Okay, let’s chat about something that’s been bugging me lately - and I bet it’s been on your mind too. You know how it feels like every time you turn around, some big tech company is trying to sneak a peek at your data? It’s like, “Dude, back off! That’s my personal stuff!” Well, I’ve got some good news for you. I’ve set up a bunch of free services on my site that’ll let you do all your favorite online stuff without feeling like you’re being watched 24/7. Cool, right?

Why Should You Care About Privacy, Anyway?

Look, I get it. Sometimes it feels like privacy is a lost cause. I mean, we’re all out here posting selfies and tweeting our every thought. But here’s the thing - there’s a big difference between sharing what you want and having companies snoop through your digital life without your say-so.

Think about it:

  1. Ever feel like your phone is listening to you? (Spoiler: it probably is)
  2. Annoyed by those creepy ads that seem to know exactly what you were just talking about?
  3. Worried about some random hacker getting their hands on your personal info?

Yeah, me too. That’s why I decided to do something about it. And no, I’m not going to tell you to move to a cabin in the woods with no internet (though sometimes that sounds pretty tempting, doesn’t it?).

The Privacy-Friendly Playground: My Free Services

Alright, let’s get to the good stuff. I’ve set up some awesome services that let you do all your usual online shenanigans, but without the whole “selling your soul to the tech giants” thing. Let’s break ‘em down:

1. PeerTube: YouTube Without the “You” Being Tracked

First up, we’ve got PeerTube. Think of it as YouTube’s chill, privacy-respecting cousin. Here’s why it’s cool:

  • It’s decentralized, which is a fancy way of saying no single big bad corporation controls everything.
  • It doesn’t keep tabs on what you watch. No more guilty pleasures coming back to haunt you in your recommendations!
  • It’s open-source, so you can actually see what’s going on under the hood. No sneaky business here.

So go ahead, binge-watch those cat videos. PeerTube won’t judge (or track) you.

2. SearXNG: Google Who?

Next on our list is SearXNG. It’s like the Swiss Army knife of search engines. Here’s the deal:

  • It checks over 70 different search engines, so you’re getting the cream of the crop results.
  • No tracking, no profiling. Your search for “how to make a tinfoil hat” stays between you and your conscience.
  • You can tweak it to your heart’s content. Like a picky eater at a buffet, you choose exactly what you want.

With SearXNG, you can search to your heart’s content without feeling like you’re leaving a trail of digital breadcrumbs.

3. Piped: YouTube Videos Without the YouTube Creepiness

Piped is like a secret tunnel into YouTube. You get all the good stuff without any of the, well, Googleyness. Check it out:

  • No ads! Hallelujah!
  • Watch videos without YouTube watching you back. Creepy much, YouTube?
  • It’s faster and doesn’t hog your computer’s resources. Your poor, overworked laptop will thank you.

So yeah, you can still watch all those “15 Ways to Peel a Potato” videos, just without Google breathing down your neck.

4. ActivityPub: Twitter, but Make It Privacy

Ah, GoToSocial. It’s like Twitter decided to put on a fancy privacy suit. Here’s why it’s awesome:

  • It’s decentralized, which means it’s not one big target for hackers (looking at you, other social media platforms).
  • Your feed is just that - yours. No algorithms trying to keep you scrolling until 3 AM.
  • You’ve got way more control over who sees your brilliant thoughts.
  • No ads! I repeat, NO ADS!~

I chosed to switch to a simple server without UI, based on GoToSocial.

5. Lingva: Parlez-vous Privacy?

Last but not least, we’ve got Lingva. It’s like Google Translate, minus the Google. Très bien, non?

  • Translate stuff without Google knowing you’re still trying to figure out what “YOLO” means.
  • Simple, clean interface. No bells and whistles, just good ol’ translation.
  • Open-source, because secrets are so last season.

Now you can figure out what your cat’s meows mean in 50 different languages, judgment-free.

6. Stirling-PDF: Your PDF Swiss Army Knife (Minus the Snooping)

Alright, PDF enthusiasts (I know you’re out there), have I got a treat for you! Say hello to Stirling-PDF, the PDF tool that’ll make you go, “Wait, I can do that with PDFs?”

  • It’s like having a whole PDF editing studio, but without the scary price tag or the data-grabby attitude.
  • Split, merge, convert, compress - it’s like a PDF yoga master, bending your documents into whatever shape you need.
  • OCR capabilities that’ll make you feel like a digital archaeologist, uncovering text from the depths of scanned documents.
  • All this magic happens right in your browser. No need to install software that’ll probably just spy on your computer anyway.
  • And the best part? It’s more private than your diary. Your PDFs stay yours, no questions asked.

Whether you’re trying to combine your collection of cat memes into one super-meme-PDF, or you’re doing some serious document wizardry for work (we believe you), Stirling-PDF has got your back. And your front. And your PDFs.

Open Source: Because Secrets Are No Fun

All these services are open-source, which is just a fancy way of saying “we’ve got nothing to hide.” It’s like when your friend says, “Go ahead, check my browser history. I dare you.” (On second thought, maybe don’t do that.)

Open-source is great because:

  1. Anyone can check the code. It’s like having a million eyeballs making sure there’s no funny business.
  2. If the original creators decide to pack up and move to Bali, the community can keep the project alive.
  3. You can tweak it if you want. Always wanted a hot pink search bar? Go for it!

What’s Next? (Wrong Answers Only)

I’m always on the lookout for cool new privacy-friendly services to add. Who knows what the future holds? Maybe a privacy-respecting crystal ball? A social network for introverts? The possibilities are endless!

Time to Get Your Privacy On!

So there you have it, folks. A whole bunch of ways to internet without feeling like you’re in a digital fishbowl. Give these services a whirl. Play around with them. Heck, tell your friends about them (unless you’re trying to keep them a secret, in which case, I totally get it).

Remember, every time you use one of these services, a privacy fairy gets its wings. Or something like that.

Your data is yours, my friend. These services are just here to help you keep it that way. So go forth and browse, search, watch, post, and translate to your heart’s content. Your secrets are safe with us (mostly because we don’t know them in the first place).

Welcome to the cool kids’ privacy club. We meet every day, all day, right here on the internet. No secret handshake required.

Stay private, stay awesome!