Self-Hosting

A big reason for privacy being under threat is that your data is usually stored on a large faceless corporation’s computers, and you have to trust them not to do anything bad with it.

One alternative is to store your data at home instead, on a computer (or “server”) that you leave plugged into the internet. It runs all the time, sort of like a fridge for your data, and when other people want to connect with you (for example to send you an email) they connect to your home server. Also, because it’s connected to the internet, you can access your server from anywhere in the world through your phone, laptop or tablet, for example to check your email or to upload photos.

Traditional server computers used by large companies have a reputation for being massive, expensive and power-hungry. However, because a home server is only used by a small number of people, it can be tiny, cheap, and low-power. Modern microcomputers (such as the Raspberry Pi) are popular choices for home servers as they are physically about the size of a packet of butter, cost as little as €50 and use very little electricity.

The main stumbling block at the moment is the technical difficulty of setting up and maintaining a home server, which can be quite demanding. However, there are a number of projects which are trying to make it as simple as possible: