Symbol | Meaning | Symbol | Meaning |
⚠️ | Security Risk | 💲 | Paid |
❗ | Privacy Risk | | Free and Paid options |
🔍 | Open Source | 🔐 | End-to-End Encrypted |
✅ | Free | 🍏 | Apple Products Only |
This is a wet finger in the air guess of how difficult it is to implement a new service technically (e.g. install a new app) as well as the admin/thinking effort you’d need to undertake. Remember, there’s no need to do anything you don’t want or don’t feel comfortable doing. And if you have a technically savvy family member, they might be able to help you out.
Difficulty | Approx. Level of Effort | Example |
0/5 | Easily achievable for most people at the click of a few buttons. 5 minute job. Some short instructions may be necessary. | Installing an app from a browser or app store; changing search engine |
1/5 | A minor amount of configuration required. Achievable relatively quickly by most users with clear instructions. 10 minute task. | Adding a browser extension (e.g. ad blocker or password manager) |
2/5 | A minor amount of configuration required, but possibly in uncharted territory. Achievable by most users with very clear instructions and a hot brew. | Configuring device network settings; sideloading an Android app (APK). |
3/5 | A moderate amount of configuration required and some command line interaction may be needed. Instructions required. Things could go wrong, but are easily recoverable. | Downloading and installing a software package from Github using the command line |
4/5 | A major amount of configuration is required with some technical problem solving, likely requiring command line interaction. Things could go wrong, but are typically recoverable after a good cup of tea. | Fresh install of Windows from bootable installation media. |
5/5 | Not for the faint of heart. Troubleshooting, technical problem solving and command line interaction are almost certainly needed to achieve the desired outcome. Recovery may mean a factory reset or restoring from backup. Emergency biscuits may be required. | Installing a new operating system like Linux or a non-stock Android ROM (e.g. GrapheneOS, /e/OS). |
Difficulty | Approx. Level of Effort | Example |
Easy | Moving to a new system or service where you need to bring very little data with you. | Changing browser and importing your bookmarks. |
Medium | Moving to a new system or service where you need to bring your old data with you. | Moving operating system from Windows to Linux. |
Hard | Migrating years worth of data from an existing service that you have embedded in your life to a new service. This would require sustained effort over time, typically becoming easier with use. | Migrating years worth of emails from one email provider to another. |
Term | Definition | |
Anonymity | The ability to stay anonymous. Not really touched in this guide - after all, it’s not for spies. | |
Jailbreak | This sounds baaaaaad. But really it just means you’ve removed some inbuilt restrictions on a product you own to run the software you want to. Removing these controls can pose a risk to your device, but it depends what you’re installing, where it’s come from and do you trust it. | |
Privacy | Your personal right to keep your personal information secret. It’s legit a fundamental basic right. | |
Security | Basically making sure your information remains confidential and unaltered. Safe from hackers and ne’er-do-wells. | |
Sideload | Sounds fancy, right? In the olden days this just meant to install the software you wanted on your device. It still does. It just means it doesn’t come from the Play Store or iStore. Oh no. Sideloading can pose a risk to your device, but it depends what you’re installing, where it’s come from and do you trust it. | |