Do you have any documentation or guide that you can shoot my way that you follow for doing the swap? I would be interested in seeing this through.
I have been rather ignorant to the level of detail this issue of anonymity is revolved around. I have been researching an interesting project which may gain unwanted attention. Topic being XKS. In the document, some claims are made that seem to indicate any and all methods of privacy and security are futile. On top of that, certain interests or activity, behavior warrants tracking and a target on your back indefinitely. Now, I get that some actions, activity, behavior should warrant this, but I personally do not do those things and I know hundreds of millions in my country alone are also not doing those things. Yet what is, is.
I am not doom and gloom but if this article is right, to even a slight degree, then nothing will give you privacy if you use the technology in the current infrastructure. At least, not without knowing how to bend or break rules, laws, maybe circumvent those conditions to some degree but I doubt it.
So I feel like there is no reason to even own one of these machines. I already have a huge target on my back because I buy BTC and other crypto and because I seek privacy.
I have used TOR just for learning purposes, surfing the web, reading articles, etc. I have downloaded hacking OS, used privacy live based systems, I am a subscriber to a few hacking, privacy, security communities, reddits, discords, etc. I have a genuine interest in things being fair and equal.
Now I am labelled an extremist, a terrorist, and a threat to national security. Not only do I have a military background but my family is also embedded in intelligence and special operations. This is very concerning for me, considering I am the black sheep of the family who stands with the pursuit of truth rather than a false narrative.
So I would return these items but I would only get docked for restocking fees and shipping. I feel like its worthless to even continue learning, because there already is no basic privacy nor incentive to have any. There is no respect to personal boundaries for those who do live lawful lives. This is why I was on a path to seek privacy focused machine and systems, learn dev and security myself, maybe even take some IT certifications etc, a new career.
I make a post on reddit and I get shafted by the whole community, I am new to reddit and social media, I dont (rarely) use it for this reason. I can’t help but see the patterns of human behavior and we are not doing so well. Humans are slaves, and there is no love, no freedom, no light here. The institutions want control, they want to know the future, and there is no room for any innocence in that world.