this post was submitted on 16 Aug 2023
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Privacy
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Got a question, I just found out about LibreTube from this post. I use NewPipe on phone and FreeTube on laptop, but LibreTube's UI looks really good so want to give it a try. Is "YouTube will know your IP" a concern in terms of privacy or because of something else related to them know your IP is using apps that remove ads?
I've never been worried about YouTube knowing I use another app to access their stuff, so just curious if this is "just" about Google knowing you IP or something more.
I know this is the privacy community and don't want to downplay the "Google knowing your IP" part but curious about this and being so explicit on the app setting as well when you turn it on
It is, yes. The issue being they might ban your ip address, which is the first reason why the instances are not playing videos specifically, and then you can not access Youtube servers from the IP you called the servers from. For example, if you use it this way from home without a vpn or orbot, you will likely not be able to access the Youtube servers after a ban from any device that is running over your router directly to the Youtube servers and not over a VPN. I do not know why they do this though, might just be the sheer amount of requests. Not sure, though just don't. Use protection. An Internet condom. Orbot is free and so is the free version of Proton VPN. Do not use random free VPNs though. If the VPN gets banned you slip on another condom.
Does this also include using ReVanced? Because as I understand it it uses the official app.
I have no idea
Also, it is still your choice to use google services. I think if you are new to this (I am no veteran either lol) you should create a very clear threat model. And follow that model. If you notice it's not for you, alter it. If you need sources for what a threat model is, tell me. But basically, you can "downplay" google services all you want. There is probably some guy that is privacy minded and uses a stock pixel or worse a stock Samsung. And for him, that may be the perfect solution, as he doesn't really use his phone anyways or insert random reasoning.
Thanks for all the info, really good to know that's a potential consequence of using these apps, I know they sometimes make multiple requests per video in parallel but naively I never gave it a second thought as potential consequences of that.
I'm not necessarily new to this, I'm trying to degoogle little by little. Ever since I started using home assistant I started thinking more and more about self hosting. I think their add-ons are a great way for the unexperienced user to easily start learning about self hosting small things (password manager, personal notes and wiki, etc).