sf.cu > Blog > Use AnySoftKeyboard
22 September 2023
3 min
+Posted on: 22 September 2023
Reading time: 3 minCategory: Software
Your smartphone keyboard is an astoundingly sensitive piece of software. You use it to type everything from the most innocent of messages to the most crucial passwords. In terms of messaging on encrypted chat applications like Session or Signal, your smartphone keyboard bypasses encryption. They could know what you are searching about even on private search engines like SearX. This is because your keystrokes are unencrypted. With respect to passwords, your smartphone keyboard, if invasive, can potentially view your bank account details. This means that an individual who can access your smartphone keyboard does not need to utilize advanced techniques to view your data. Therefore, in terms of trust, you should make sure you absolutely trust your smartphone keyboard not to store your written text.
When you keep the above statements in mind, it gets unhealthily fear-inducing when you read how SwiftKey had a cloud syncing glitch which led to users being able to view other users' email addresses. It is also scary how SwiftKey that shipped by default on 600M Samsung Galaxy smartphones had a vulnerability that allowed hackers to setup a proxy server to access sensors and install apps without the user knowing. There was also a keyboard called ai.type that had over 40M users. Out of these, 31M users had their data leaked because the MongoDB database had no password. This included information like phone numbers, full names, device names and models, screen resolution, Android version, IMSI and IMEI numbers, email addresses, country of residence, social media profiles, IP addresses and even locations.
What is the solution to this madness? Fortunately, if you are on Android, you have free software options. By using free software keyboards, you can ensure that none of your keystrokes are stored or sent to a server. This brings us to AnySoftKeyboard. AnySoftKeyboard is a free, libre and open-source keyboard for Android that has multiple modes, layouts, theme customizations and more. It has all the features you would expect. Gesture typing, keyboard effects, corrections, emojis, you name it. Most importantly, it does not track any of your keystrokes. I have been using it for almost an year. It has been fast and efficient due to the minimalism and has saved me a lot of time. It has many niche features like a terminal layout that has arrows, tabs, pipes and forward slashes for ease of use in Android terminal emulators like Termux.
If you are on an iPhone, the best option is ironically Gboard. You can block Gboard's tracking using iOS' tracker blocking. Gboard does not log the text you store and instead uses federated learning to improve its autocorrect. There are no private options for an iPhone so it is better to choose the best out of two evils.
diff --git a/backups/index.html b/backups/index.html index c4b2cac..1df1ef2 100644 --- a/backups/index.html +++ b/backups/index.html @@ -17,10 +17,10 @@sf.cu > Blog > Taking Proper Backups
27 July 2023
5 min
+Posted on: 27 July 2023
Reading time: 5 minCategory: Technology
Taking backups is crucial in every single context. There is simply no situation where the lack of backups was beneficial. Such situations are always detrimental to people. Backups are also important for businesses, especially ones which are responsible for the lives of people, like hospitals.
Taking backups prevents data loss due to software or hardware errors. Even accidents have a minimal impact if you have a backup. It allows businesses to keep growing instead of being worried about recovering crucial client data. For public services like hospitals, being hit with ransomware is an extremely difficult moment. If the ransom is not paid immediately, it can result in loss of human lives. This is why you either have backups or lose money.
-Losing precious memories hurts. Backups prevent this gut-wrenching scenario from ever occurring. With many spectacular backup solutions being free or cheap, there is absolutely no reason to take backups. If you work with new computers and devices regularly, then taking backups makes it easy to migrate and install multiple instances on new devices. This is especially easy with Linux systems due to the simple dotfile method. It also provides version control. If you have old versions of documents and files, it is easy to refer to previous examples for future work.
+Losing precious memories hurts. Backups prevent this gut-wrenching scenario from ever occurring. With many spectacular backup solutions being free or cheap, there is absolutely no reason to take backups. If you work with new computers and devices regularly, then taking backups makes it easy to migrate and install multiple instances on new devices. This is especially easy with Linux systems due to the simple dotfile method. It also provides version control. If you have old versions of documents and files, it is easy to refer to previous examples for future work.
If there is one thing that people love about backups, it is the peace of mind you get knowing that you have an extremely low chance of losing your important data.
It does not matter if you are a normal person or a massive business; you should spend time and money to back up your data properly.
This category is reserved for posts related to design.
28/07/23 - Minimal Design28/07/23 - Minimal DesignYou are at the bottom of the image!
In this category, I post guides about computing and technology.
13/05/23 - Start Using 2FA Properly02/05/23 - Password Systems20/04/23 - Use Doas Instead Of Sudo20/04/23 - Stop Using Social Media22/03/23 - Delete Your Discord14/03/23 - How To Encrypt Emails13/05/23 - Start Using 2FA Properly02/05/23 - Password Systems20/04/23 - Use Doas Instead Of Sudo20/04/23 - Stop Using Social Media22/03/23 - Delete Your Discord14/03/23 - How To Encrypt EmailsYou have read the last page!
Read my (mostly) computing-related articles here.
19/10/23 - Boycott These Israeli Companies06/10/23 - Domain, Email & PGP Keys Changed24/09/23 - A Student's Nightmare22/09/23 - Use AnySoftKeyboard09/09/23 - Forget Your Passwords10/08/23 - PGP KEYS CHANGED!06/08/23 - Switching To SVGs04/08/23 - Why I Switched Fonts31/07/23 - Tools I Use30/07/23 - Writing With Fountain Pens28/07/23 - Minimal Design27/07/23 - Taking Proper Backups26/07/23 - VimWiki Is Terrific25/07/23 - Use Plaintext16/07/23 - Why You Should Torrent10/07/23 - Oversimplification Kills02/07/23 - Open-Source Islam Apps?27/06/23 - Keep It Minimal23/06/23 - KeePass + Syncthing01/06/23 - Switching To FFmpeg27/05/23 - Don't Use GitHub19/05/23 - Do It Yourself13/05/23 - Start Using 2FA Properly07/05/23 - Instagram Deleted!06/05/23 - Buy Only Metal USBs02/05/23 - Password Systems21/04/23 - Eid Mubarak!20/04/23 - Use Doas Instead Of Sudo20/04/23 - Stop Using Social Media22/03/23 - Delete Your Discord17/03/23 - My New Browser Setup14/03/23 - How To Encrypt Emails14/03/23 - Keep Crypto Off Exchanges13/03/23 - Why I Use Terminal AppsRead my (mostly) computing-related articles here.
