This seems to be a term thrown around lately – what is it?
It is control and authority over your data/files free from external interference, intrusion, and access/control by third parties.
If you keep all your data/files locally on your own computer, use software that you own and don’t need an internet connection to use it, and cannot be accessed by anyone unless you authorize it, then you would have Digital Sovereignty.
The problem is that really having Digital Sovereignty is very rare now-a-days. let’s test this;
Test # one: Ownership vs the subscription model; when was the last time that you actually purchased software? I mean software that does not need an internet connection at all to be able to use it 24/7 365 days a year forever. If so, are you still actively using it?
Test # two: Where is the data kept and is it managed/accessible by a third party?
Test # three: Is it protected by some means so that only you or an authorized person by you can access and read/use it (privacy/security)?
Did you pass all three? If you are using Microsoft, Adobe, or any other ‘service’ in your work flow, then you have failed all three tests.
Now I can hear it now; I don’t have anything to hide, nobody wants my files or data. Sorry to break it to ya, your data and files are more valuable than you think to somebody else. If you are using anything Microsoft (Windows/Office 365), they know EVERYTHING you have done and what you have. This includes your financials, any contracts/deals you are negotiating, and who your customers are or who you associate with (just to name a few).
With Adobe it is simple – all your intellectual property is theirs to use as they see fit. You have a novel idea or concept that nobody else has – not any longer. Don’t believe me, read the Terms of Service or the User Licence Agreement (I mean really read it, read it all).
So what do we do about it? – Take back your ‘Digital Sovereignty’.
How you may ask? let’s start with Open Source Software.
Besides being free to use, the premise of Open Source Software is transparency; anyone can inspect the code. Because of this, the developers/maintainers cannot sneak in any shady code as there is a huge community around the world that keep an eye on the development and can out any undesired code or ‘feature’. With proprietary software, you don’t know anything about what is in it or what it is doing behind the screen. Quality control; proprietary software may have a few people checking and testing their own software, however, Open Source Software have the whole internet of coders and testers that can check, test, and contribute to a wide variety of Open Source Software (from simple tools to complete Operating systems and everything in between).
What that means to you (the end user), is that you can use software that is not only free to use, it is free of telemetry (spyware) and any other hidden undesired surprises.
When done here, please read Try Linux or Have you FLOSSed today for more info on Open Source Software and their alternatives to similar proprietary software.
Not only Microsoft’s Windows and Office 365 spy on you, they continually try to steer you into using a Microsoft account and their cloud products (their Eco system). If you use these products/services, they have further access to your data and files (actually storing them on their servers). Adobe isn’t off the hook here either, they also store your intellectual property as well. Once your data and files are elsewhere, you no longer have care and control of those files and data. Also, these services have unfettered access. If they wanted to snoop there is no real way to stop them (or know that they did). This is also concerning as authorities can also compel them to give your content to them or give them access without even informing you that they are or have. Not to dump on Microsoft and Adobe only, unless the service provider can guarantee end-to-end and zero-knowledge encryption services, you have the same risks with any other on-line ‘cloud service’ provider.
One more thing I would like to mention is that you own your computer that you bought and paid for, right? So why are companies like Microsoft besides collecting, using, and possibly selling your telemetry data can also turn your system into an ad platform, make unauthorized changes to your settings, and add/remove services/software without your consent or for any compensation to you?
Even though the answer to this issue is stop using these ‘services’ and start using Open Source Software. I don’t expect you to turn your world upside-down by quitting all these services all at once and switching to alternatives overnight. However, there are ways to do this without destroying your workflow.
Here are the steps I recommend:
- Look for Open Source Software alternatives for the software you currently use. Make sure each of the Open Source Software have versions for both Windows and Linux.
- Take your time, do the research, install and try out the ones you think have the features you want (and not just for a couple of days).
- Check out the documentation and the community that uses the software. Explore as many of the menus and settings you can.
- Open your Microsoft/Adobe documents using the alternatives, do they open with all the proper formatting?
- Once comfortable using your chosen alternatives, the next step is choosing a Linux distribution for your system. Just like the steps for the Open Source Software;
- Take your time, do the research, download the ISOs and try out the ones you think have the features you want by booting from the USB. There are plenty of Youtube videos available on how to setup and use a boot-able USB stick. There are a couple of good Youtube videos also recommended by this website.
- Remember that the OS is running from a USB drive and likely will load/run slower than if it was installed on your system.
- Booting from USB also called a live environment does not write anything to the computer HDD/SSD (unless you start the installation process). Because of this any changes you make while using the USB will not be saved and your system will remain unchanged.
- Once you decided on which Linux distribution you want, now you have to decide on how to set it up on your system.
- Option 1 (the safest, need knowledge of your computer hardware and some technical know how). Remove the HDD/SSD that has your windows and install a blank HDD/SSD to install your chosen Linux on. The great thing about this method is that you can always swap back the drives if you need to use the windows. You will have to copy any files you want to use to a external/USB drive to copy to or use with the Linux drive.
- Option 2a (a bit of risk, backup your stuff first, need knowledge of your computer hardware and technical know how). Install a second HDD/SSD into your computer and install your Linux as a dual boot system on the second drive. You choose which system to boot into at computer startup and be able to access your files on the Windows drive while using Linux.
- Option 2b (more risk, backup your stuff first). Install your Linux as a dual boot system. The Linux install will share the HDD/SSD and you choose which system to boot into at computer startup. The advantage – No extra hardware to buy and will be able to access your files on the Windows drive while using Linux.
- Option 3 (safe, requires a newer/beefy system). Setup a virtual machine in your windows. The advantage – You can run both Windows and Linux apps at the same time. This is even better if you have a dual monitor setup, Linux on one, Windows on the other.
- Option 4 (seriously, backup your stuff to an external drive before doing this) Deleting your Windows and installing Linux. This is the easiest way, however you will no longer have Windows. Then copy your backed up files into your new Linux OS.
- Install the same alternative Open Source Software that you have/had on your Windows to your Linux.
- Enjoy your new freedom, privacy, and Digital Sovereignty!