Digital Assets, Resources, and Internet Guides.
Basically alll of my go-to sources for digital assets
A majority of my assets I got off of Tumblr, using tags such as "assets" "web resources" "png" "dividers" etc, but here are some not associated with Tumblr.
OKUMONO
OKUMONO is a website filled to the brim with assets intended to be for Vtubers and YouTubers and is where I personally get 99% of my backgrounds, including the one on this page! Though there are many different assets you can find here. Just as a heads up that the entire site is in Japanese, so if you're gonna use the search function, make sure it's in Japanese.
ID Button archive
Wanna know where I got those cute little buttons on my info page? Well here's a massive archive of them! Though I suggest scrolling through the Google Sheet linked on the site too. It also includes a page where you can make your own if you can't find what you want!
88x31 Button Archive (FLASHING LIGHTS WARNING)
Exactly what it says on the tin, an absolutely massive archive of 88x31 buttons, so many that the page will take a minute to load.
Blinkie Cafe
Can't quite find a blinkie you want? at Blinkie Cafe you have many templates to make your very own!
PMD Sprite Repository
Are you extremely not normal about Pokemon Mystery Dungeon? Do you identify with a Pokemon than a human? Do you just like little guys? Here is a giant repository of both ingame and fanmade talk sprites for Mystery Dungeon!
Digital assets I made myself!
I don't have a lot of this at this moment, but here is all that I have atm! Don't feel any need to credit me, just don't claim you made them lol.
FFXIV free trial banners (jobs 2.0-7.0)
Tank
Healer
Melee DPS
Range DPS
Caster DPS
Limited Jobs
Just in case these links suddenly break, these are all on The Internet Archive
Rectangular Serial Experiments Lain Copland OS logo
Intended to replace the default Ubuntu log-in logo, but I'll put it here.
Just in case these links suddenly break, these are all on The Internet Archive
Privacy assets
The internet grows more censored by the day and every company is desperately trying to get their hands on your private info to at best sell it and at worst hand it over to the shitheads uptop, here's some tools to keep your shit private.
Browsers
DO USE
Librewolf
This is the one I use, basically Firefox without all the bullshit Mozilla has been forcing into their browsers in the recent years.
Firefox
Widely used for a reason, however always keep your ear to the ground as Mozilla is constantly adding shit for tracking and AI, however you can indeed disable it.
OK?
Brave
Considered pretty private however it has a lot of crypto shit, though it can be turned off.
Tor Browser
Extremely private, but supposedly monitered by the FBI, whether or not this is true I have no clue.
DO NOT USE
Chrome
Chrome actively tracks your actions and sells them to advertisers, this goes for any browser that runs on Chromium.
Microsoft Edge
Sends data to Microsoft, runs on Chromium.
Opera
Collects data, runs on Chromium.
Any browser that runs on Chromium
Communication
DO USE
Signal
Open source! Always good to see that.
Session
Mobile texter that doesn't use a phone number.
SimpleX
Doesn't have identification period.
Mumble
Primarily for gaming voice chat but it's open source and completely stored on your computer.
Revolt
A currently in-development open source chatroom/community finder by former devs from Discord, note that it is constantly in development and thus does have bugs.
OK?
Discord
Discord has an INCREDIBLY long history for shady ass behavior, if you're gonna use Discord just don't share private shit as they constantly scan data. Also if you're gonna use Discord use Vencord or Vesktop, both have plugins that block a lot of Discord's tracking and you get cool ass themes! I just suggest avoiding the temptation that is getting the plugins that bypass Nitro.
DO NOT USE
WhatsApp/Messenger
Metadata is consistently harvested by Meta, I really hope I don't have to explain why that's bad.
SMS
Unfortunately required for modern life, but best used as little as possible, here's the list of why:
-Zero encryption
-ANYONE with access can read every single piece of data
-SIM swap attacks are common
-SS7 protocol vulnerability
-Government can always request logs no matter what (JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT BREAKING THE LAW DOESN'T MEAN THIS SHOULDN'T CONCERN YOU)
Email providers
DO USE
Tutanota
So encrypted that even the fucking calendar is encrypted.
Disroot
Ran by volunteers instead of corps.
OK?
ProtonMail
Supposedly zero-access encryption, however I've seen some people state otherwise, again without any sources.
DO NOT USE
Gmail
Again like SMS, it's unfortunately required for modern life a lot of the time, but naturally it's owned by Google, any chance you can use an alternative you should take.
Yahoo!
I'd be... impressed if you use Yahoo, but it's had SEVERAL data breaches and clearly isn't secure.
Outlook
Like Google, if it's owned by Microsoft just don't trust it, Microsoft reads all the contents.
Search Engines
Just use DuckDuckGo, it's honest to god the only trust worthy one
VPNs
DO USE
Mullvad
Zero logs, zero email, uses completely random numbers for accounts.
