The "privacy" provided by so-called private browsing mode is just a smokescreen considering how much device fingerprinting is going on. And widespread surveillance of the Internet backbone not just by intelligence agencies but now private organisations like Team Cymru.
It would be better if we spent the resources on a next generation anonymity network to replace Tor, or some kind of alternative data transport like radio or satellite, which can still be used by small niche communities of free speech activists, for example... A one way data broadcasting system, sending compressed text only, provides near complete anonymity for those receiving it. However as it necessitates buying receiver hardware, it doesn't get very much traction.
Having a local copy of an entire ebook archive is one way we can find information without having to use the Internet. Thus we can avoid being subjected to mass surveillance, which is excellent. I wonder if the archive is full text searchable?
Finally an alternative to this Orwellian nightmare we call the Internet. Can't wait to have a copy at home, and there will probably be times where I'll be pulling the plug on the router with relief. And it's one more step towards reducing my Internet usage, thus keeping the government and corporations out of my life.
I don't think that VPNs are any good at protecting privacy nowadays... Maybe Tor or I2P just might work.
Team Cymru are collecting flow records from backbone routers worldwide, with the permission of the ISPs. They claim to be able to trace through VPNs by simply looking at the timing of flows.
https://www.team-cymru.com/pure-signal-recon-threat-hunting-...
Perhaps we should try experimenting with satellite or radio data broadcasting? Just send highly compressed text to make it low bandwidth? Then anyone can receive the stream without intelligence agencies from finding out. Ever. Assuming it's a receiver that cannot physically be connected to a network. Bye bye NSA and GCHQ surveillance... For good this time.
My biggest concern regarding GitHub Copilot is that it is cloud based and opens up our previously private coding activities to continuous surveillance by third-parties.
It's only a matter of time before intelligence agencies will get their hands on the data. And if use of Copilot becomes an industry wide practice then those who wish to preserve their privacy will become uncompetitive.
I really hope we have some decent offline alternatives eventually.