MX Linux Forum

AltTabDelete wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2024 4:14 pm This city's Public Library system offers free internet access via WiFi. However, it appears that the library's IT section categorically denies access to any website associated with Freeware/Shareware to comply with city policy. This includes Sourceforge.net. Tor won't work either. Suggestions for getting around this?

McDonalds? A friend's house? Or any other place that offers a connection?

Everything does not have to be a software hack.

Aren't the ISOs also available on non-sourceforge mirrors?

The San Diego County Library doesn't block free or FLOSS software sites, but does block VPNs (probably), since they also block any sites that have anything to do with VPN providers. They also block Tor, NTP, and of course torrents.

Not to mention this innocuous video stream for some odd reason: http://tahoetopia.com/webcam/river-ranch-raft-cam

CharlesV wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2024 6:04 pm
It is NEVER a good idea to do banking, do anything that is financial or "real' or even read email on an unknown wifi / network - however, some times its going to happen and be as safe as you can be.

Indeed, when I need to do banking or other sensitive stuff when I am not home I will disable wifi, and the phone will switch to my own data provider. I'll gladly pay for that bit of security.

My bank's apk works fine with a vpn. I always do anything necessary before I leave the house not after. As for public wifi, it is generally worse than dialup, to hell with the censorship. Unless it's an emergency I won't touch it unless I personally know the guy who admins it. Solution is... Don't use the pubic library's internet and always use a vpn regardless of your bank. If they don't like it change banks.

I use a VPN even for my bank and credit union only because they keep adding offsite scripts. They used to work the same as now with the same interface but now they have so many trackers and cryptic domain names to connect I don't trust everything. The VPN works but only when I choose a city in my state. I noticed that my local library did not work with most VPN sites but when I chose a nearby city it worked fine. Even Tor worked but I had to select a US exit node. Perhaps the geography or number of hops is the limiting factor.

AltTabDelete wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2024 4:14 pm This city's Public Library system offers free internet access via WiFi. However, it appears that the library's IT section categorically denies access to any website associated with Freeware/Shareware to comply with city policy. This includes Sourceforge.net. Tor won't work either. Suggestions for getting around this?

I can see blocking freeware because it's often malware. They don't also block free software do they?

For banking and other important sites, I use a dedicated encrypted air-gapped (wifi does not work – convenient rtl), encrypted laptop – recently with firejail - with KeepassXC without a VPN for now.

My only "regret" is that although it has only an A6 amd processor, it's a relatively solidly built E555 Thinkpad with a nice keyboard and I rarely use it.

It's also battery-gapped (battery is dead), but before using it, I rub the battery and it's associated jinn - how can I kindly state this - - so it won't explode while I'm using it.