Haven’t read the blog yet, but I advocate for minimalism in general. I am not familiar with the “one device” trend in minimalism, especially in relation to privacy, but I think that a better way to look at this is not minimizing the amount of devices you need, but the day-to-day activities you do.
If I am trying to find the one device that fits all of my needs, it will be difficult because I am presumably not changing the needs of my day-to-day activities. One device for the same amount of needs = difficult. But if I change my day-to-day activities such that my needs lower, I will naturally minimize my amount of devices.
For example, if I watch YouTube, browse Twitter and Reddit, use Twitch, scroll through TikTok, (etc), then it will be difficult to minimize the amount of devices (and services) I need to use. But once I choose to stop doing all of that, it becomes easy. The issue now becomes a social/institutional issue: How much can I trim away while still being able to normally operate in society? I have personally found it easy, but some may find it more difficult (or perhaps more easy). You never know until you try. If anything, there’s less of an “attack surface” or “threat vector” you need to worry about.
I do have cards but for smaller shops, those popup street stalls usually doesn’t have card reader. They only accept payment digitally via scanning qrcodes linked to bank accounts. I guess its due to cost, the card reader would cost more than few cents to print the qr.
I can’t really do the one-device-for- everything gig since I am cursed by WhatsApp. Can’t put food on the table without WhatsApp where I live, and any device with WhatsApp and a sim/number, I deem dirty. Doesn’t matter if it’s Graphene handling OS duties or Rethink segregating WhatsApp to cellular data only. Still dirty!!
Ironically, the iPad mini I’m typing this post on might be my cleanest mobile device. Wifi only, full time VPN, no identifiable info in the AppleID (payments made using iTunes gift cards bought in cash), location services disabled (I’m screwed if I lose it though, because no FindMy), relatively clean apps installed, lockdown mode enabled, advanced data protection enabled. Not perfect, since I’m obviously giving Apple some data points but hopefully they’ll use my Apple Music listening history to develop better taste in curation. I do feel old using this thing though, thanks to it still having a screen refresh rate from the Cretaceous period.
While I tried the ‘one device’ method for a bit, this is why I prefer separate devices. I have to use Microsoft Teams for work, and would hate to have that integrated in my personal system.
Even on there it seems opinions are divided. I have a feeling ‘custom ROM’ to describe alternative android-based operating systems is already embedded in privacy discourse. I heard it the other day on a podcast. Whether correct or not, language evolves through its use.
The problem with the one device for everything approach is that you have a single point of failure. If your device break or get stolen you’re pretty much in dire straights.
Unless you have a good backup setup, but naturally, not everyone can be expected to maintain that. Getting a mobile OS stolen would also be more secure than getting a desktop OS stolen.
A backup is always essential but if you have no other device other than the stolen one, good luck logging in your bank account or email in a timely manner to take appropriate measures.
I don’t think there’s really any privacy benefits for doing this, but I can imagine some significant issues if you were meeting someone and they were late or had to call to say they couldn’t make it.
I do practice the minimalism thing to some extent, as in I don’t have a tonne of apps installed because simply its usually easier to do work on a laptop/pc and i usually want to play games on a pc where i have full size screen and keyboard - things a phone cannot offer.
When I am out I might read something like some news on my phone but only when I have nothing else to do. The only “social media” I have on my phone is email signal, and a minimal matrix account that I use with close friends/family.
My main privacy secret of course is self control. Having multiple phones and lacking self control I think would be a pain in the ass as you’d have to make sure they’re charged etc, and also buy more devices than you otherwise need and have active SIM etc. The only exception to that rule is a device that is not owned by you, and may be fully surveilled by the actual owner such as employer.