19/10/23 - Boycott These Israeli Companies06/10/23 - Domain, Email & PGP Keys Changed24/09/23 - A Student's Nightmare22/09/23 - Use AnySoftKeyboard09/09/23 - Forget Your Passwords10/08/23 - PGP KEYS CHANGED!06/08/23 - Switching To SVGs04/08/23 - Why I Switched Fonts31/07/23 - Tools I Use30/07/23 - Writing With Fountain Pens28/07/23 - Minimal Design27/07/23 - Taking Proper Backups26/07/23 - VimWiki Is Terrific25/07/23 - Use Plaintext16/07/23 - Why You Should Torrent10/07/23 - Oversimplification Kills02/07/23 - Open-Source Islam Apps?27/06/23 - Keep It Minimal23/06/23 - KeePass + Syncthing01/06/23 - Switching To FFmpeg27/05/23 - Don't Use GitHub19/05/23 - Do It Yourself13/05/23 - Start Using 2FA Properly07/05/23 - Instagram Deleted!06/05/23 - Buy Only Metal USBs02/05/23 - Password Systems21/04/23 - Eid Mubarak!20/04/23 - Use Doas Instead Of Sudo20/04/23 - Stop Using Social Media22/03/23 - Delete Your Discord17/03/23 - My New Browser Setup14/03/23 - How To Encrypt Emails14/03/23 - Keep Crypto Off Exchanges13/03/23 - Why I Use Terminal AppsYou have hit rock bottom!
In this category, I post about tools and information related to Linux.
26/07/23 - VimWiki Is Terrific20/04/23 - Use Doas Instead Of Sudo13/03/23 - Why I Use Terminal Apps26/07/23 - VimWiki Is Terrific20/04/23 - Use Doas Instead Of Sudo13/03/23 - Why I Use Terminal AppsYou reached the bottom of your screen!
In this category, I post writings like poems.
24/09/23 - A Student's Nightmare24/09/23 - A Student's NightmareYou have concluded the book!
In this category, I post about miscellaneous things. These posts may be information related to me or general things which do not apply to my regular posts.
30/07/23 - Writing With Fountain Pens20/04/23 - Eid Mubarak!19/10/23 - Boycott These Israeli Companies30/07/23 - Writing With Fountain Pens20/04/23 - Eid Mubarak!You have hit rock bottom!
In this category, I post new software I find, information about current software or tricks that can be utilised in current software.
22/09/23 - Use AnySoftKeyboard06/08/23 - Switching To SVGs04/08/23 - Why I Switched Fonts25/07/23 - Use Plaintext10/07/23 - Oversimplification Kills02/07/23 - Open-Source Islam Apps?27/06/23 - Keep It Minimal23/06/23 - KeePass + Syncthing01/06/23 - Switching To FFmpeg27/05/23 - Don't Use GitHub19/05/23 - Do It Yourself13/05/23 - Start Using 2FA Properly07/05/23 - Instagram Deleted!02/05/23 - Password Systems20/04/23 - Use Doas Instead Of Sudo20/04/23 - Stop Using Social Media22/03/23 - Delete Your Discord17/03/23 - My New Browser Setup14/03/23 - How To Encrypt Emails14/03/23 - Keep Crypto Off Exchanges13/03/23 - Why I Use Terminal Apps22/09/23 - Use AnySoftKeyboard06/08/23 - Switching To SVGs04/08/23 - Why I Switched Fonts25/07/23 - Use Plaintext10/07/23 - Oversimplification Kills02/07/23 - Open-Source Islam Apps?27/06/23 - Keep It Minimal23/06/23 - KeePass + Syncthing01/06/23 - Switching To FFmpeg27/05/23 - Don't Use GitHub19/05/23 - Do It Yourself13/05/23 - Start Using 2FA Properly07/05/23 - Instagram Deleted!02/05/23 - Password Systems20/04/23 - Use Doas Instead Of Sudo20/04/23 - Stop Using Social Media22/03/23 - Delete Your Discord17/03/23 - My New Browser Setup14/03/23 - How To Encrypt Emails14/03/23 - Keep Crypto Off Exchanges13/03/23 - Why I Use Terminal AppsERROR: Cannot show more posts (EOFError)
sf.cu > Blog > Technology
+sf.cu > Blog > Technology
In this category, I post about my opinion and guides on technology.
06/10/23 - Domain, Email & PGP Keys Changed09/09/23 - Forget Your Passwords10/08/23 - PGP KEYS CHANGED!31/07/23 - Tools I Use27/07/23 - Taking Proper Backups16/07/23 - Why You Should Torrent06/05/23 - Buy Only Metal USBs14/03/23 - Keep Crypto Off Exchanges06/10/23 - Domain, Email & PGP Keys Changed09/09/23 - Forget Your Passwords10/08/23 - PGP KEYS CHANGED!31/07/23 - Tools I Use27/07/23 - Taking Proper Backups16/07/23 - Why You Should Torrent06/05/23 - Buy Only Metal USBs14/03/23 - Keep Crypto Off ExchangesYou have hit rock bottom!
sf.cu > Blog > My New Browser Setup
17 March 2023
-2 min +
Posted on: 17 March 2023
+Reading time: 2 min
-
Category: Software
I have a new browser setup on my desktop to increase my privacy and convenience. It is divided into two profiles that perform differently based on what I need to do in the moment.
