Some of you might have read the story[1][2] of my fight to be able to defend my BSc
thesis. How during pandemic I refused to run proprietary software (including
those mainstream videoconferencing tools) on my devices.

Today, after a 3-year break, I'm finally enrolling in an MSc course — which this
time happens not to be computer science but cybersecurity 😎️ Since the story
mentioned above went public, it seemed right to make a post about my present
enrollment as well.

It also seemed good to mention changes to my approach so that nobody has a false
image of myself and my actions. Also, I can now refer people to this post to
explain my position.

• I used to be only concerned about software I run on my own hardware. I would
  agree to use a proprietary videoconferencing platform if I could do so either
  through some SIP gateway or on the university's lab computer. Now, I conclude
  this is not good enough in case of software that (1) sends personal data to a
  third party or (2) actively encourages all other users to use its nonfree
  client software. So I plan to avoid these regardless of the device.
• Quite a few times I went to the lab outside of my classes just to do some
  homework that required a nonfree tool — I'd like to avoid this as well
  although I'm not making commitments here. Or maybe just a commitment of
  always complaining about the tool in the first place.
• I am now willing to make an exception and run nonfree software when it is used
  less as a tool and more as a target. For example in a pentesting exercise
  with a Windows VM.
• When some university teachers insisted on using MS Teams or Cisco Webex, I
  used not to take these matters to the dean because I didn't want to be a
  tattletale. Now I think I am ready to seek help more actively (although still
  not with the goal of causing my teachers problems).
• When students were required to put themselves on some list using a tool like
  Google Sheets, I used to message a friend who was already doing this and ask
  him to add my name as well. If such situations happen this time, I plan to
  instead complain directly to the author of the list.
• Instead of refusing all nonfree JS, I am now going to accept it if it serves
  as just an extension to a page's markup and not a real application. I plan to
  classify the scripts subjectively (no strict criteria like those in LibreJS).

That's it. Sorry for boring you, dear reader.

Wish me luck :) Also, please don't blame me if I somehow fail my commitments due
to family reasons (unfortunately, not everyone is completely healthy here).