Modern Tech Sucks

The goal of this Rentry page is to talk about privacy and freedom issues concerning modern technology. If you want to read about more specific concerns, or read pages reviewed by more than one person, the Consumer Rights Wiki is probably what you're looking for. This Rentry aims to show privacy and freedom issues in tech relatively objectively, while not going too in-depth or using advanced terms.

This page was written without any AI use or text copying from other sites (outside of direct quotes).

General lack of privacy

Privacy is a basic right. The vast majority of internet websites, apps, and services do not respect your privacy, and instead collect large amounts of user data, which they can then sell to advertisers, data brokers, and governments for extra profits. These big tech corporations thrive, as many, many people use them, which gives the companies more data, which in turn gives the companies more money. In fact, here's some StatCounter stats as of March 9, 2026:

• Google search makes up 91% of search engine market share
• Google Chrome makes up 69% of web browser market share
• Microsoft Windows makes up 57% of desktop OS market share
• Facebook makes up 75% of social media market share.

As you can see, these companies have a large monopoly on many aspects of modern technology. It mainly boils down to two reasons:

1. Brand recognition

People, especially those not interested in the tech space, recognize such products as Google Chrome, Windows, Facebook, etc. They do not care to look for private alternatives, as what they use "just works". Additionally, they may have concerns about private alternatives being different to what they are used to, subsequently requiring more learning. If you're satisfied with one brand you probably won't want to switch.

2. Content on social apps

This applies to apps that contain user generated content (videos, images, text), mainly social media.
As a content creator, you want to upload to where most users reside to get the furthest reach, that is all the privacy unfriendly platforms. If you upload to private alternatives not many people will view your content, and most private platforms do not pay for successful content.
As a content consumer, you want to have the most content available, which, again, is all the privacy unfriendly platforms. If you ditch popular sites to more private ones, you won't get to experience a lot of content you'd want.
This creates an infinite cycle – creators won't switch due to a lack of users, and users won't switch due to a lack of creators.

Services from these companies also tend to have large amounts of features that do not understand the consumers, like an overuse of AI features, as those features attract investors, which results in more money. While alternatives exist to many popular services, they tend to have less "smart" features, due to those usually requiring large datasets (which big corporations have thanks to collecting user data) or being fed on your data (which these private companies want to avoid). Here's a dirt basic list of three of the most important online services and good privacy friendly alternatives:

You can find a list of more privacy-friendly alternatives at https://awesome-privacy.xyz.

Lack of freedom in OS choice

When you buy a device, especially a more advanced one like a smartphone, PC, or even a smart TV, you expect to be able to modify the operating system, whenever possible. This could mean granting yourself higher access, changing system-level settings, or even replacing the entire OS with a free (as in freedom) and open source (as in visible source code for analysis) alternative. This gives many benefits:

• updating past the manufacturer's End of Support, therefore extending the lifespan
• increasing performance, which can also expand the lifespan of old devices
• more options and features for power users
• more privacy, through extra settings or being able to remove the manufacturer's bloatware/spyware
• and more, depending on the device and use cases.

These benefits tend to hinder companies; you don't have a reason to buy newer devices, they can't collect your data, you get advanced features companies don't want you to have, and so on. Due to this, many companies, especially in the Android space, have chosen to either restrict what you can run on your own device, or allow you to modify the OS but punish for it.

The additional problem with this is that Big Tech companies don't want you to have the benefits listed above, which incentivizes them to restrict their stock OSs further. And when you don't have a way to switch, you're forced to live with any and all of the restrictions, which are becoming more and more absurd. A good example of an absurd restriction is blocking the ability to install apps from outside the manufacturer's app store, explained more below.

Google's new CAPTCHA

Google is introducing the new version of ReCAPTCHA, which involves scanning a QR code with your phone and verifying that way. However, the verification requires:

• An Android phone:
  • with a modern version of Google Play Services (as of writing this 25.41.30 or newer), blocking Degoogled ROMs like GrapheneOS
• An iPhone:
  • as stated below, iPhones are restrictive when it comes to OS freedom, making them an unfavorable choice

This means you can be blocked from visiting a website just because you chose a private phone experience. For now it is only, quote "an experimental challenge type in Preview", with the traditional image and audio options still available, though this might change to remove the old types. Again, for now it is still only a Preview feature, so anything can change.