I use Librewolf as my browser. It is a fork of Firefox that is enhanced for privacy without heavily impacting user experience. I divided it into two profiles:
diff --git a/crypto/index.html b/crypto/index.html index 93bcab0..d1ec596 100644 --- a/crypto/index.html +++ b/crypto/index.html @@ -18,11 +18,9 @@sf.cu > Blog > Keep Crypto Off Exchanges
14 March 2023
-- 3 min - - Software && Technology
+Posted on: 14 March 2023
+Reading time: 3 min + Category: Software && Technology
In this article, we will discover why it is horrible to keep cryptocurrency on exchanges. If you do not have time to read this article, please stop keeping your cryptocurrencies on exchanges. If you do, your crypto may get stolen or lost. If you are interested in the details, please keep reading.
When you keep cryptocurrencies on exchanges like Coinbase, they have your private keys. Anyone who has your private keys can manage your wallet as if it is their own. They can send, receive and do whatever they want with your wallet. Even if the exchange you are trading on is trusted, if they shut down, you will lose your crypto. This happened a few times before and thousands of people lost all of their crypto. This is why exchanges should be used for what they are good at; purchasing crypto. Keep exchanges only for one purpose.
@@ -38,7 +36,7 @@sf.cu > Blog > Delete Your Discord
22 March 2023
-3 min +
Posted on: 22 March 2023
+Reading time: 3 min
-
As mentioned in the title, I have deleted my Discord account. This was obviously not without a reason. There are two reasons due to which I deleted my Discord account:
sf.cu > Blog > Do It Yourself
19 May 2023
2 min
+Posted on: 19 May 2023
Reading time: 2 minCategory: Software
With regards to technology, the average person would rather buy a new computer when their WiFi stops working instead of taking it to a repair shop or fixing it themselves. They would rather buy a new smartphone when their screen cracks than repair it. They would also rather buy a device because of its looks and arbitrary specifications than one specific to their use case and their interests. They focus on the marketing of a company and become 'fanboys' of a specific company, buying nothing but their products, stating that the company in question makes the best products in the world. Self-servicing and repairability are not even factors in their decision to buy a device.
As an example, a plethora of technology enthusiasts still buy ThinkPads to this day. When others look at ThinkPads, they think whoever buys them is not making a good decision. They think ThinkPads look ugly. They do not focus on the usability of a device. ThinkPads are used because of their durability, repairability, fast performance, and more. The fact that they are made for businesses means that there is no profit for Lenovo in letting a ThinkPad break early. Instead, they earn money by selling long-lasting and durable devices that last individuals for years on end.
Instead of buying ThinkPads that function amazingly, people go for looks that impress amazingly. A computer is a device designed to perform computation. If you are shelling out a lot of money, you should have a device that performs fast and can be repaired by you.
-What I have realized is that you should 'do it yourself' as much as possible. This is why my computer is custom-built. Had I bought a pre-built computer, I would have never known what was inside my computer. This is tedious on smartphones since they are becoming more and more locked down. Linux phones are alternatives but they are not great as of 2023. I hope they become mainstream soon because I want to buy one.
-Doing it yourself also helps in terms of software. I used to flash custom ROMs on my old phone and used LineageOS extensively. Now, I use Arch Linux on my computer, which is a Linux distribution that is basically barebones. It has only the packages required to boot up. Everything else is done by you. The advantage of an operating system like this is that you know what runs on your system and there is minimal resource usage. If there is an issue, you can easily find out which program it is from and fix it immediately after gaining knowledge.
+What I have realized is that you should 'do it yourself' as much as possible. This is why my computer is custom-built. Had I bought a pre-built computer, I would have never known what was inside my computer. This is tedious on smartphones since they are becoming more and more locked down. Linux phones are alternatives but they are not great as of 2023. I hope they become mainstream soon because I want to buy one.
+Doing it yourself also helps in terms of software. I used to flash custom ROMs on my old phone and used LineageOS extensively. Now, I use Arch Linux on my computer, which is a Linux distribution that is basically barebones. It has only the packages required to boot up. Everything else is done by you. The advantage of an operating system like this is that you know what runs on your system and there is minimal resource usage. If there is an issue, you can easily find out which program it is from and fix it immediately after gaining knowledge.
You should try to 'do it yourself'. Take control of your hardware and software and know what you are running. It will not only be cheaper, but it will make it easier to fix issues and learn about computing and technology in the long run.
diff --git a/doas/index.html b/doas/index.html index cf66751..e24c69e 100644 --- a/doas/index.html +++ b/doas/index.html @@ -20,15 +20,15 @@sf.cu > Blog > Use Doas Instead Of Sudo
20 April 2023
-2 min -
-Sudo. It is often used by Linux users to perform commands with root privileges instead of being in a root shell all the time. However, there has recently been a vulnerability in sudo due to which people are switching to doas.
+Posted on: 20 April 2023
+Reading time: 2 min + Category: Linux && Software && Guides
+Sudo. It is often used by Linux users to perform commands with root privileges instead of being in a root shell all the time. However, there has recently been a vulnerability in sudo due to which people are switching to doas.
OpenDoas or Doas is a portable version of the doas utility that is used on OpenBSD. OpenDoas can be installed on Unix-like system which includes Linux. It is designed to be more minimal and has less configuration options than sudo. If you are on a personal computer, then I highly recommend you switch to doas because it has a much smaller codebase which leaves less room for error.
+OpenDoas or Doas is a portable version of the doas utility that is used on OpenBSD. OpenDoas can be installed on Unix-like system which includes Linux. It is designed to be more minimal and has less configuration options than sudo. If you are on a personal computer, then I highly recommend you switch to doas because it has a much smaller codebase which leaves less room for error.
However, if you are part of a professional environment with many individuals needing to use sudo, I recommend staying with sudo because it offers more configuration options to be used for groups and users.
