Are so called Alternatives to Facebook really private or secure!

[Gurudatt]

WeareChange.org an alternative news site has come out with a list of some interesting alternatives to the mainstream social networks.

http://wearechange.org/alternatives-to-the-big-3/

Would like to invite members to suggest any other working alternatives.

One of the sites mentioned in this list is my own viz. Invisocial

I have checked the other sites on the list such as Minds.com which was favored by the Anonymous group. But I have found that Minds is not at all private or secure.

To know if any social network is private type site:sitename.com in Google Search. In the case of Minds.com type site:minds.com

Likewise, you may type site:invisocial.net and you can see the comparison in search results.

Regarding how secure a social network is, check out which social network's Forget My Password option asks you to provide an email address to which the password reset link will be sent!

All the site has to do to get into your account is change the email address on their record to one of their own. So does not matter how secure and encrypted the data is, if there is a backdoor anyone can take advantage of this.

So we hear a lot of PR about WhatsApp and Facebook employing end to end encryption. But what use are these if they can still get into your account through a backdoor.

With regards to my own site Invisocial, though I have implemented many security features and highlighter the Technology used, even my site was take down by the hosting service provider for reasons they later apologized.

And many a secure solutions have shut down because hosting providers under pressure from Big Brother have disabled their accounts.

Thus the only other alternatives are Peer to Peer secure communication applications but most of them require to be installed on the operating system such as Windows which does not inspire much confidence.

And there are others that offer more security but are difficult to be used by most people.

So the question is are there really any alternatives to the mainstream online services?

[Trail]

But why would one need an alternative to facebook? is your only concern the fact that the goverment keeps track of everything you do?
How can a social site ever be secure, if the purpose is to be seen and found by so called 'friends' ?
I do not have an instagram, facebook, or twitter account, simply because i think it's all just a bunch of shallow bollocks.
I get saddened by people, especially young kids, who are identifying themselves with their facebook image more than their real life.
I boycot facebook for a thousand reasons, not just because its a 3 letter agency's wet dream.
I do not feel a need to discover an alternative for that.

I must admit i use whatsapp purely for its convenience, because 'everyone has it', i'd like an alternative for that.

yes yes it's about time for the world to move to linux I still run windows 7 and i think it will be my last windows OS. Once that is no longer maintained, i might go for linux and maybe run a virtual windows on top of it so i can run programs that are not compatible with linux, but in a much more secure linux environment.

SSH, RSA, Blowfish, 128/256/512 bit encription.. it is just to put our minds at ease knowing that 99.9% of the normal people cannot access what you would like to keep private. However, to the government, its a red flag, and using quantum computing they can crack that in microseconds and will store whatever you like to hide, just because you tried to hide it.

Nothing is safe. Keyboard strokes can be listened in on by using the power lines! Even your mind can be read remotely. Even after the fact. I'm not sure what you want to achieve but.. its best to accept the inevitable.. We are controlled, and it will only get worse from here on once they go public with these technologies and are presenting it to use as a way to keep us safe from terrorists.. the thought police is comming..

~T.

[Cardillac]

@Trail

I couldn't agree with you more;

"Nothing is safe. Keyboard strokes can be listened in on by using the power lines! Even your mind can be read remotely"- no kidding-

supposedly in the past all keyboard strokes could be traced but not mouse clicks- IF true they've gotten around mouse clicks: it's called a lap-top without a mouse-

" We are controlled, and it will only get worse from here on once they go public with these technologies and are presenting it to use as a way to keep us safe from terrorists.. the thought police is comming.. "- no kidding- but the thought police is already there- it's just that most are not aware of it yet-

be well-

Larry

[Gurudatt]

@ Trail @ Cardillac

You are both right. There is no such as hack proof secure connection or computer environment. However, security and privacy are two different issues though connected.

Let me explain. A hacker for example can get your email address and other details about yourself from a social network that cares a fig about privacy. And the same hacker can then use that piece of information against and harm you in more than one way. As an example. the hacker can then use your email address (not necessary to login to your email account) and send a bomb threat and cops will come knocking at your door.

If you are important enough criminal hackers can use your private information (marked only for special friends) posted on social networks to have a kim Kardashian like heist or spread malicious stuff among your social circle causing you negative publicity.

Yes you are game for hackers/spies, if you are not careful about what operating system you use, how you use the Internet, your computer, downloading software, movies, porn, email attachments etc. Specially if you have downloaded games/apps on your smartphone without properly verifying the developer.

As an example. I use a feature phone for making and taking calls with no apps, no games. And for internet surfing I use a Tablet that has no personal information about me. I never use public Wifi specially if it is free. I always use my own portable mobile internet for out of base connections. And for overseas, I purchase temp cards that do not ask too much personal information.

The other thing is what you do on the Internet. If you are careless with your language or words then you may become a target. For example instead of using the word NSA or CIA, you can say three letter agencies or big brother when posting a damning comment on social networks or by email.

Do not use your personal identity with something that identifies your location. For example a GPS mapping app.

And all these precautions are to be taken just because all the big telecom providers and social networks do not care about privacy or security. Most recent being the story about Yahoo having given a free hand to security agencies with their email accounts. No wonder they got hacked.

Use obscure communication, email, social networking (like invisicial.net) tools instead of the most popular ones.

And take a backup of your computer data (use a secure online service preferably rather than something physical) so if you need to trash your computer you can have everything back on the new one.

Yes, even after doing all of this there is nothing that is 100% secure and one small mistake can overturn all the measures you have taken. Something silly like sharing your computer with a friend.