Inexpensive stand alone computer wanted for more private tasks.

[Hoff]

That's what a Linux VM is for.

Cool. Would it still access all these on my Mac?

1) part of my hard drive (for files)
2) USB drive (to transfer some files)
3) Bluetooth (to transfer some files)

Also how do I set up a VM running High Sierra on my MBP running High Sierra?

I can buy a VM software, but how do I get the Mac OS to be able to run inside it?

Actually would just creating a new user on my MacBook Pro solve this whole problem?

A new user just for banking & taxes?

 

[Boyd01]

Also how do I set up a VM running High Sierra on my MBP running High Sierra?

You will find some info with a Google search, but I found it all rather confusing. What I ended up doing was using a Carbon Copy Clone of my old Mac that I had on an external SSD. In Parallels, you just choose the option to create a VM from a disk image and it only takes a few seconds. However, what this actually did was create a VM with an empty virtual disk that booted from the external SSD (just like you could boot a real computer from an external disk).

So I just used Carbon Copy again to copy the external SSD to the virtual disk, then set the VM to startup from that disk. This works perfectly for me. But, exactly what is the "whole problem" you are trying to solve? Are you worried that somebody could gain full access to your computer? Because, if they could, then they could also theoretically get into your VM or another user account on the same computer.

I think using this the other way around would be more secure - use the VM for the "risky" things you do and use the host computer for your banking, etc.

 

[Hoff]

But, exactly what is the "whole problem" you are trying to solve? Are you worried that somebody could gain full access to your computer?

No, I became very annoyed when I found out my bank (and many, many other websites) was sending information to my Facebook account! Even when I was NOT logged into Facebook!

So I do not want things like my banking data, or SSN, or tax form data being sent to FB!

I think using this the other way around would be more secure - use the VM for the "risky" things you do and use the host computer for your banking, etc.

I sort of agree, but I don't want to have to re-format the whole computer to set that up. Also I use FB every single day, logging in and out multiple times. So do not want the added hassle of logging into a VM on top of that.

If I just create a new User profile, would it be separate enough that my FB cookies on my old user profile would not see what I'm sending in my new user profile?

I already have 2 user profiles, and sites like YouTube seem to know what I'm doing in all of them (Things I search in one profile are now "suggested" in my 2nd profile even when I did not search for them in that profile.)

Is there any hope for any piece of privacy?? Ugghhhhhh..... 😠 😠 😠

 

[Boyd01]

When you log into a site like facebook or youtube, it stores info about you in your browser. As long as you use the same facebook/youtube usernames then it doesn't matter what device you're using, they will know that it's you. But why would a bank send personal information about you to facebook?

 

[Hoff]

But why would a bank send personal information about you to facebook?

I don't know. I was pretty shocked to see that. Especially since I always log off of one and clear the cookies before logging onto the other.

I don't know if they're sending "personal" information.
But that's the problem. If they're sending any information it's too much. We will never know what they are actually sending.

I don't want every website I visit to tell FB that I visited them. (Even when logged out of FB).

That's why I want a separate machine for browsing other sites.

 

[MBAir2010]

I don't know. I was pretty shocked to see that. Especially since I always log off of one and clear the cookies before logging onto the other.

I don't know if they're sending "personal" information.
But that's the problem. If they're sending any information it's too much. We will never know what they are actually sending.

I don't want every website I visit to tell FB that I visited them. (Even when logged out of FB).

That's why I want a separate machine for browsing other sites.

hopefully this in not a dead horse beating, but

most people are in the same boat, they search for cycling parts to go a another website, like OWC-macsales and see cycling parts for sale and that goggle red x on the right corner. that is the webhost cookie and algorithms setting and will be prone to both windows and mac environment, and probably Linux, and these are appearing more since mid-April. if a firewall is activated, these ads cannot access your vital info on your computer system.

this happens to those without a facebook account and with 3rd party cookies blocked, which is strange in 2021.
in your situation, getting a separate computer will not 100% protect you from these pop up and vulnerabilities, but you should be safer as long as you keep your banking info off the new computer, be that Linux-apple or windows system.

 

[Hoff]

if a firewall is activated, these ads cannot access your vital info on your computer system.

Holy cow, what do you mean?
Do you mean if I don't have a firewall activated, they can take my personal documents?
Can they take the PDFs on my hard drive?
Or only data I type into websites?

 

[MBAir2010]

Holy cow, what do you mean?
Do you mean if I don't have a firewall activated, they can take my personal documents?
Can they take the PDFs on my hard drive?
Or only data I type into websites?

a Firewall is a network security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules. A firewall typically establishes a barrier between a trusted network and an untrusted network, such as the Internet. (from Wikipedia)

using a firewall is like locking a car, they can still steal your car by smashing the windows, but that is harder than opening the door.

How is the Linux quest going?
my Dell XPS had a 256GB ssd drive sitting around that needs attention and doing nothing so that might get a fresh install of Unbuntu Design or studio.
hopefully that linux install can be performed with an external enclosure and usb-c port.

