this post was submitted on 03 Jul 2024
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Has Techlore sold out? (lemmy.sdf.org)
submitted 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
 

I like Techlore (https://www.techlore.tech if you don't know) and I usually regard them as one of the most impartial and most trustworthy Youtubers out there. But for the past few months, I couldn't help noticing their somewhat heavy bias towards some of their video sponsors. Still, everybody has to eat right?

This time though, it looks like Synology flew them over to Taiwan, and if you watch their video at the event, it's wall-to-wall Synology shilling. I'm really disappointed.

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[–] [email protected] 18 points 4 days ago (3 children)

Since you noticed the bias, let me give you the real dark history of both Techlore and PrivacyGuides ( Jonah Argon ) and how they took over Privacy Tools.io and closed their subreddit.

https://www.privacytools.io/guides/jonah-aragon-privacyguides-failed-attempt-to-takeover

Don't trust Privacy YouTubers, trust experts who know what they're talking about

[–] [email protected] 13 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Always funny when people try to pretend this PrivacyTools guy is some brave whistleblower when in reality he destroyed his own website going for a cash grab and then got butthurt when people created better alternatives that actually gave genuine advice instead of ads.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 days ago (1 children)

There's no pretending... if you actually click the link the first video is about the practices or Techlore, so I'll make it easy for you :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cEfJ1UTNvw

The rest of the article, talks ( with proof ) about the betrayal of Jonah Argon, changing the website license for example...

got butthurt when people created better alternatives that actually gave genuine advice instead of ads.

Really ? Sounds like a very childish thing to be mad about.. Especially when you realize there are many websites and blogs that are written by experts

I'm not trying to be funny, I'm saying what happened, and simply don't trust Techlore because or the lack of ethics...and going after the cash grab... What kind of Privacy minded individual drives a Tesla? Uses Apple hardware? Promotes proprietary solutions?

genuine advice instead of ads

Techlore literally said buy my course so you'll have an ad free experience... And PrivacyGuides covers surface level stuff...

[–] [email protected] 11 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Why are you defending Privacy Tools so hard here? Literally anyone can look at the website and see within seconds that it is absolutely loaded with ads and affiliate links. The owner sold out years ago, the privacy community moved on and now he's mad that he can't AFK farm money from his shit website. He has absolutely zero credibility and writes stuff like "fuck fame, fuck money, fuck dishonesty" in that post when he himself literally used the fame of his website to make money by dishonestly recommending sponsored shit on it. It is absolutely bizarre to me that you hold this person up as some kind of moral authority and believe everything he says.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 4 days ago

Defending ? so showing that Techlore is doing the same thing ( actually way more worse ) means I'm defending PT ?

I'm not going into who's more corrupt than the other, but I can provide a different source, if you think this one is problematic

But yanno why I'm not focusing on Privacy Tools that much...A - because this post is about Techlore. B - Because the project is dead, so what's the point?

his shit website

Using this language means nothing to me, and doesn't effect me in anyway shape or form... I have no gain in the matter.. they can both be down tomorrow, and I wouldn't care

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 days ago (2 children)

privacytools.io doesn't even list NordVPN as an ad anymore...

Is there another trustworthy site which compares different platforms?

[–] [email protected] 8 points 4 days ago

There is, it's the exact one that user and the delusional founder of Privacy Tools have a hate boner for. Privacy Guides is non-profit with no ads or affiliate links.

[–] [email protected] -2 points 4 days ago

Instead of searching for a "trustworthy" source... whatever that means... Learn about which criteria you should look for when choosing a VPN.. learn who are the creators of such service and their experiences..

And then you won't need to trust, you'll be able to evaluate

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Wait, I'm confused. Why would privacytools.io host this article?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I'm not sure, maybe they thought it'll be more visible for the website followers..

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I think I got confused by this Lemmy post claiming it was taken over, not "attempted". If it was taken over, then why would they shoot themselves in the foot?

This is all really insane. But there are people here saying that privacyguides are reputable.

Privacytools seems shadier though, even if they're claiming to be victims.

This is all too much drama.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

I think I got confused by this Lemmy post claiming it was taken over, not "attempted". If it was taken over, then why would they shoot themselves in the foot?

They stole their funds, git repos, subreddit.. they might as well declare it's the end of the website even though they still hold ownership to some extent ... That's my understanding of it at least

Privacytools seems shadier though, even if they're claiming to be victims

I agree

This is all really insane. But there are people here saying that privacyguides are reputable

It is indeed insane, at least PrivacyGuides doesn't push for shitty products and insult his followers for not supporting him, however toxicity towards other projects ( especially GrapheneOS ) is completely allowed on their channels...

I'm not saying we should cancel them and never speak about them again, but if you're a fan of PG you should hold them accountable, because they can do better

As for Techlore, 😮‍💨..I don't think there's hope for Henry... he went too far, he earned the title of a "privacy scammer" for me... and the sad part is that he knows it, he knows he's in it for a quick buck not to spread the message

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

Thanks for the detailed breakdown, I think I get the broad strokes now.

It's difficult to parse when your brain defaults to "one of these parties are unfairly maligned" - when the truth is they're both shitty.

It's a shame. Some years ago I got a lot of value from both websites, but haven't really followed digital privacy trends lately. It's such a time sink to gauge the value of everything by yourself.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

It's difficult to parse when your brain defaults to "one of these parties are unfairly maligned" - when the truth is they're both shitty.

Oh, glad someone said it.. this is a common theme on the Internet 😭.. It's okey

It's a shame. Some years ago I got a lot of value from both websites, but haven't really followed digital privacy trends lately.

when you're a beginner you tend to accept advice from anyone in the field, this makes sense because you don't know which advice to trust, but once you understand the principle, you look back and just know instantly who gave you bad advice vs good advice..

If someone tells me to use a degoogled phone and later I see they're using an IPhone, it's not great look.. ( for them ).. It's disappointing ( just an example )

It's such a time sink to gauge the value of everything by yourself.

Whatelse you can do ? Not much.. accept keep on learning, I enjoy these kind of stuff, and the more I learn the more I realize the tools we use aren't perfect and they have many flaws... in technology I learned to be careful before adopting new technologies and not just jump on the hottest thing, I have to resist the Tech enthusiast within me if I wanna satisfy the privacy advocate ( the opposition within me )

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago

I used to watch Techlore too, but the final nail in the coffin for me was saying he was using stock Android