Mind pontificating on what is so amazing about the backup software? Doesn't seem to come with any cloud storage and seems to do basically what rsync does.
With pleasure: It's basically rsync or robocopy for Windows, but wrapped up in a nice GUI with additional features.
I've used both and still use rsync on a daily basis, and one thing I don't miss is meticulously sifting through command line syntax in order to ensure all my data isn't accidentally destroyed.
More to the point, the amazing part is the ethos and quality to which Bvckup2 is built. It's one of those rare gems that's essentially software excellence. It's fast, it's lean, it's very narrow in scope, and it has a mirror-shine polish. Software like that is a thing of beauty these days.
It's made my backup situation on Windows an absolute pleasure to deal with, so that's why I recommend it.
NordVPN is a data mining fraud, that is inadequately aggressively advertised from every corner, that owns many websites with VPN rankings, that lies about being in Panama, that decreases your privacy much by retaining logs. The only valid reason to use it would be to avoid geo-blocking. If you use NordVPN for any other reason (such as, for privacy), you have been fooled, unfortunately. If you find this comment helpful, help others by informing them.
Besides that, try to read some writes about why you should not to use any VPN services. It's easy to find promotional articles of various VPN providers about how they enhance your privacy, but instead try to look for arguments against. Only if you live in an very oppressive country and trust someone without name your exit point more, than your ISP (not sarcasm), or if you want to bypass geo-blocking, it makes sense to use VPN providers. Otherwise, you are harming your privacy and paying for an overpriced service to someone who does nothing but resells bandwidth and studies your traffic.
I meant that using some paid VPN for privacy is not recommended because in most cases it doesn't improve privacy, only costs money. Obviously, there is nothing wrong with connecting to your own VPN server at home when you are away, in order to access your local network, or if you want want to browse Internet through your home ISP instead of your mobile ISP.
Now, if using paid VPN providers is just a useless advice, possibly partially spread by the VPN industry, using NordVPN is very harmful because it seems to be one of the least trustworthy VPN providers because of their close connections with the data mining industry. NordVPN seems to be the №1 because of their immense advertisement spendings that bury the controversy.
I'm confused about this too. I don't use a VPN, have been wanting to purchase a subscription to one for sometime but I haven't been sure which to get since I don't trust any of those rating sites.
It's wise of you not to trust the ratings. Practically all VPN provider rating websites give those score based purely of their affiliate fees [0].
I would recommend not to purchase any subscriptions. This whole "VPN for privacy" thing more and more looks like a meme created by the industry of useless entities that resell bandwidth. It's a very profitable industry because they do nothing but receive money, they don't protect you legally either; those who lie about their no-logs policy, without hesitation give your data away to the law enforcement agencies.
- Spotify
- Cloud VMs for hobby projects
- Fastmail
- KGS Go Client for Android
- JetBrains IDEs
- Windows 10 (bundled with Surface Go)
- Desktop productivity utilities from time to time
- Games that I support but hardly ever play
- Netflix (I think about cancelling all the time)
Edit: I forgot about how I get one (Gran Turismo) or two (usually DLC) games for each PlayStation but then don't buy any more games.
Main downside of Protonmail is you can search email contents or use normal email clients without adapter software. I know its not encrypted but I like Fastmail.
there is a lot of free open source ware and shareware was a big thing, never paid for windows its always been on a system prior to my gleaning it from the crappile.
It is very easy to not pay for software and remain non criminal if you eschew the chronic redirections and upgrades that are not functionally neccesary but make money for someone. Hardware is another thing. Ive rarely paid for hardware, and definately not full retail price.
The thing is a lot of commercial wares are full of features that are not needed, or are composites of "more primative"
features
BTW always check any cd drives that come into your possesion, there are often disks left in them.
undeleting files from a hardrive or thumbdrive is another source of free-for-you stuff.
first off not all is free for everyone, it is aquired for nothing. WIndows has been taken out as i dont need it anymore, ive gone full linux with wine and never went back
linux mint
libre office
vlc
masm32
various browsers
these are my every day carrys, but the GNU FOSS ecosystem has everything i need and most of what i want, other than that i roll my own.
nope, libraries are cool, so is the arxiv. there are also a lot of abandonded items about, i mentioned earlier, that old CDdrives and disc players often have a disc in them.
and radio stations are just fine, espescially if you stock up on some of the late night airings
Bvckup2 (https://bvckup2.com/)
Houdini Indie
Redshift3D
Spotify
Windows 10
Jetbrains Complete Pack
Steam games (almost universally when discounted during sales)
Netflix
Adobe Creative Cloud
I suppose it isn't Jetbrains' fault I've switched to native vim, otherwise their suite is fantastic value.