Charlie Harvey outlines 10 steps to software liberation and freedom on the internet.

1. Embrace free software

It costs nothing, is often more stable and sometimes works better. It also lets you see the code your computer is running, and change it if need be. Compatibility with other programs has greatly improved.

2. Get downloading

Give this software a whirl:

For browsing: Firefox

For secure web chat: CryptoCat

For word processing: LibreOffice

For graphic editing: GIMP

3. Start building

Help grow the free software community. You can report bugs, request new features, offer translation or design skills, or – if your inner geek is struggling to get out – write code.

4. Stay safe

Tor is a tool that anonymizes internet connections to allow free expression. Dissidents, who risk their lives to speak truth to power, use Tor as a way to side-step censorship and capture in repressive countries. Adding your traffic to the Tor server makes it harder for governments to crack down on online dissent: torproject.org

5. Embrace free culture

More and more artists are releasing their work under free or open licences like those from Creative Commons.

Listen to their music, read their books, and donate funds to support a blossoming re-mix culture: freemusicarchive.org search.creativecommons.org

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6. Say no to ‘DRM’

You bought it, it belongs to you – yet you don’t control it. Publishers can stop people from sharing e-books – and music – using Digital Rights Management. DRM adds malicious software into your e-book reader that lets the book publisher mess with your device remotely. Buy a New Internationalist DRM-free e-book! shop.newint.org

7. Protect your mobile phone

More and more people are carrying phones which can do things like sell your geo-data to companies, be easily intercepted and lock-down your software. If you have an Android, that means you have a 95% free operating system that can add privacy tools from The Guardian Project to stop snooping governments and marketers.

8. Put trackers off the scent

Many websites carry advertising, social media widgets and profile audiences. Somewhere there’s a record of your seeking advice about your embarrassing medical condition, or evidence of your unsavoury political interests. Protect yourself from unwanted tracking and ads with browser plugins like Ghostery or AdBlockPlus.

9. Get campaigning

Software can’t go it alone. We need political change, better privacy and copyright regulation too. Join these groups and support the fight for a free internet:



10. Get savvy

Digital Survival Guide: Basic intro to computers, internet and mobile use.

Top 12 ways to protect your online privacy: eff.org

Browse a selection of privacy-enhancing, technical resources: techtoolsforactivism.org