Doas is available on almost all major distributions. If your distribution is Debian-based (Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Zorin OS), simply type:
+Doas is available on almost all major distributions. If your distribution is Debian-based (Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Zorin OS), simply type:
sudo apt install doas
If you run an Arch-based system (Artix, Arco, Endeavour, Manjaro), type:
sudo pacman -S opendoas
doas pacman -Syu
I also recommend aliasing doas to 'doas --' since it causes issues sometimes if you just use doas. Apart from that, this is it for the setup.
If you are the only person on your Linux machine, you should switch to doas. It is much more lightweight and is similar to sudo. It has a smaller codebase which, in my opinion, prevents exploits from popping up as often as sudo.
+If you are the only person on your Linux machine, you should switch to doas. It is much more lightweight and is similar to sudo. It has a smaller codebase which, in my opinion, prevents exploits from popping up as often as sudo.
However, if you are in a professional environment, you should stick with sudo.
diff --git a/domain/index.html b/domain/index.html index 9f68c50..33feb31 100644 --- a/domain/index.html +++ b/domain/index.html @@ -18,7 +18,7 @@sf.cu > Blog > Domain, Email & PGP Keys Changed
6 October 2023
1 min
+Posted on: 6 October 2023
Reading time: 1 minCategory: Technology
The domain has been changed to sufyaan.me. I also have a new email which is sf@sufyaan.me. Download the PGP keys here.
diff --git a/eid23/index.html b/eid23/index.html index fc0ac4f..efa5950 100644 --- a/eid23/index.html +++ b/eid23/index.html @@ -20,10 +20,10 @@sf.cu > Blog > Eid Mubarak!
21 April 2023
-Less than 1 min +
Posted on: 21 April 2023
+Reading time: Less than 1 min
-
Category: Other
I would like to wish an 🌙 AUSPICIOUS EID 🌙 to you and your family!
diff --git a/email/index.html b/email/index.html index 26c39d9..141d8d5 100644 --- a/email/index.html +++ b/email/index.html @@ -18,10 +18,10 @@sf.cu > Blog > How To Encrypt Emails
14 March 2023
-4 min +
Posted on: 14 March 2023
+Reading time: 4 min
-
In this article, I will show you how to encrypt emails. You can encrypt emails on almost any device. In this article, however, I will be focusing on Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo. I will also be focusing on making ProtonMail encrypt emails with Gmail.
Firstly, let us dispell a few myths. The first myth is a big one.
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@K-9 Mail is on the Play Store, but do not get it from there. Get F-Droid and make it a habit to download apps you use and the alternatives to them through F-Droid. K-9 Mail is available on F-Droid and is a popular app there.
Follow the guide to enter your email address and get it working through K-9 Mail. I have tried Gmail and it works flawlessly. Other email providers will work well but some may not work at all.
+Follow the guide to enter your email address and get it working through K-9 Mail. I have tried Gmail and it works flawlessly. Other email providers will work well but some may not work at all.
OpenKeychain is an app that allows you to import and manage PGP keys. It is also available on F-Droid.
sf.cu > Blog > Switching To FFmpeg
1 June 2023
2 min
+Posted on: 1 June 2023
Reading time: 2 minCategory: Software
I just started using FFmpeg... and it is AMAZING! When I mean amazing, I really mean amazing.
For those of you who do not know what FFmpeg is, it is basically a command-line application that can be installed on all platforms that is basically the Swiss army knife of videos, audio files and images. It merges almost every single codec, encoders and decoders, filters and more in a single application allowing for fast access and modularity.
FFmpeg is one of those tools which have impacted your life without you realising it. Whenever you watch a movie, show or any piece of edited or converted content, there is an extremely high change that FFmpeg was involved.
diff --git a/font/index.html b/font/index.html index d38ce64..d12f151 100644 --- a/font/index.html +++ b/font/index.html @@ -18,7 +18,7 @@sf.cu > Blog > Why I Switched Fonts
4 August 2023
1 min
+Posted on: 4 August 2023
Reading time: 1 minCategory: Software
This post is just a quick update to announce a hard decision that I have made. I have switched the font on this website from JetBrains Mono to Courier New. This change was made because I feel like JetBrains Mono looks more fitting in a terminal because it looks janky on a website. Courier New is a monospace font but still maintains the feeling and look I want from my website.
This change has had an unintended benefit. Previously, my website's homepage weighed around 50KB in size which is spectacular. However, what I did not realize was that around 40KB were being taken up by JetBrains Mono. By switching to a default typeface, my website now weighs a shockingly low 12KB. If you would like to view the full GTMetrix report, do so here.
diff --git a/forget/index.html b/forget/index.html index dac7625..d380a04 100644 --- a/forget/index.html +++ b/forget/index.html @@ -18,7 +18,7 @@sf.cu > Blog > Forget Your Passwords
9 September 2023
1 min
+Posted on: 9 September 2023
Reading time: 1 minCategory: Technology
If you are trying to remember your passwords, you are doing it wrong. Trying to remember your passwords is absolutely fatal and has numerous disadvantages. To describe the demerits of trying to remember your passwords, here is a cycle that most people follow. You set a password. You forget it. You set a weaker password. And repeat.
Eventually, people have passwords that are not only weak, but they also never change them unless they forget them. This leads to passwords that are short and easy to crack. Worst of all, people continue this habit on sensitive websites like finance or government services.
The solution to this issue? As always, a password manager. You do not have to be an absolute genius to navigate around password managers or use them securely. Memorize a strong password system, not a lone password. Use the password system on your password manager and on accounts where you absolutely know that you will not have access to a password manager.
diff --git a/fp/index.html b/fp/index.html index c8aff75..71a4cda 100644 --- a/fp/index.html +++ b/fp/index.html @@ -17,7 +17,7 @@sf.cu > Blog > Writing With Fountain Pens
30 July 2023
2 min
+Posted on: 30 July 2023
Reading time: 2 minCategory: Other
sf.cu > Blog > Don't Use GitHub
27 May 2023
3 min
+Posted on: 27 May 2023
Reading time: 3 minCategory: Software
If you are a developer, programmer or a coder who works with open-source software, you must have clicked this post in shock. First off, I would like to state that I am not telling everyone to stop making open-source software. What I am trying to say is that GitHub is one of the worst Git platforms to host your projects. We will cover why in this post.
