Recent content on ilyess
A few years ago, I decided I wanted more control over my data. I was tired of wondering what Google knew about me, tired of cloud services getting breached, and tired of relying on companies that could shut down tomorrow and take my data with them. So I started self-hosting — not to be optimal, but to be in control. If you’re here, you might be thinking about doing the same. Maybe…
In a previous post , I explained how to run Pi-hole in Docker and use it to manage the Domain Name System (DNS) for an entire home network — for example at home, work, or school. It’s a great tool for taking control over your DNS and blocking trackers and ads across the whole network. Once the network’s DHCP 1 server is configured, every machine on the network will begin sending its…
One of the main reasons I love blogging is the lively discussions my posts generate. Exchanging ideas with like-minded people brings me joy, helps me broaden my knowledge, and lets me forge long-term connections. Those conversations can’t thrive without a welcoming space. Broadly speaking, I categorize this feedback into two groups: private channels such as email and direct messages, and…
A few weeks ago, I broke my Linux installation . After a lengthy investigation that involved messing with BIOS settings and flashing a new firmware version, I was now ready to load a live Arch ISO and start digging around in hopes of finding the root cause and deploying a fix. Note If you haven’t read the post referenced above , I suggest giving it a read before this one.
I spent so much time in the past exploring different note taking solutions in order to put together a system that covers all my needs. I tried multiple apps and services, …
If you spent any amount of time online in the past few years, you probably noticed the prevalence of cookie consent modals. You know, those Popup-looking dialog boxes that jump at you, obfuscating most of the screen, if not all of it, just to tell you: “Hey, we collect a bunch of data about your usage of this website and share it with 998723487 of our partners. Tell us you agree by clicking…
The other day, I was chilling on my computer, reading the Arch boot process on the Arch wiki, like one does. I’m familiar with the high-level boot sequence but the exact details were blurry in my head so I was due for a refresher. Maybe around half-way through the article, I remembered my recent troubles with EFI variables 1 and wondered if my current bootloader was somehow faulty after all.…
On a beautiful day, I was minding my own business, tinkering around on my computer and suddenly… Pitch black! Power outage. All electronics go dark, and I have to resort to pre-digital-era distractions until the power’s back. No big deal. Some time passes and the power is finally restored. Back in my comfy seat, ready to pick up my digital wandering where it got interrupted, I press…
I’ve been on Arch Linux for years now and if there’s one thing I miss from the old Windows days, it’s got to be gaming. I’m not a professional gamer by any stretch of the imagination, or a gamer period, for that matter. I just like to check out some titles here and there, mainly for immersive experiences, and the occasional intellectual puzzle. If I were to guess, I’d…
Signal has positioned itself as one of, if not the best mainstream messaging service when it comes to preserving its users’ privacy. Everything, including metadata, is end-to-end encrypted using the quantum resistant Signal protocol. They have group video call support, text formatting , message editing and scheduling, disappearing messages, the controversial stories, and more. It’s all…
In the vast landscape of social media platforms, Mastodon has emerged as a refreshing alternative. With its decentralized nature and commitment to user privacy, Mastodon offers a unique experience that fosters community building and meaningful interactions. However, mastering Mastodon requires navigating through different levels of proficiency, especially for someone coming from a traditional,…
In the present digital epoch, it has become imperative for companies with an online presence to host a blog which is nothing more than a compendium of articles or posts, typically organized chronologically. This is not limited to companies obviously and anyone can, and is even highly encouraged to, run a personal blog. If you’re one of the fortunate who own a personal blog and are currently…
DISCLAIMER # The content published on this website, including but not limited to articles and tutorials, is provided for general informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice. I aim to keep the information accurate, complete and up-to-date, but I do not guarantee its accuracy, completeness, or reliability. The information and opinions expressed in the…
Everybody needs to take notes, may it be for school, to have a handy grocery list in the store, or to keep a log of business expenses for accounting purposes. Some people use physical notebooks, some pick up whatever napkin happens to be in the immediate vicinity and roll with it for the day, and others, like myself, prefer to leverage digital notes. In this article, I’ll take you through my…
Standard Notes is an open-source note taking application available on desktop and mobile platforms that offers end-to-end encrypted synchronization. In other words, all data are encrypted on device before they’re sent to the server to propagate to other devices. I think it’s one of the best open-source note taking products out there with a free plan, at the time of this writing. That…
Long gone are the days when websites consisted of static HTML pages styled with basic CSS, when links actually directed users to new web locations instead of calling a Javascript function. Now, websites (or should I call them web apps?) have grown so complex that browsers had no choice but to turn into operating systems. This made for a much richer user experience with so many possibilities; you…
There’s a saying that goes: “Show me your friends, I’ll tell you who you are”. A slight variation of this is: “Show me the websites you visit, I’ll tell you who you are”. A lot can be learned about an individual just by examining the websites they visit, the search queries they run, and the apps they use on a regular basis. A trove of information about a…
Password managers have become a crucial tool that every online user must rely on. Since they handle extremely sensitive data, like login credentials, credit card information, secret notes, and more, careful consideration is recommended when choosing a password manager. This article goes over the phases I’ve gone through in my experience with password managers, the different solutions I used,…
PRIVACY POLICY # This Privacy Policy (“Policy”) is intended to inform you of the ways in which ilyess.cc (“we”, “us” or “our”) collects, uses, and shares information about you when you visit or use our Website, located at ilyess.cc . DATA COLLECTION AND USE # We use Umami, a privacy-focused and open-source analytics tool, to collect anonymized data…
First, I’d like to note that I am not affiliated in any way, shape or form, with any of the services or corporations behind the services listed below, nor do I have any incentives, monetary or otherwise, to use or mention any of them here. Second, these are not recommendations. Rather, it’s a list of applications and services I use based on my needs. It’s always recommended to…
Bitwarden is a password manager that allows users to generate and store strong passwords. It also handles other types of data like secure notes and credit card information. At the time of this writing, it is one of the best password managers out there because in addition to offering strong and zero-knowledge encryption, the codebase is open source . This means that anyone can inspect the code and…
Pihole is a great tool to protect your home network from trackers and annoying ads. It can be deployed either directly on a server or in a Docker container. I personally lean toward using Docker whenever possible for the flexibility and isolation it provides. Services deployed in Docker containers are significantly easier to migrate than raw installations and Pihole is no exception. Running Pihole…
I’m glad you’re interested in getting in touch! If you have any questions, suggestions, or just want to say hello, please feel free to use the contact form below or send me an email . You can also find me on Mastodon . I’m always happy to connect with new people and I’ll do my best to respond to your message as soon as possible. Looking forward to hearing from you! Your…
Hey there, welcome to my Guestbook! I’m so glad you stopped by. This is just a little corner where you can leave a note, share something on your mind, or simply say “hi.” It’s always awesome to hear from visitors, and I’d love to know you were here. Feel free to jot down anything you’d like—whether it’s a quick hello or something more. Thanks for taking a…
Search