# This Week in Privacy [Weekly Blog Trial] **URL:** https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/this-week-in-privacy-weekly-blog-trial/15481 **Category:** Site Development **Created:** 2023-12-08T18:26:22Z **Posts:** 24 ## Post 1 by @jonah — 2023-12-08T18:26:22Z Inspired by [This Week in Matrix](https://matrix.org/category/this-week-in-matrix/) and [This Week in F-Droid](https://f-droid.org/en/2018/04/27/this-week-in-fdroid.html), I was thinking about Privacy Guides putting together a weekly blog based on community contributions. Basically every week we’d open a forum post for people to submit suggestions, and then every Sunday I’d put together a short blog post based on categories like this: - **Privacy Guides Updates** - **New Recommendations** - **Privacy News Around the World** - **Community News** Basically just a low-effort, high-impact(?) way to keep privacy on people’s minds between updates or major news stories. I’m thinking we can try it out for a month or so and then see if we feel like it has an impact or want to continue doing it. --- ## Post 2 by @jonah — 2023-12-08T18:33:41Z So our first update could be on the 10th and look something like this: * * * ## Privacy Guides Updates - We’re looking into budget Android hardware more closely. We all know Pixels are the way to go, but they can be tricky to find with a \<$200 budget. Are there any good options in this space? We’re not sure, this discussion is ongoing on our forum: [~$150 Budget Android Hardware [Suggestions Needed]](https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/150-budget-android-hardware-suggestions-needed/15399) (submitted by @jonah) ## New Recommendations - We’re adding uBlock Origin Lite to our browser extension recommendations. This change will be featured in the next website release: [Add uBlock Origin Lite (#2342) · privacyguides/privacyguides.org@5808953 · GitHub](https://github.com/privacyguides/privacyguides.org/commit/580895319951d01e6b2f962bf6528109f936afbe) (submitted by @jonah) ## Privacy News - Simple Mobile Tools was acquired by ZipoApps. This company is well known for acquiring popular apps and adding advertisements, tracking, and subscriptions. F-Droid paused automatic updates for the suite for the time being, and we’re monitoring these developments within our community: [Simple Mobile Tools to be bought by ZipoApps](https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/simple-mobile-tools-to-be-bought-by-zipoapps/15337) (submitted by @Parish2555) - Apple and Google were prevented by the U.S. Government from disclosing a program in which foreign governments were able to surveil mobile phone users through push notifications: [Apple reveals 'push notification spying' by foreign governments](https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/apple-reveals-push-notification-spying-by-foreign-governments/15440) (submitted by @Paced0594) ## Community News - Team Member @jonah published a video overview of recent changes to our Tor Overview recommendations on YouTube: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo22D-dUeCA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo22D-dUeCA) (submitted by @jonah) - Members of our community are excited to try out Beeper Mini, an “iMessage for Android” platform which actually works natively on your device, unlike Nothing’s ill-fated cloud iMessage offering. [Beeper Mini / native iMessage for Android](https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/beeper-mini-native-imessage-for-android/15414) (submitted by @Valynor) * * * And then in the future, creating these posts will be even easier because people can submit topics specifically for this weekly newsletter. --- ## Post 3 by @freddy — 2023-12-08T18:44:57Z In favour of this, but would also like to have some feedback on [13741](https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/upcoming-blog-posts/13741)… --- ## Post 4 by @jonah — 2023-12-08T19:19:34Z Given general approval in our Matrix room I’m moving this topic to #Site Development for general community feedback. And if there’s anything else you think we should add to our first weekly post, you can leave a suggestion here too. --- ## Post 5 by @anon29374801 — 2023-12-08T22:47:53Z Maybe this is silly but, is there a way to get an rss feed of this? typically I wouldn’t want forum stuff as a feed but update / blog stuff I love --- ## Post 6 by @jonah — 2023-12-08T23:12:08Z The blog already has RSS yes :+1: --- ## Post 7 by @anon73250778 — 2023-12-09T02:29:58Z With MBazell gone, my weekly dose of privacy news/opinions audio podcast is now open. --- ## Post 8 by @jonah — 2023-12-09T03:34:27Z [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1m\_\_5QdVZYwrrfLgBBAypcKMBlJtXUSP](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1m__5QdVZYwrrfLgBBAypcKMBlJtXUSP) :eyes: (not that I think this series is really a replacement for his show, although… idk, I also never listened to his show either haha) ![LwhFVLxc04EULpys](//forum-uploads.privacyguidesusercontent.com/original/2X/a/a1d50c2acc4bcebfa73775ba8cc00066f62430f8.png) --- ## Post 9 by @anon73250778 — 2023-12-09T03:44:52Z I got into this whole mess because of him. Then he closed his forums. IIRC I learned of this site from their forum (back when it was still the original PT). His topics dried up and it kind of became lonely when it was a one man show. Banter is almost always valued especially if its insightful, witty, and sometimes funny. --- ## Post 10 by @xe3 — 2023-12-09T04:28:30Z > [@anon73250778](#): > > His topics dried up and it kind of became lonely when it was a one man show. Banter is almost always valued especially if its insightful, witty, and sometimes funny. The best days in my eyes, were in the early days when Justin Carroll was cohosting