Simply put, GitHub uses non-free software and non-free JavaScript on their website. It is shockingly ironic that the biggest open-source platform for anyone to use is itself a proprietary piece of software. It is also centralised, for-profit and politically active, which are all completely against free, libre and open-source software. These factors make it similar to SourceForge, which was abandoned by most of its users because of this very reason.
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@Codeberg is entirely free software and it is a great option for most people. It works in a similar way to GitHub so it is trivial for individuals to migrate. SourceHut is also amazing. It is just as good as GitHub and much better for your rights. Self-hosting a Forgejo or Gitea instance is one of the best options as it offers complete independence. Git is the underlying technology which anyone can use. Therefore, everyone should be independent in using it.
This is the reason I have a website. Everyone should have a website as it gives you independence on the web.
Microsoft's strategy against open-source has always been to embrace, extend and extinguish. They have tried to do it before with Linux when it was being popularized among developers. Now, they are using Copilot to do so, which is an AI tool that can autocomplete code for you. The main issue with it is that they trained it all on open-source code without giving any credit to the original developers. GitHub's Copilot is now being used to help code for-profit and close-source programs.
+Microsoft's strategy against open-source has always been to embrace, extend and extinguish. They have tried to do it before with Linux when it was being popularized among developers. Now, they are using Copilot to do so, which is an AI tool that can autocomplete code for you. The main issue with it is that they trained it all on open-source code without giving any credit to the original developers. GitHub's Copilot is now being used to help code for-profit and close-source programs.
Essentially, this results in open-source programs being used to grow close-source programs.
Microsoft and GitHub's multiple CEOs have kept on speaking negatively about copyleft. This includes GitHub's founder and former CEO. Their OSCON keynote was meant for attacking copyleft and the GPL, trying to discourage the use of free software. Instead, they suggest the MIT license using which many megacorporations exploit people's code without any credit.
diff --git a/insta/index.html b/insta/index.html index 9af3e18..0e4409d 100644 --- a/insta/index.html +++ b/insta/index.html @@ -19,7 +19,7 @@sf.cu > Blog > Instagram Deleted!
-7 May 2023
Less than 1 min
+Posted on: 7 May 2023
Reading time: Less than 1 minCategory: Software
This post is to inform you that the grace period for the deletion of my public Instagram account has been completed. My Instagram account has been deleted... forever. I highly recommend you do it too. Read this post for more information.
diff --git a/islam/index.html b/islam/index.html index 41eb89b..1565acb 100644 --- a/islam/index.html +++ b/islam/index.html @@ -19,7 +19,7 @@sf.cu > Blog > Open-Source Islam Apps?
2 July 2023
2 min
+Posted on: 2 July 2023
Reading time: 2 minCategory: Software
I have tried finding open-source and free Islamic apps for a long time and it is tiring to do so. Most of the apps are Quran and prayer time apps which are perfect but we do not have apps for other parts of Islam like hadeeths, duas and even Qibla locating. If I do run across an app, its last update is always more than five years ago which is not ideal. There are two Islamic apps that I use on a daily basis that I absolutely love and will never switch from:
sf.cu > Blog > KeePass + Syncthing
23 June 2023
2 min
+Posted on: 23 June 2023
Reading time: 2 minCategory: Software
I have decided to switch from a self-hosted Vaultwarden (Bitwarden) instance to using KeePass along with Syncthing to sync it to all my devices. There are numerous reasons why I decided to make this change.
The offline nature of KeePass makes it so that it is nearly impossible to crack. Connecting things to the internet makes it trivial for a script kiddie thousands of kilometers away from you to attempt to crack your passwords. A password manager is a place where all of your passwords are stored. Due to this very reason, I decided to upgrade my security by moving to a reputed piece of software.
diff --git a/minimal-design/index.html b/minimal-design/index.html index b6b2018..2a4671b 100644 --- a/minimal-design/index.html +++ b/minimal-design/index.html @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ -sf.cu > Blog > Minimal Design
-28 July 2023
5 min
+sf.cu > Blog > Minimal Design
+Posted on: 28 July 2023
Reading time: 5 minCategory: Design
These are the main reasons I do minimal design.
- +sf.cu > Blog > Keep It Minimal
27 June 2023
3 min
+Posted on: 27 June 2023
Reading time: 3 minCategory: Software
In technology, you should keep it simple as much as possible. The KISS philosophy and the UNIX philosophy especially must be followed if you want quality software. Most pieces of famous software nowadays do not follow this guideline and it is costing millions of people dearly.
Simply put, a piece of minimal software:
diff --git a/ovsk/index.html b/ovsk/index.html index eb9427f..12c8b0b 100644 --- a/ovsk/index.html +++ b/ovsk/index.html @@ -18,12 +18,12 @@sf.cu > Blog > Oversimplification Kills
10 July 2023
2 min
+Posted on: 10 July 2023
Reading time: 2 minCategory: Software
Oversimplification kills. It is as simple as that. Most of the time, there are simple solutions to a problem that work well which are not used because individuals feel like they need to be more simple.
-If you want to get more technical, think about the over-engineering of website builders. Instead of having a simple piece of software that generates static sites and blog posts based on markdown files, we have ultra-bloated website builders that provide a simple way to make a website at the cost of extremely slow websites and unneeded JavaScript. We also have oversimplified user interfaces in Windows and MacOS. These operating systems have made bad and oversimplified interfaces a norm, which makes good interfaces such as ones you can customize on Linux seem too complicated or confusing even though it would be easier for someone with no experience in computing to get started with most desktop environments available.