ProtonVPN
Imperfect but still extremely solid, free option available but highly limited, but it's basically your ownly option if you can't afford a VPN. (This is the one I use.)
DO NOT USE
NordVPN
Functions but extremely shady practices. When hacked it didn't inform it's users, it's owned by Tesonet who's a data mining company, and it puts way more focus on marketing than protection.
Surfshark
Also owned by Tesonet.
ExpressVPN
Owned by Kape (which is an adware company)
ANY FREE VPN
Every completely free VPN is a scam, the only way they can make money is through selling your data. If you can't afford a VPN just use ProtonVPN's free tier.
Operating System
This one is a bit tricky as switching OS is not a very simple thing to do, so I don't blame people who stick with what they're used to, but if you are willing to deal with growing pains, please please switch to a Linux OS.
Both Windows and MacOS are owned by large untrustworthy companies, Windows owned by Microsoft and MacOS owned by Apple.
I'm unsure with MacOS but Windows has an extremely long history of fucking over it's customers.
If you're gonna make the switch I suggest either Ubuntu or MintOS as they're both EXTREMELY beginner friendly, Ubuntu being the most stable. Fedora is also an extremely solid pick but isn't as beginner friendly.
If you're a gamer or use programs that don't have Linux versions, most programs can be made to work on Linux using Lutris, Bottles, and Steam. But also if you're a gamer Pop_OS also functions super well.
Free Programs
Creative software
Medibang
My personal go-to for digital art! Get it here
Note: I highly recommend avoiding the paid version, it's pretty cheap compaired to other art software buuuuut I've always heard bad stuff about it.
Krita
Krita is another fantastic art program, and it works on linux! Click here.
GIMP
Fuck Adobe, fuck photoshop, GIMP is free it just requires a bit of learning. Click here.
LibreOffice
IF YOU ARE A WRITER PLEASE USE THIS!! Google docs and Microsoft Word track your shit, Google Docs has in the past deleted peoples' stuff against their will. Switch to LibreOffice NOW NOW NOW
Devinci Resolve
Again, fuck adobe, Devinchi Resolve is the most straight forward editing software I've ever used. Click here.
Blender
One more time, Fuck Adobe. Click here.
Godot Engine
Unity has been destroying their free options more and more as of late, which absolutely sucks for indie devs, luckily Godot is here to save the day! Click here.
For funsies software
Nook
Literally just an app/browser extension that plays hourly Animal Crossing music, you can even customize the town theme! Also available on Linux through the software app. Click here.
oneko
Do you want a little kitty cat that follows your mouse when you're on your silly little computer? Of course you do, another program that's available on the Linux software app. Click here.
Websites websites websites
Note: ALWAYS USE CAUTION WHEN VISITING WEBSITES YOU DON'T KNOW, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE DOWNLOADING FROM IT, ANY SITE CAN BECOME MALICIOUS AT ANY TIME, REMEMBER TO USE ADBLOCKERS, VPNS, AND ALL THE USUAL TOOLS TO AVOID GETTING VIRUSES AND AVOID INFORMATION FROM BEING STOLEN
The Internet Archive
You probably know it, you probably love it, it's The Internet Archive! More important than ever, an archive of millions of pieces of information of many kinds, shit like this is so incredibly important, information is sacred and should be protected. Consider donating to them.
Backloggd
Backloggd is a social site built for you to track and review your video games! Helps a lot if you're a massive gamer and need help keeping track of everything.
The Visual Novel Database (18+)
VNDB is a massive database about basically every visual novle ever made from all kinds of languages, lists of every version of the visual novel that exists, and filled with so so many tags. Just be aware, visual novels are filled with a lot of mature content.
The Denpa Archive (18+)
THE DENPA ARCHIVE MY BELOVED!!!! A website made by a media preservationist specialized in the strange and kinda vague subgenre of Denpa alongside general psychological horror media from Japan.
Does The Dog Die?
Doesthedogdie? is a website dedicated to catalogging trigger warnings for several different pieces of media along with encouraging you to submit your own. If there's specific themes you're particularly sensitive to then this site is perfect for you!
OldVersion
OldVersion is a website dedicated to archiving old and outdated versions of software, perfect if you either hate change or the newer versions of software just, factually suck!
Wiby
Wiby is an overwhlemingly detailed person-made search engine for webrings and hobbyist websites, perfect if you're really fucking tired of the commercialization of the internet.
PoseMyArt
PoseMyArt is a free website that lets you pose 3D models for art references!!
Topsters 3
Topsters 3 is a website for you to make lists of your favorite albums, movies, shows, etc, and share them with friends. If you're curious what happened to the original Topsters, the dude who owned it went complete Christian doomsday freak.