I mean, exactly how invasive are default operating systems? (Like Windows, Mac, Chrome OS, Android, iOS) Do they log your keystrokes, log passwords, capture screen, upload your photos, videos, or audio? (Assuming you aren’t a target of government) Is it even possible for the average person who doesn’t feel comfortable messing with installing operating systems to have any privacy?
Default OSs are very invasive. Windows, Mac and iOS are constantly spying on everything you do and stock Android is only as private as the apps it comes with which include things like Google Play Services - an app so baked into the system it can only be disabled through adb/root
If you want to read into this - Louis Rossmann made a video on this and this is the paper he mentioned.
Yes, depends on how far you are willing to take it.
Replace default apps with FOSS (F-droid)
Delete or disable defaut apps through developer options/adb
Limit the number of permissions you give to apps (your calculator shouldn’t have access to internet or your camera)
Don’t install apps that you don’t trust/need
Block app’s access to the internet with a firewall
Check out r/degoogle on Reddit for many useful resources
For Windows/iOS, etc.: change settings to be more private: give less permissions and turn off telemetry wherever possible.
If you think that’s not enough, consider dual booting a Linux distro like Linux Mint Cinnamon (easy to set up and very beginer-friendly). If you do that you can learn Linux and keep your private data there instead of on Windows/iOS
Here is an alternative Piped link(s): https://piped.video/watch?v=CE0EB5bXj14
Piped is a privacy-respecting open-source alternative frontend to YouTube.
I’m open-source, check me out at GitHub.