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Privacy and logs in Plasma

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cgarces
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Privacy and logs in Plasma

Mon Jul 20, 2020 7:13 am
Hi people:

Here is a privacy matter. Does anyone still care? To me, obviously. I hope that another people too.

Despite having checked the option "do not remember" in System Settings -> Workspace Behavior -> Activities -> Privacy I have not found any other option regarding privacy in Kubuntu 20.04 with Plasma 5.18.

What I did find is that "sensitive" documents that I used weeks ago have been logged, at least, in various files and directories:

~ /.local/share/RecentDocuments
~ /.local/share/recently-used.xbel
~ /.local/share/kactivitymanagerd/resources

It may seem trivial, but I don't think it is: let's just think of possible everyday and less everyday scenarios.

I don't think this is all a trick to "spy" on people, but I do think we should be in control of all of that: because it does affect privacy, and privacy still matters to many of us.

I think there should be more options to configure these things, and I wonder where else on my computer my activity will be logged, without having control over it.

Does anyone here know what else processes, files and/or directories are involved in these issues?

Does anyone know how to "knock out" these processes as much as possible without affecting the proper functioning of the system? I have already learned that kactivitymanagerd should not be touched, hehe.

Thanks!
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Mamarok
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Re: Privacy and logs in Plasma

Mon Jul 20, 2020 9:45 am
~/.local/ share is user specific, so unless somebody else than you uses the same account I don't see how this could be a privacy problem.


Running Kubuntu 22.10 with Plasma 5.26.3, Frameworks 5.100.0, Qt 5.15.6, kernel 5.19.0-23 on Ryzen 5 4600H, AMD Renoir, X11
FWIW: it's always useful to state the exact Plasma version (+ distribution) when asking questions, makes it easier to help ...
cgarces
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Re: Privacy and logs in Plasma

Mon Jul 20, 2020 4:05 pm
Mamarok wrote:~/.local/ share is user specific, so unless somebody else than you uses the same account I don't see how this could be a privacy problem.


Thanks for your answer, Mamarok.

Certainly, if we looking at it that way shouldn't be a problem.

But I think we should be able to have more control over our data, even if it doesn't leave our encrypted user folder (there are more dangers out there).

Why do there have to be several logs on my system, which also grow over time, if I do not want to have any list of recent files or recent places?

I came to Linux in part for the privacy that most desktops and distributions offered compared with Windows and MacOS. I am new to KDE/Plasma; I always thought it was a terribly heavy desktop, and I have seen that it is faster (at least on my computer) than "light" desktops, it is also much more beautiful and customizable. I think there should also be customization in something as sensitive as our activities or our file lists...

In any case I will take it with sportsmanship and I trust that it is something that will be taken into account over time. Privacy is increasingly a booming value: honor that value and you will win; we will all win.

Thank you! :-)
koffeinfriedhof
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Re: Privacy and logs in Plasma

Tue Jul 21, 2020 9:14 am
Hi!

If you want to delete these files, you may just deleted the content of ~/.local/share/RecentDocuments on logout triggering a script. Besides, there are some options you could try out: open systemsettings5 - Startup and Shutdown - Background Services.

Non-KDE-Applications would not use these settings, so they would still write in the above mentioned folder.
agamemnon
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Re: Privacy and logs in Plasma

Sun Jan 09, 2022 12:51 pm
A special icon appeared in the Plasma system tray, showing that some application uses a microphone. The microphone can be turned off immediately. And as for the personalization of the system, now the design of the system panels is correctly adjusted to the new theme. Some tools help to fine-tune the design of widgets. Also, as I noticed, various settings appeared in the program, which was not before. So, in general, confidentiality suits me. But even if different files store important information, it doesn't bother me because I have a privacy policy generator

Edit by moderator: advertising link removed, see forum policy


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