Cryptocurrency ignores Open Source?
"Very often, people treat open source software and cryptocurrency like two completely separate topics."
The Conflict
Linux & Monero
Very often, people treat open source software and cryptocurrency like two completely separate topics. These people mistakenly believe that Linux and Monero are two different unrelated tools to solve different problems.
MyMonero
For example, some cryptocurrency exchanges force its users to run proprietary web software which is deeply integrated with its service, such as Google captchas or Authenticator, without even disclosing that free and open source alternatives exist. Very often cryptocurrency companies will market their products to Microsoft Windows or Apple users without mentioning that it may negate some or all of users’ privacy benefits. For example, on the front page of MyMonero, it featured this quote from a Github developer:
“MyMonero is gorgeous; now I just need an iPhone and Apple Watch app.”
This quote makes it seem as though using this Monero wallet on your iPhone is giving you privacy, when Apple’s proprietary systems are known to have malicious surveillance.
iRedMail
At the other end, some open source software companies won’t let you pay for their technical support services using cryptocurrency. There are many examples of this, including Netgear with its open source firewall pfSense, Oracle with its VirtualBox emulator, or iRedMail’s FOSS email server software setups. All of these companies have software designed around giving the user freedom, but yet only takes a credit card or Paypal. Not only does this mean a loss of privacy, but Paypal is even interested in censoring users based on their social media speech. In fact, one might wonder, what is even the purpose of open source software if you need surveillance operating systems and censorship “money” to use it.
Bitcoin
Cryptocurrency is just one type of free and open source software. For example, the ability of anyone to see the source code of Bitcoin provides Bitcoin with added value.
Cryptocurrency and all other open source software promote a decentralized society in which the user is in control. It’s not just about privacy, but it’s also about society’s structure of power. With Monero, you’re free from the Federal Reserve and banks. With Linux, you’re free from Microsoft and Apple.
These are the founding principles on which Simplified Privacy is built. We enable less technically savvy users to get help with Linux and products that use Linux servers (such as email, VPNs, or Tor bridges) using cryptocurrency to reclaim their freedom. Don’t miss new posts by subscribing for free to our new content by email, by Session messenger, or RSS feed.
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