[ Thanks to Kelly
McNeill for this link. ]
“Since it is clear that there is a threat to spy on our everyday
actions, we should look into what we can do to prevent such
actions. First of all, we should look into alternative software
that we can know for sure has nothing involved that would allow the
government or a private institution to watch every move that we
make. Linux, a UNIX clone, has the source code, or set of
instructions that are designed for humans to read, freely
available. Even if you cannot understand what it all means,
millions of people have poured over the code and know exactly what
it is instructing the computer to do. When using Linux, you can
have “the blissful feeling of being… in a room with no
telescreens,” no matter when you use it. Even though
telescreens are not specifically in use right now, “Bill Brother”
or the government will not be able to watch what we are doing. If
we decide that we will no longer tolerate invasive software, then
we have to power to completely avoid every thing that a 1984
society has to offer by denying other people rights to our
privacy.”