2020
Browse public Instagram accounts anonymously
I wrote an article on how to browse Twitter anonymously using Nitter. I talk about the issues and dangers of tracking by Twitter, the Facebook owned Instagram takes all those risks and pumps them up 10 times. Nitter is a consumption service for Twitter posts, wellbibliogram.art is a consumption service for public Instagram posts. Bibliogram is a website that scrapes Instagram public profiles and then displays it in a cleaner, faster loading interface that stops trackers, removes ads, generates an RSS feed and doesn’t require an account.
Browse Twitter while protecting your privacy with Nitter
Twitter changed its privacy policy this year, preventing its user from opting out of profiling for advertising purposes and informed users that it would be sharing more data with said advertisers. I know that most users couldn't care less about their privacy but for the small band of privacy crusaders wanting to use Twitter without giving up their privacy, keep reading. This Twitter front end is called Nitter. It is an open-source front end that redirects Twitter links to its interface, stripping all tracking code from the page or links.
Sites to legally watch streaming movies
Most of us have multiple streaming service subscriptions (Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, etc). As money becomes tighter, some want to lighten their monthly subscription spend and here are some legal ways to stream. Kanopy Kanopy offers an interesting portfolio of artistic and classic films. Before you close this page thinking the content is low-grade, know that they even have some films from the Criterion collection. Kanopy also supports AppleTV, Roku, Chromecast, AndroidTV, FireTV and SamsungTV. <img src="https://ekiledjian2.micro.blog/uploads/2025/b9ed1af417.jpg" alt=""> The catch is that you have to be a member of an organization that is subscribed to their service (local library or University ) The one important note is that their film catalogue changes regularly so if you see a film you want to watch, stream it quickly.
Navigate to your destination without using GPS
I remember a time before Google maps when navigation meant buying paper maps from the petrol station and required a navigator. Then came the smartphone with its GPS magic powered by Google Maps, and our lives became instantly better. There are times when GPS is unreliable (like dense city centers), or you want to maximize your smartphone battery life, or there are times you simply don't want to give Google your precise location for privacy reasons. This is where an Android app called SmartNavi shines.
If you live in the USA, your info is probably on this site and how to delete it
There are lots of “less than reputable” websites that scrape the web for your information and then make it cheaply available to anyone willing to spend money. I recently found a website that has a ton of information about many Americans including address, telephone number and even some relationship information. Once you enter your name and state, it will show you a list of possible “victims”. You choose your listing and prepare to be astounded by the amount of information they have about you.
Ed’ favourite things - Meet the Ti Arto EDC Pen
*** This is not a sponsored post *** I love Titanium EDC gear. Now that my obsession with Ti is out of the way, let’s talk about pens. Most people buy the cheapest pen they can find or that their company will provide. I would like to submit that a well-designed pen is as much a tool as it is a work of art. I bought my Ti Arto EDC pen in 2016 and it has been with me every day ever since.
Your smartphone security guide (iphone and android)
There are companies out there that will pay top dollar for working full chain smartphone vulnerabilities that will lead to a complete compromise (check out Zerodium as an example ). A full zero-click compromise for a patched android phone can net you a cool 2.5M$ (Wired). Considering how we use smartphones and the information they contain (or can leak), these aren’t just simple electronic tools. Smartphones can be considered a bionic extension of your mind—anyone who can access your phone gains unprecedented access to your mind, life and psyche.
Exodus Privacy will help you identify the trackers embedded in your favorite android apps
Companies large and small are always looking for new and creative ways to violate your privacy. One popular tool of the trade is to embed trackers and ask for more permissions than necessary to "steal" user data. The question is, how do you know what trackers are embedded in your installed Android apps? This is were The Exodus Privacy Report tool comes in. Here is a sample report for the Adobe Acrobat app <img src="https://ekiledjian2.micro.blog/uploads/2025/caba742274.jpg" alt=""> When you click on one of the trackers, it gives you interesting information
My view of the TikTok risk
This is an opinion piece. TikTok is a Chinese social media network that allows creators to publish short videos. It started with a ton of slapstick comedy and karaoke but has since matured with much more diverse content. It has become one of the most popular social media platforms because of its powerful video pairing algorithm. It has an incredible ability to show you a continuous stream of content you will find interesting, and it is usually correct. You can see samples on their trending webpage without needing an account.