 

[Alwis]

I want a standalone machine that I use ONLY for more sensitive things like online banking and filing taxes online.
I won't load any apps, or visit any other websites on it.

The German magazine Ct once made a Linux distribution focused on online banking. This distribution worked from DVD, so that malware could not permanently modify the OS. But this distribution is no longer maintained.

I personally would use a VM for this, based on your software needs either Linux or macOS.

 

[sracer]

I don't know. I was pretty shocked to see that. Especially since I always log off of one and clear the cookies before logging onto the other.

I don't know if they're sending "personal" information.
But that's the problem. If they're sending any information it's too much. We will never know what they are actually sending.

I don't want every website I visit to tell FB that I visited them. (Even when logged out of FB).

That's why I want a separate machine for browsing other sites.

Having a separate machine for online banking is not going to provide the privacy that you're looking for.

Facebook has an extensive "file" on you. Even if you've never created a Facebook account. Your bank has information that it shares with others. Even if you never did any online banking.

There are heuristic algorithms that are used that are able to "connect the dots" between databases of different services that don't necessarily have uniquely identifiable information. Google, Facebook, and other systems take these "innocent" datasets that by themselves don't necessarily identify you as a particular individual, and are able to composite them into a very detailed dataset about you personally, your interests, your activity, etc.

 

[IowaLynn]

No one mentioned yet but you want to be using a VPN no matter what route you take.

I would bookmark and make a habit daily of checking security news.

I avoid doing anything financials elated via web, if at all possible.

Good ad blockers can help with filtering and blocking FB and Google - there are thousands of the little monsters anytime you access a web site or use an app. JavaScripts. Companies like those and ad servers, data merchants, Doubleclick and others are unregulated, huge, and clever. I thought I ran across an article recently, probably due to what Apple is trying to do and why Facebook and others were shedding crocodile tears.

 

[sracer]

No one mentioned yet but you want to be using a VPN no matter what route you take.

I would bookmark and make a habit daily of checking security news.

I avoid doing anything financials elated via web, if at all possible.

Good ad blockers can help with filtering and blocking FB and Google - there are thousands of the little monsters anytime you access a web site or use an app. JavaScripts. Companies like those and ad servers, data merchants, Doubleclick and others are unregulated, huge, and clever. I thought I ran across an article recently, probably due to what Apple is trying to do and why Facebook and others were shedding crocodile tears.

I guess I should have mentioned VPNs and said that I don't recommend them. I know that they're viewed as these best way to protect privacy... but that is not correct.

Adblockers are a good practice but not necessarily from a privacy perspective. The best reason for using adblockers is to reduce bandwidth usage, improve browsing performance, and as a line of defense for malware transmitted in the trojan horse of ads.

Then there is the issue of "pixel tracking". Virtually every web page contains single transparent pixel images that are hosted by data farming servers. When a web browser loads a web page, it requests those pixels from those servers... the servers track the date, time, and IP address of the requester. This data is then used to synthesize a more comprehensive data profile of the requester. On the surface, VPNs appear to avoid this, but they actually make it easier to aggregate that data. (but that is a topic for another post)

Yes, one can install a tracker blocker like Ghostery, but web page design is changing to prevent the page from loading of the tracking pixel was blocked.

 

[IowaLynn]

I still think ProtonVPN Plus Netshield is better than not.

DNS resolver on ProtonVPN’s server will crosscheck it with databases of blacklisted websites known to host malicious trackers, spyware, adware and malware.
If there is a match, then NetShield will block connection to the site. ...checks against the associated domains that loads up the scripts, images, and any other resources that the website loads up.

ProtonVPN Adds 'NetShield' Feature to Block Malware, Scripts & Ads Online

ProtonVPN is a completely open-source VPN service developed by Proton Technologies AG based in Geneva, Switzerland (known for some of the world’s strongest privacy laws). ProtonVPN has a vast network of 1,000+ servers spread across 54 countries. They offer free and paid subscriptions with...

news.itsfoss.com

 

[xraydoc]

I have a MPB, but it seems like all my apps and websites are collecting all my data, etc.

I want a standalone machine that I use ONLY for more sensitive things like online banking and filing taxes online.
I won't load any apps, or visit any other websites on it.

I'd love it to be a Mac, but the cheapest new Mac is around $1000.
I'd rather pay around $400-$500.

So my next guess is an inexpensive native Linux based machine? (Either laptop or mini computer similar to Mac Mini).

Is there a Linux computer I can buy new for $400-$500?
Or another option similar to that?

I do not want a Windows machine
I do not want a Chrome OS machine
I do not want to try to load Linux onto a machine (I want it pre-installed and working out of the box if I go that route).

Any suggestions?

Make a second, separate user account on your current Mac and use this user only for the sensitive things. Then log out and back in to your main user account.