+If you want to get more technical, think about the over-engineering of website builders. Instead of having a simple piece of software that generates static sites and blog posts based on markdown files, we have ultra-bloated website builders that provide a simple way to make a website at the cost of extremely slow websites and unneeded JavaScript. We also have oversimplified user interfaces in Windows and MacOS. These operating systems have made bad and oversimplified interfaces a norm, which makes good interfaces such as ones you can customize on Linux seem too complicated or confusing even though it would be easier for someone with no experience in computing to get started with most desktop environments available.
As Luke Smith mentions in his post, we never thought about using wheels on suitcases until the 1990s even though children in the Incan empire did have toys with wheels. This is one of the examples where trying to oversimplify something by making an all-in-one or a good solution delays progress.
Oversimplification shifts focus away from the main problem. For example, with website builders, the problem shifted away from being able to make websites fast and easily to give the user information in a swift manner to just making your website pretty. With Windows and MacOS, the focus shifted away from making user interfaces that actually make sense for everyone to use to making user interfaces that are familiar.
-On the other end of the same spectrum, overcomplication also has a similar result. A technical example of this is software management. Windows and MacOS (at least how most people use MacOS) have complicated software management which results in difficult updates, confusing software usage and an overall increase in storage usage throughout the years. However, Linux has package managers. One command is all that is required to install a package and remove it. You can clear cache, download an older version, update both your system and applications at the same time and even view all installed packages.
+On the other end of the same spectrum, overcomplication also has a similar result. A technical example of this is software management. Windows and MacOS (at least how most people use MacOS) have complicated software management which results in difficult updates, confusing software usage and an overall increase in storage usage throughout the years. However, Linux has package managers. One command is all that is required to install a package and remove it. You can clear cache, download an older version, update both your system and applications at the same time and even view all installed packages.
In the end, most things are complicated. We can try simplifying them and that is perfectly fine. However, trying to oversimplify a problem and making it a binary outcome does not work in all cases. There are many factors to take into consideration. Oversimplification leads to no problems being solved. If anything, it creates and solves arbitrary problems that are not important.
diff --git a/palestine/index.html b/palestine/index.html index 32809ad..56632ab 100644 --- a/palestine/index.html +++ b/palestine/index.html @@ -16,10 +16,10 @@ -sf.cu > Blog > Boycott These Israeli Companies
+sf.cu > Blog > Boycott These Israeli Companies
19 October 2023
6 min -
+Posted on: 19 October 2023
Reading time: 6 min + Category: Other
Israel has been oppressing Palestinians for decades now. They have taken their land and resources. I refuse to support such a country and you should too. It is not just about preventing yourself from buying Israeli products but also buying products from companies that support Israel. These companies may be providing military aid, tracking technology or just money in general. I noticed that there are no sources which have an extensible list of companies that support Israel. This is why I wrote this post to make supporting the Palestinian cause easier.
Keep in mind that Israeli products' barcodes start with 729. However, this may not always be the case. Be sure to check with the supplier.
THIS LIST WILL KEEP BEING UPDATED. SOURCES FOR EACH COMPANY SUPPORTING ISRAEL WILL BE ADDED.
diff --git a/pgp/index.html b/pgp/index.html index cb3d32e..0452b7c 100644 --- a/pgp/index.html +++ b/pgp/index.html @@ -18,7 +18,7 @@sf.cu > Blog > PGP KEYS CHANGED!
10 August 2023
1 min
+Posted on: 10 August 2023
Reading time: 1 minCategory: Technology
I forgot the passwords to my PGP keys. PLEASE DO NOT USE MY OLD PGP KEYS TO SEND ME EMAILS!!! I did not make a revocation certificate as well which is a bad mistake. I have learned my lesson to say the least. Please use my new PGP key over here.
diff --git a/plaintext/index.html b/plaintext/index.html index ae05f3a..e345770 100644 --- a/plaintext/index.html +++ b/plaintext/index.html @@ -18,7 +18,7 @@sf.cu > Blog > Use Plaintext
25 July 2023
2 min
+Posted on: 25 July 2023
Reading time: 2 minCategory: Software
Almost everything I write is in plaintext or is as close to plaintext as possible. For example, I prepare plans to work on a project, future articles or brand case studies in plaintext before further processing.
The first step of everything I do is plaintext. I store my notes in markdown format. However, the first step is always to write everything in plaintext to get whatever I need to write out of my head. Formatting such as headings and underlines come after the aforementioned initial step.
So, why do I do this? Why am I so boring when it comes to writing down text?
diff --git a/pwd/index.html b/pwd/index.html index 8f4edd8..4760f86 100644 --- a/pwd/index.html +++ b/pwd/index.html @@ -20,10 +20,10 @@sf.cu > Blog > Password Systems
2 May 2023
-4 min +
Posted on: 2 May 2023
+Reading time: 4 min
-
If you find it difficult to maintain strong passwords, then this guide is the only article you need to refer to. In this article, I will talk about an amazing trick to remember and manage all of your passwords.
It goes without saying that passwords are incredibly important. It is undeniably important to make sure your passwords are:
diff --git a/sm/index.html b/sm/index.html index 6e3bf24..0ccdfbc 100644 --- a/sm/index.html +++ b/sm/index.html @@ -20,9 +20,9 @@sf.cu > Blog > Stop Using Social Media
20 April 2023
-9 min
- +Posted on: 20 April 2023
+Reading time: 9 min
+To hook you into their addiction, social media companies hire "attention designers" who take references and inspiration from casinos to keep you hooked.
Before ending this unexpectedly long section, I would like you to read this quote.
"You're either on, and you're connected and distracted all the time, or you're off, but then you're wondering, Am I missing something important? In other words, you're either distracted or you have a fear of missing out."
-Tristan Harris, Former Design Ethicist at Google
+Tristan Harris, Former Design Ethicist at Google
If you post everything you do on social media, there is no longer any privacy. Anything you do is public information. If you have a 'private' account, your friends know everything you do. There is no privacy at all if you keep posting everything on social media.
Then there is the elephant in the room.