Ed’ favourite things - Meet the Supply Co Single-Edge razor
*** Let me state at the top, that this is not a sponsored post. *** Look at my picture on my blog, and you will notice I have a shaved head. I have been shaving it since I was 18 years old using the standard Gillette cartridge razor and shaving cream method. Earlier this year, I started investigating alternative shaving techniques and tested over a dozen injector razors and double-edge razors. Cartridge style razors (Gillette, Harry's, Schick, etc.) are the type of blade most of us grew up using.
Microsoft has launched an initiative to help individuals acquire new digital skills
Microsoft has launched an incredible new initiative powered by free learning content, low-cost certifications and job seeker tools to help 25 million individuals re-enter the workforce. Microsoft has launched a new initiative that combines content from it's LinkedIn learning and Github entities, mixed with other content previously only available internally to Microsoft employees. The purpose of this initiative is to help upskill or retool individuals that may have lost their jobs due to COVID. Microsoft is forecasting up to a quarter-billion unemployed individuals (globally) in 2020 due to COVID.
A Canadian company breaking Internet censorship
Controlling the flow of information is a critical tool in the arsenal of despots, dictators and authoritarian regimes. Some countries want to block a handful of internet sites (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.) while others exert an almost inconceivable stranglehold on the internet (think Iran). When we think of censorship, the typical list that comes to mind is North Korea, Iran, China and Cuba. The list is much more worrisome than that and includes countries such as Bahrain, Ethiopia, India, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, United Arab Emirates and more.
Ed's favourite things - Best Qi wireless charger
This is not a sponsored post, and links are not affiliated links. Most moderately priced (or higher) smartphones now come with wireless charging, which means it is a little luxury you can easily add to your everyday experience. When evaluating wireless Qi chargers, I only looked at the stand models because it allows you to use the device while it charges, and it makes finding the charging zone effortless. Over the years, I have tested hundreds of cables, chargers and wireless chargers and have concluded that Anker and Ravpower manufacture the most reliable units.
Ed's favourite things - Best Password Manager
There is no shortage of password managers. Anytime you listen to a podcast or read an online blog post, you will probably be bombarded with ads for tools like Lastpass, Dashlane or 1Password. Add to that list the neverending supply of free password managers (Keepass, BitWarden, RoboForm, etc.) Free isn’t bad The truth is there are a lot of very good free password managers. These are great options for users that can't or don't want to spend money. I'll mention my favourite free pic later in the article.
Quickly uninstall apps from windows, even the sneaky ones
When you first started using your computer, it was silky smooth and fast. Now it is a sluggish mess. Especially now that many of you are stuck at home, you may be trying new apps that turn out to be a disappointment. How do you make sure you remove all the files when you uninstall that application? Why doesn't the app you just installed have an uninstall option in add/remove applications? The free app I am going to talk about will help with all of the above and more.
Use Google Chrome's built-in antivirus to scan windows
As millions around the world work from home, corporate security teams have ramped up their protection protocols because the threat actors are very active. Many threat actors have also lost their “day jobs” and are relying on their nefarious cyber activities to pay the bills/ From an antivirus perspective, most users will be properly protected by the free Windows Defender included with all versions of Windows 10 . You may have clicked on a questionable link or opened a questionable attachment and you scan your computer using Windows Defender.
A very short summary about computational photography
Computational photography is a field of image processing that uses computer algorithms to improve the quality of digital images. It was coined by Michael Abrash in 1999, and has seen a number of innovations since then. Smartphones use computational photography to improve the quality of their images, and this has had a major impact on traditional mirrorless camera vendors. By incorporating techniques such as deep fusion, which combines multiple images to reduce noise and increase resolution, smartphones are able to produce high-quality images even in challenging lighting conditions.