Android

To install any sort of OS, even system updates, the files have to be signed by the manufacturer. Custom ROMs and gaining root (superuser) permissions are not signed by the manufacturer, failing this check. Some Android devices offer you the ability to unlock the bootloader, which tells the device to skip the security check, allowing a custom OS to run.

• Samsung has removed unlocking with the OneUI 8 update. Previous devices in the America region were also not unlockable.
• Xiaomi (Redmi, Poco) requires:
  • a Xiaomi account
  • phone number
  • Wi-Fi connection
  • a 1-week wait period
  • and, depending on the OS version, what can only be described as a timing minigame (be one of the first 2000 to click a button at 00:00 Beijing time)
• Motorola requires an online form to be filled, or an exploit to be performed on older devices
• Google, interestingly, allows fully offline unlocking, excluding some carrier locked devices

Other brands can be found on the Bootloader Unlock Wall of Shame.

iPhone, iPad, iPod

The iPhone, iPad, and iPod has no official way of unlocking the bootloader. Your only hope is to jailbreak your device, according to https://ios.cfw.guide, or to be content with sideloading applications.

Macs and Macbooks

Apple allows custom OSs to be installed on their Mac series computers. However, due to Macs differing from traditional PCs, the compatibility with custom OSs is lower than a normal PC. M1 Macs have even lower compatibility due to architectural differences. It is worth nothing this limitation stems from technical differences and not arbitrary restrictions.

Non-Apple PCs and laptops

Most laptops and PCs allow for booting from non-Windows boot devices, and disabling Secure Boot which needs to be disabled for some other OSs. However, business-grade devices, or devices you received from your workplace or school can block non-Windows boot devices, preventing you from booting, for example, a Linux or FreeBSD boot device.

Other devices

Either you will be able to install a custom OS, or you won't. There are too many brands and devices to list here. However it's safe to assume a "Linux phone" allows a custom OS. Very basic/single purpose devices (like a soldering iron) probably won't have a way to modify the operating system.

Restricting sideloading applications on mobile devices

Similar to the above section, manufacturers are not just limiting what OS you can run, but even the applications. providing further restrictions. Thanks to verification systems going through them, they can deny any application they see "unfit". In that case the developer can resort only to sideloading – the process of installing an application from outside any "official" sources – good examples are F-Droid, GitHub, or the developer's own website. Companies know this, and to further have control over the applications on their operating system, some manufacturers have chosen to block off sideloading, or make it limited.

Mobile

Android (Google Play Services)

Google has announced that they will, in fact, add the advanced flow. To freely sideload apps, you'll need to:

• Enable developer options, which involves tapping the build number in settings several times
• "Confirm you aren't being coached", presumably with a prompt or some sort of basic quiz
• Restart your phone and type in your PIN/pattern/password
• Wait one day and reauthenticate after the period
• Pick a duration for which to allow sideloading (7 days or forever)

However, the problem with this being a Google Play Services change still applies – if Google ever changes this, your phone could auto update play services and apply the new changes.

Google has announced that they are planning to restrict the ability to sideload applications on your device to only applications from "verified developers". To become a "verified developer", you need to provide Google your legal name, address, email address, phone number, and a government id, otherwise your application will be blocked on Android devices running Google Play Services.

This goes against the entire purpose of sideloading and blocks the ability to just create an app and publish it on places like F-Droid, Github, or even your own website. Hobbyists and privacy enthusiasts will not be able to upload their own apps easily, and will be forced to give Google their data if they want their app to be easily installable.

It is worth noting Google has a vague mention ("Empowering experienced users" section) of an "advanced flow", which would allow you to disable this restriction. Only time will tell if this will be added.

iOS/iPadOS

Apple has, ever since the beginning of the iPhone, fought against sideloading your own applications. While it is possible, it is not as easy as simply clicking a file you downloaded; it requires:

• A computer for the initial setup, not just your phone
• A Wi-Fi/mobile data connection at least once every 7 days, disallowing using your sideloaded apps offline for longer periods
  • By extension a connection to Apple servers for the initial setup
• An Apple account, forcing you to provide an email

Additionally, you can only install 3 applications this way. While this can be semi-bypassed with an app like LiveContainer, you can still only truly have 3 sideloaded apps. For example, while using LiveContainer you can have only one application open at a time.

