Unless you like having problems to solve, I recommend never using Linux to create an NTFS filesystem. If you need to create a filesystem that Windows can read, I recommend using VFAT or exFAT (I'd probably choose exFAT). And if you really need (or want) to use NTFS, use VFAT and then reformat the partition to NTFS using Windows.

Are you referring to uBlock Origin, or something else?

The only apt command I use is apt update. For almost everything else I use aptitude.

Choose a printer that is AirPrint-compatible, and no driver installation will even be necessary.

See:

Driverless printing
https://dev1galaxy.org/viewtopic.php?id=7339

This type of approach may be helpful:

Protect Your Site with a Blackhole for Bad Bots
https://perishablepress.com/blackhole-bad-bots/

One potential downside to this approach is that the IP address block list will likely grow, over time, to be very large. One solution to this problem is to periodically prune the list by removing the oldest IP addresses, or have them automatically expire after a certain period of time.

@fsmithred, when one uses refractainstaller to create an encrypted partition, can the OS still see which filesystem is on the partition without decrypting it?

I like to do clean installs. It's nice to start over with a "clean slate". I consider reinstalling as part of what one might call "computer hygiene". If, by chance, I managed to pick up a rootkit or other form of malware, reinstalling should help me get rid of it. I also use dd to (very carefully) wipe the MBR in case something nasty is hiding in there.

Reinstalling is definitely a pain, but I have an idea for a system that should make it much less painful. I will install Devuan in a VM and configure it exactly the way I want it. Then I will use refractasnapshot to create a live DVD ISO file that can then be used to install the new version of Devuan.

This VM will never to be used to do anything other than create customized Devuan ISO files. And every time a new major version of Devuan is released, the VM will be dist-upgraded and used to create a new installation ISO file.

Since I use cheap phones that don't allow the bootloader to be unlocked, I basically gave up on the idea of using a custom ROM, even one that I've customized myself. Sadly, even my Motorola (Moto G Stylus 5G 2021) phone won't allow the bootloader to be unlocked because it was made for Tracfone.

That being the case, the Universal Android Debloater seems like my best option:

Universal Android Debloater
https://xdaforums.com/t/2022-07-03-v0-5-1-universal-android-debloater.4069209/

Universal Android Debloater Next Generation
https://github.com/Universal-Debloater-Alliance/universal-android-debloater-next-generation

I prefer to not use Google Authenticator, but to use a different program instead, like Aegis Authenticator. Unfortunately, it apparently only runs on Android.

For what you are ultimately trying to accomplish, I think that a better solution would probably be to use a program like numberstation or Gnome Authenticator.

The problem of files mysteriously disappearing is still an issue since I recently had another one disappear. I was beginning to wonder if the HDD is going bad, so yesterday I analyzed it using smartctl. Other than some occasional ICRC errors, the drive appears to be healthy. The ICRC errors suggest that the SATA cable may be bad or loose, though, so I am going to replace it soon.

Unreliable electrical power is a problem where I currently live. There are frequent, short power failures here, especially during storms and on windy days. Could this be causing my documents to disappear? Although power failures can cause data loss, I doubt that this is the cause because the files were not being written to when the power failures occurred. In fact, I don't think the files were even open. So, unless I am wrong about this, it seems that the cause of my disappearing documents is still a mystery.

Take a look at this:

Package: bilibop-lockfs
https://packages.debian.org/stable/bilibop-lockfs

It's intended to be used for external media, but can probably be used for internal drives as well.