Digital Privacy.
diff --git a/students/index.html b/students/index.html index 38ef0c2..03e0f97 100644 --- a/students/index.html +++ b/students/index.html @@ -18,7 +18,7 @@sf.cu > Blog > A Student's Nightmare
24 September 2023
1 min
+Posted on: 24 September 2023
Reading time: 1 minCategory: Literary
As I open my book to read
My eyes feel like they bleed
No, they are not tears
diff --git a/svg/index.html b/svg/index.html
index 249a682..d2d3694 100644
--- a/svg/index.html
+++ b/svg/index.html
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
sf.cu > Blog > Switching To SVGs
6 August 2023
1 min
+Posted on: 6 August 2023
Reading time: 1 minCategory: Software
Debloating my website has been an educational experience to say the least. There were so many small things which seemed insignificant at first but made a massive difference to the speed of my website. Most of these changes have had little to no impact on the look and feel of my website but have reduced the size and improved the efficiency by a lot.
One of these changes was definitely moving away from Font Awesome. I did not think much of the icons on my website as they were already too many in size for me to switch every single one to another library. However, after watching this video from Eric Murphy, I thought about it. Then, I still said no because there were way too many icons on my website.
Then, I did a GTMetrix scan of my website and saw that my icons and fonts were taking up 90% of my website's initial load resources. That forced me to take on the challenge to change every single icon to SVGs. It was much easier than expected.
diff --git a/terminal/index.html b/terminal/index.html index 24ab5b4..923867d 100644 --- a/terminal/index.html +++ b/terminal/index.html @@ -16,18 +16,18 @@sf.cu > Blog > Why I Use Terminal Apps
+sf.cu > Blog > Why I Use Terminal Apps
13 March 2023
-5 min -
+Category: Posted on: 13 March 2023
+Category: Reading time: 5 min +
“Ah, yes. Graphical-user interface (GUI) apps. They are so comfortable and easy to use. You just click some buttons and get your computer to do what you want.”
That was what I thought before I learned how spectacular terminal applications are. I do not use a calendar or email GUI app. I use its terminal equivalent. Specifically, I use Calcurse for my calendar/todo, neomutt for my email, sxiv for my image viewing, mpv for my video playing and even Joplin (CLI) for my notes. I am still actively looking for more apps like terminal file managers (lf, ranger, mc) and terminal versions of GUI apps I use (Bitwarden?). What compelled me to switch?
-Firstly, I realized that apps that allow me to use my keyboard and reduce mouse usage to as little as possible saved me a lot of time. By a lot of time, I don't mean a few minutes. I mean hours in the long run. Moving your hand to your mouse and clicking a button takes at least three seconds. Multiply that hundreds of times a day and 365 days an year. That leads to a lot of time wasted just moving your hand to your mouse.
-The speed of terminal apps have helped me get a lot more productive. Getting myself to start working immediately helped me a lot. I use Neovim for my text editor, and whenever I need to write text, its much faster to press a shortcut to open a blank file in Neovim than to open a GUI equivalent. It is also much faster to press a shortcut than to open my applications menu and search for my calendar app and wait a few seconds for the bloated app to open up. Terminal apps are just more lightweight. As a result, they operate faster and save me more than just a few seconds.
-CLI apps are more standardized. With a GUI, the procedure for solving an issue or using the application's functionality is similar to this:
This is the sole reason that you see the terminal being used so much in Linux. It's easier to say “Open your terminal and type this” than to blabber a long list of instructions that will become redundant if the application in question decides to change their UI in an update.
-This is the sole reason that you see the terminal being used so much in Linux. It's easier to say “Open your terminal and type this” than to blabber a long list of instructions that will become redundant if the application in question decides to change their UI in an update.
+Due to the lightweight nature of the command line, your tools can run on just about any computer. It does not matter if your computer has a Pentium processor or a 12th-generation i9. GUI tools have system requirements and if it is a robust tool with a fancy interface, chances are that the requirements just for the app to look good knocks that tool off your app list on your 10-year-old computer.
-While GUI apps are simple to use initially, your speed using the apps remains slow all the time. Sure, you may learn where every button is and be able to open any setting you want quickly, but that speed is nothing compared to one of a command line. With a command line, your speed is slower than a snail at first. However, after some time of using the program, you can do things at a similar speed as a GUI app.
If you daily-drive a terminal program, it takes only a few days for you to become faster at it than using a GUI program. After that, you will be able to understand your most used commands and use aliases to shorten them.
For example, if you view your free space regulary, instead of typing a 50-character command to print your free space, you can just alias that command to 'free-space'. Doing this will make it so that whenever you type 'free-space', it performs the aforementioned 50-character command and displays the output. This will save your more than just a few hours of time.
-With terminal apps, you have a plethora of choices. I can almost guarantee that an app with functionality you wish existed does exist in the form of a command line application. There are obscure apps with spectacular functionality which can change your computing experience that you will miss out on if you stay away from the terminal.
-When it comes to GUI apps, you have to be honest. They do not have 100% functionality. It is simply implausible to fit every single function in a GUI app. Doing so would result in a lot of code to maintain, an extremely heavy app and a confusing layout. However, with a terminal app, all you have to do is type:
man command
or
command --help
and get the complete functionality of the app, all within less than 5% of the app size of its GUI equivalent.
-All GUI apps are basically middlemen for the command line. They essentially use the command line for you. When you ditch the GUI and go straight for the terminal, you talk directly to the computer in a way in which the computer understands.
-When people first look at the terminal, it becomes set in their mind that it is difficult to use and that mentality stays for an extraordinarily long time. Due to this, they never experiment or even open the terminal application. If they run into an issue which requires the use of the terminal to fix, they decide to just live with the issue instead of using the terminal. However, if people use the terminal for a few weeks, they realize that it outpaces almost every other GUI app in almost everything.
-... including terminal applications. Terminal applications are amazing. They allow me to do so much. However, there are extremely rare cases in which I have no choice but to use a GUI. This is if the GUI application in question requires you to use only their app. There are also some specific use-cases in which GUI apps just make more sense. Video editing, advanced photo manipulation and 3D modelling are great examples.
