Questions related to privacy management with Ubuntu OS, network, apps, etc. and related issues.
Questions tagged [privacy]
183 questions
131
votes
5 answers
How can I read and remove meta (exif) data from my photos using the command line?
Just looked this up. Figure I'd share it here for future reference.
klenwell
- 4,219
56
votes
7 answers
Why can other users see the files in my home folder?
I just added a new, underprivileged "desktop user," and I was surprised to discover that it can see the files in my home folder.
What is the rational for setting up such lax permissions?
ændrük
- 78,496
56
votes
4 answers
How to hide recent files and most used apps?
How can I hide recent files that my Ubuntu Netbook's unity menu shows when I click on the files and folder icon?
Okay ! I watch porn sometimes and right after that it appears in the files and folder menu.
And believe me, that is not a good thing.…
Swapnil Narendra
- 881
55
votes
11 answers
How to install Tor?
I tried to install Tor on my new version of Ubuntu, but it seems that Tor is not available in the repositories.
How else can I install and use Tor?
ali
- 707
54
votes
4 answers
Will all Dash input in 12.10 be sent to Amazon?
It seems like all user input to the Dash home lens is send to Amazon by default in Ubuntu 12.10, is this correct?
Paradiesstaub
- 4,391
47
votes
5 answers
I have permanent connections to Canonical servers, what are they for and how can I turn them off?
After the recent upgrade to 12, I notice permanent connections to canonical servers.
Running netstat -tp gives:
Foreign Address State PID/Program name
mulberry.canonical:http CLOSE_WAIT 6537/ubuntu-geoip-p
alkes.canonical.co:http…
Dan Dman
- 703
45
votes
2 answers
Why does Ubuntu require us to register an account on Ubuntu website to be able to install a Snap package?
Today I wanted to install a Snap Package on Ubuntu Xenial, but it prompted me to register an account on Ubuntu Single Sign-On.
Why does Ubuntu ask us for such a thing?
Installing a Snap Package:
This is the reported bug on Launchpad,…
salman
- 561
32
votes
3 answers
How to block input to webcam?
When I was running Windows 7 on my Lenovo machine there was a pre-installed Lenovo utility which would make it so that anyone trying to see what my webcam sees would instead see a still image of a camera with a cross over it. And thus preventing…
user364819
30
votes
1 answer
Explicit pictures show when searching "gedit" in Ubuntu Dash
Recently at work I searched the Unity Dash for gedit and there were explicit pictures in the search result. The picture shows in "Reference" field when I search "gedit" only..
It was very embarrassing to see those files in the list in front of my…
Xiaokun
- 372
29
votes
6 answers
Is ubuntu-geoip (GeoClue) used for tracking?
I am happily learning Ubuntu more closely now. I came across the process ubuntu-geoip-provider in system monitor.
Is is used for tracking or for gathering nearest server info, or for syncing time with Internet, or perhaps for all these things? I…
atenz
- 12,858
28
votes
5 answers
Which free VPN providers support Ubuntu?
Can't find any free VPN provider for Ubuntu. I tried looking into old questions but they seem to be outdated.
Jitin Kinger
- 283
21
votes
3 answers
Why does my Ubuntu 14.04 desktop light up my Webcam on startup and login?
My privacy feels invaded by the "active" light on my webcam turning on when I boot Ubuntu, and again when I login. It stays on for 3-4 seconds, then turns back off.
It's a Creative HD 1080p webcam that sits on top of the monitor, plugged in via…
Nick Charney Kaye
- 652
- 7
- 15
19
votes
7 answers
How do I prevent the file 'recently-used.xbel' from being created?
I want to permanently prevent Ubuntu 12.10 from creating a "recently used" file list. This list seems to be stored in the file:
/home/user/.local/share/recently-used.xbel
I have tried deleting this file, but it keeps being recreated every time I…
Jason
- 457
18
votes
6 answers
Encrypted home folder still accessible after logout
I you have an account with an encrypted home folder, you can't access the user's plain text data in their home folder if that user hasn't logged in, yet, since the system last booted up. This is what I expected because it should in fact not be…
UTF-8
- 5,910
- 10
- 34
- 68
17
votes
2 answers
Enabling, disabling camera from terminal
How do I enable and disable the laptop's camera from the terminal? And how will I know if it is on or of?
sigdelsanjog
- 7,280