digital Footprint
- Control Your Privacy: 6 Practical Steps You Can Take …
- Learn to take control of your info during Data Privacy Week
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