the podcast. I really enjoyed the dynamic the two of them had. Much preferred it to Michael on his own, despite them getting more wrong back then, and being a bit less technically informed, that was still my favorite era, and I really enjoyed the longform interviews with notable people in the privacy space. If you haven’t already, I’d suggest you check out ‘the opt out podcast’ > [@jonah](#): > > [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1m\_\_5QdVZYwrrfLgBBAypcKMBlJtXUSP](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1m__5QdVZYwrrfLgBBAypcKMBlJtXUSP) :eyes: > > (not that I think this series is really a replacement for his show I’m looking forward to listening. Audio is my one of my favorite ways to stay informed. What niche do you intend to fill with this podcast? How do you see this fitting between the other information streams you publish or contribute to (e.g. the PG website, Techlore talks, etc)? --- ## Post 11 by @jonah — 2023-12-09T04:53:40Z I don’t know, for the next month we’ll be publishing these updates on the blog and live on YouTube, and then we’ll see how it goes from there. There’s often a few interesting topics related to whatever I’m working on with Privacy Guides which I can’t discuss on Techlore Talks, and don’t warrant a standalone video like the VPN+Tor one on [my](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHdoOrwo__5kf2qXwdyVdww) channel… stuff like talking about the advantages of an extension like uBlock Origin Lite, for example. I don’t expect I’ll find anyone who can co-host these weekly shows, so I’ll just be experimenting to see if it’s even interesting at all. > [@xe3](#): > > How do you see this fitting between the other information streams you publish or contribute to I see PG as guides/recommendations, TT as an opinion show, and _this show_ as news, basically. The show will basically just be re-hashing [topics like these](https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/this-week-in-privacy-weekly-blog-trial/15481/2) in audio format though, nothing too fancy beyond that. Probably. --- ## Post 12 by @anon73250778 — 2023-12-09T04:53:57Z what time will you stream again? (also TZ as well) Maybe get a co-host? Are there any other non-camera shy members from the team? --- ## Post 13 by @jonah — 2023-12-09T04:58:29Z _Hopefully_ 9:00 PM - Finding a regular co-host is looking very unlikely, but we’ll see. --- ## Post 14 by @xe3 — 2023-12-09T05:20:28Z > [@jonah](#): > > stuff like talking about the advantages of an extension like uBlock Origin Lite, for example. I was just beginning to [refresh](https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2022/05/18/manifest-v3-in-firefox-recap-next-steps/) my memory on the broader topic of Manifest V2 and V3 (beyond Google’s misuse of MV3). Pros/cons of V3, as well as differences between Google, Apple, and Mozilla’s approach to it. If you have read up on this, I would enjoy hearing your thoughts about Manifest V3 broadly, either as part of the uBOL video or on its own. --- ## Post 15 by @jonah — 2023-12-09T05:26:57Z nooooo I was saying I _won’t_ be making a standalone uBOL video :laughing: Maybe I’ll talk about it on the stream tomorrow though when I talk about why we are adding uBOL to the site recommendations. I also posted 4 replies to this thread in Techlore’s community about MV3 if you want to read, but this’ll basically be what I cover in the stream. > **[Chrome’s next weapon in the War on Ad Blockers: Slower extension updates](https://discuss.techlore.tech/t/chrome-s-next-weapon-in-the-war-on-ad-blockers-slower-extension-updates/6240)** > > In addition to hamstringing Chrome’s extension platform with no real user-centric justifications, Manifest V3 will also put roadblocks up before extension updates, which will delay an extension developer’s ability to quickly respond to changes.... --- ## Post 16 by @lepras — 2023-12-09T05:53:27Z will really enjoy this, thank you. --- ## Post 17 by @anon73250778 — 2023-12-09T05:57:34Z I’m watching your latest Techlore Talks right now and I must say, you should probably wishlist for a fancier microphone for Christmas :sweat_smile: You should probably copy what Henry is doing with his setup, particularly his audio processing/post-processing. There are times where your voice is clear but it sort of clips(?) when you are talking louder. --- ## Post 18 by @jonah — 2023-12-09T17:23:27Z Hey listen, Henry does all the audio processing and editing for that show :joy: edit: oh actually yeah the audio on the last episode _was_ pretty bad, I’ve been having a lot of problems with my setup lol --- ## Post 19 by @xe3 — 2023-12-09T19:48:27Z > [@jonah](#): > > nooooo I was saying I _won’t_ be making a standalone uBOL video :laughing: :man_facepalming: As I recently reminded myself and everyone else in another thread: > [@](#): > > _edit: sorry, sometimes i can be very dense._ :smile: --- ## Post 20 by @anon85295620 — 2023-12-09T20:46:19Z I had no idea PG has a blog. It’s been added to my rss. --- ## Post 21 by @anon73250778 — 2023-12-09T21:35:30Z You sounded good on your first stream! Also, what’s the engagement channel supposed to be? We sort of dont want to use Google… --- ## Post 22 by @xe3 — 2023-12-09T22:25:46Z I see what you are going for now, I like it. Basically a weekly recap of what is going on with PG, on forums, and what is going on in Privacy. I think this has value. On a more humorous note: here is what the YT algorithm thinks of you (or your viewers), this is the video that plays directly after yours on youtube (on my end at least): ![Screenshot from 2023-12-09 14-17-47](//forum-uploads.privacyguidesusercontent.com/original/2X/1/1429db928dcdd6ae3270c38abe4a653b33850275.jpeg) --- ## Post 24 by @freddy — 2023-12-10T23:43:51Z You never know…