-...terminal applications should be used as much as possible. They are swift. They can be used quickly and also use less resources and space while running on just about anything. They are not as difficult as they look and can be used for uses which GUI apps do not have. They cannot be used all the time because there are rare exceptions in which GUI applications have to be used. However, these are so little that I do not mind keeping GUI apps just for these use cases.
diff --git a/tfa/index.html b/tfa/index.html index d6906ca..c134e31 100644 --- a/tfa/index.html +++ b/tfa/index.html @@ -19,7 +19,7 @@sf.cu > Blog > Start Using 2FA Properly
-13 May 2023
3 min
+Posted on: 13 May 2023
Reading time: 3 minCategory: Software && Guides
If you use any online account, you should use 2FA keys. It does not matter if it is your Google account that has all of your personal information or if it is some random account you use once in a while. You should at least have 2FA enabled in an authenticator app or preferably a 2FA key. Do not use SMS.
Why buy a 2FA key when you can use 2FA codes or SMS for free? Let us start with SMS.
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@An authenticator app is much better than SMS-based 2FA. This is because authenticator apps usually follow the TOTP or HOTP standard, which is very secure. It basically uses a secret key along with the current time to create a unique code that changes every thirty seconds.
One thing that you should absolutely not do is use Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, Authy or anything as such. This is because the clients are close-sourced, which means that the code is not public. This means that they could be doing anything with your 2FA secret keys. Authy syncs your codes which is convenient but it does not allow you to export your keys, just like other properietary authentication apps. This is unethical as you should have complete control over what is required to access your own accounts. If your Authy account gets disabled, you will no longer be able to log in to most accounts. A much better alternative is:
-You should also be taking frequent encrypted backups of not only your 2FA codes, but all data that is important to you. Read this post to learn how to take encrypted backups properly. Remember, you should keep your backups as far away from other people's hands as possible. If they have your secret keys, they have your 2FA codes.
Security keys are the best form of two-factor authentication. They are physical keys which need to be plugged in to your computer or smartphone in order to be used. They use NFC, USB-C, USB-A and also the Lightning port. This 2FA method makes it so that it does not matter which person gets your credentials because they need access to your key physically in order to login. One drawback of this method is that, if you lose your key, you cannot login to your accounts. This is why people buy 2 or 3 as a backup. It should be noted that, although other methods can be used alongside security keys, it is not recommended as it is still possible to just use the other insecure methods for a cybercriminal and bypass your security key.
diff --git a/torrent/index.html b/torrent/index.html index d0c5523..8e311b7 100644 --- a/torrent/index.html +++ b/torrent/index.html @@ -18,12 +18,12 @@sf.cu > Blog > Why You Should Torrent
16 July 2023
4 min
+Posted on: 16 July 2023
Reading time: 4 minCategory: Technology
I believe that everyone should download most of the files they use through torrents as much as possible. This is because of its philosophy to share and contribute. It has numerous advantages as well.
First, let's clear a few myths about torrenting.
No. Torrenting is not illegal. This is the most common myth about torrenting that scares people off. Torrents are a way to share files of all types and this also includes illegal files and copyrighted material. If you get caught torrenting files that are copyrighted, then the owner of the file has the right to take action. However, you torrenting a Linux ISO or a file that is in the public domain and free for anyone to use is not illegal. In fact, it is recommended to prevent censorship.
+No. Torrenting is not illegal. This is the most common myth about torrenting that scares people off. Torrents are a way to share files of all types and this also includes illegal files and copyrighted material. If you get caught torrenting files that are copyrighted, then the owner of the file has the right to take action. However, you torrenting a Linux ISO or a file that is in the public domain and free for anyone to use is not illegal. In fact, it is recommended to prevent censorship.
While there is some truth in it, it is not used only to pirate material. Torrenting is an amazing way to share files with numerous advantages.
sf.cu > Blog > Buy Only Metal USBs
6 May 2023
-2 min +
Posted on: 6 May 2023
+Reading time: 2 min
-
Category: Technology
You should only buy metal USBs because they last longer. Metal USBs should be used for everything that a USB is used for. First, let me clarify what USBs are supposed to be used for:
sf.cu > Blog > Tools I Use
31 July 2023
4 min
+Posted on: 31 July 2023
Reading time: 4 minCategory: Technology
I use the Nothing Phone (1). It is a spectacular phone from a great new brand that keeps getting better with each update they release. It looks extremely cool with the glyph lights, which I find to be useful in some cases.
Along with my phone, I use the OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z
-Operating System (Linux Distribution):
-I use Arch Linux. I love its lightweight and do-it-yourself nature. It gives me more control over what is installed on my PC.
+Operating System (Linux Distribution):
+I use Arch Linux. I love its lightweight and do-it-yourself nature. It gives me more control over what is installed on my PC.
Window Manager:
I use DWM. It is lightweight and you build it by modifying the source code which makes your build personal. It was made by Suckless. By default, Suckless software is basic and it seems condescending to use the software. However, you make it your own by patching it with the patches on their website. Please check out other suckless utilities here. You can find my build here.
Terminal Emulator:
diff --git a/vimwiki/index.html b/vimwiki/index.html index e31b022..90e1ea6 100644 --- a/vimwiki/index.html +++ b/vimwiki/index.html @@ -18,7 +18,7 @@sf.cu > Blog > VimWiki Is Terrific
26 July 2023
2 min
+Posted on: 26 July 2023
Reading time: 2 minCategory: Linux
I have recently been using VimWiki to take all of my notes instead of Joplin, and it has been working really well. It has its own Markdown (.md) format, but I use regular Markdown (.md) with it. I use Syncthing to sync all my notes to all of my devices. There is barely any delay, so there are never any conflict issues.
VimWiki is a plugin for Vim or Neovim that allows you to create a personal wiki. On this wiki, you can add anything you want. It is essentially Obsidian but more minimal and scriptable.