# What hardware NOT to buy?

**URL:** https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/what-hardware-not-to-buy/35076
**Category:** Questions
**Tags:** please-eli5
**Created:** 2026-01-31T00:30:27Z
**Posts:** 3

## Post 1 by @Dynahila — 2026-01-31T00:30:27Z

As far as I remember PG does not recommend any hardware aside of some particular phones (and I think I understand why) so I wanted to ask: what hardware (from the last 3 years at least) should I avoid? I was thinking in some simple advices, like hardware that is known for having some kind of telemetry/spyware (like those .exe files that are installed when the hardware detects that you are using Windows and runs it) or any other kind of privacy-related problems (maybe they ping some server when turned on, bypassing the OS firewall?).

Maybe there is a list out there for this that someone can provide, and if not, I think that there could be one for “what to avoid” when the opposite is not possible, at least for beginners. I’m interested in PC/Laptops right now, but it would be useful to know what other devices (brand, model, year) are known to spy on you by design, to avoid them entirely.

---

## Post 2 by @Stiffly2505 — 2026-01-31T01:30:20Z

If you plan to run Linux, I’d recommend not buying things that aren’t on one of these lists:

- [Certified hardware | Ubuntu](https://ubuntu.com/certified)
- [Red Hat certified hardware - Red Hat Ecosystem Catalog](https://catalog.redhat.com/en/hardware)

Which list it’s on doesn’t matter, all distros have about the same drivers & support. If you get a device from those, you can be fairly certain that you won’t have compatibility issues.

Security aspects have quite a bit more depth, so I’ll refrain commenting on that. If security is the main goal, best is to avoid PCs/Laptops in general, as the whole thing is a mess.

---

## Post 3 by @IsItJustMe — 2026-01-31T02:33:23Z

@Stiffly2505

I agree about laptops and PC’s being a mess…

I have a newer laptop I’m considering selling and have an old one kickingvaround should I need it for something.

Everything I do is on my phone anyways. Especially having a monitor and docking station for it in desktop mode.