Quote:
Originally Posted by FatGuy
My huge worry is that the PDF reader App I'm using will "call home" to someone on the Internet and upload information [...]
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If you're using Linux, you can prepend the command for opening whatever program you use with `unshare -n` which will create a new "network" on your computer that isn't connected to the internet and that only that application has access to (see `man unshare` for more information). E.g., if you use xpdf you'd use:
You might want to edit any .desktop files that provide a graphical access in your window manager;
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Desktop_entries might be able to help you achieve this, or maybe your own distribution has documentation that can help or guide you.
As others have pointed out, this will only cover the reader itself. Other applications might still read your file system and share what's there with others. You haven't really provided any information exactly as to the threat model you're facing or fear facing or how much convenience you're willing to give up. If
all you care about is your reader not "phoning home", using `unshare` should be plenty to satisfy you and you can use whatever reader you actually like the most, as it won't be able to send anything anywhere.