PC

Windows

Windows allows for running any EXE, as long as you skip any "Untrusted Application" warnings. Windows S mode restricts you to only using the Microsoft Store, however you can easily disable it.

MacOS

You can install apps from the internet, however you may have to do an extra security step.

Linux

Most Linux distros can launch any application as long as it is compatible. There are no extra security steps, outside having to provide your sudo password for some apps.

Online-only/Account-only

Some modern devices/operating systems require an internet connection for setup, even when the entire OS is already on the drive. This is understandable for places like installation of some Linux distributions, mainly those based on Arch Linux, as those get updated very often but don't release ISOs as often, and only the parts of the OS needed for live-booting are present on the disc. However, as an example, Windows requires an internet connection during the OOBE setup (which in turn also forces you to make/sign in to a Microsoft account), and Microsoft is actively blocking bypasses like the infamous OOBE\BYPASSNRO. Additionally, some smart home/miscellaneous electronic devices also arbitrarily require an internet connection, with some also requiring an online account, like some DJI cameras. Again, even basic devices like cameras or smart home appliances are moving to an online-only future, with accounts required everywhere.

The account-only part also applies to websites, as many will require you to make an account just to try out the website, without providing any demo feature or an account-free mode. For example, you need a Google account to use the Play Store on Android devices. Making an account gives the company both your e-mail (or an alias/temp e-mail if that's what you provide) and an easier way to collect and connect data about you.

The push for digital-only

Many forms of entertainment are pushing towards digital media, especially streaming. Some content can only be found on one service, and you cannot simply grab that one media for cheap – if you aren't paying for that platform, now you need to buy at least a month of a subscription (because most online services nowadays are subscription only), even if you only want to watch one 2-hour movie. Content can be removed at any time from streaming platforms. On the other hand, physical media cannot be taken away – unless the storage medium itself gets damaged, the media will last there forever. It cannot be removed, changed, censored, made pricier, etc. Switching entirely to digital media, especially to sources controlled by big companies, gives those companies full control, and again, allows for removal, censorship, price changes, etc.

Modern game consoles are a great example, especially digital-only versions. If you choose to buy a digital-only console, like the PS5 digital version or the Xbox Series S, and get banned from the console's online services (which can also happen if you choose to perform modifications on it), you will be unable to download or redownload any games or apps forever, essentially rendering the console useless.

Even when you do end up paying for a service, you often are restricted. To use Netflix at all you have to pay (with prices rising multiple times a year), but if you decide to pay the minimum price you can you will have to watch ads, despite also paying, though this seems to depend on the region, as in some countries the cheapest plan does not have ads. Netflix is also actively fighting against account sharing. Pretty much every streaming service restricts you from simply downloading a movie as a .mp4 file. At most you can use their app to download it offline, with restrictions. Additionally, you might frequently come across region locks – a piece of media is available in one country but not in another. You cannot even use a VPN to change your location and watch geo-locked content as some companies restrict those.

Sony going digital-only

Sony (the company behind PlayStation) has announced that starting January 2028 production of physical game discs will stop, and all new games will release only in digital formats. It's worth noting that this change was announced very soon after Sony removed over 500 purchased movies from people's consoles. There is nothing stopping them for doing the same for purchased games sometime in the future. The removal of game discs also makes sharing games much harder – a process that previously consisted of simply giving your disc to a friend, ironically mocked years ago by Sony themselves.

Age verification

Recently companies have chosen to focus on adding age verification to their services. If you don't verify, you might be unable to use some features or the entire service. Age verification is portrayed as something good, something that protects children. While this could help differentiate age groups, children could purchase an adult-verified account, or use a friend's ID, whereas people who care about privacy will be restricted. For now countless bypasses (1, 2, 3, 4) have been found. However, some people might not be aware of such bypasses and choose to scan their face and ID.

Sources

• https://keepandroidopen.org
• https://developer.android.com/developer-verification
• https://github.com/zenfyrdev/bootloader-unlock-wall-of-shame

~AdRoz78, 2026