Here is a thorough analysis of /os's security and privacy.
Tldnr: it's alright but but grapheme, divestos or calyxos should be preferred if those are available on your device.
Problematic seems the unique device id /e os generates and sends on every update and also security updates for the integrated webview browser have been severely out of date in the past.
Fun fact: as my philosophy prof never failed to point out platonic friendship in the original Greek sense did not exclude sexual relations and related to a relationship between mentor and student, which meant they were homosexual in nature. Cmp.: https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/hide-and-seek/202303/the-true-meaning-of-platonic-love
I've been using xmpp for several years now. Even running my own server for family and friends. It's a great feeling to be fully independent imho.
Fun fact: jeder Browser hat seit ca. 2009 eine alles ablehnen flag, die jeder Nutzer einfach setzen kann. Nur keine kommerzielle Webseite hält sich daran. Es handelt sich bei cookie bannern einfach um malicious compliance seitens der Webseitenbetreiber. User ärgern sich über maximal nervende Banner auf jeder Webseite und regen sich evtl. sogar über die EU-Richtlinie auf, dabei ist die Grundidee gut und richtig, nur die Umsetzung ist bösartig gegen den Nutzer ausgerichtet. Do not track means so not track - no means no.
We managed to kill off a third of the entire bug population during the last 25 years or so.
https://www.messenger-matrix.de/messenger-matrix-en.html
^^ Good comparison with other IMs.
I think it's best to only buy routers supporting openwrt in the first place and switch firmware to openwrt asap. Openwrt or Opnsense or anything open source and well maintained will guarantee security updates years and years beyond the original manufactures firmware.
Hitting a round birthday gets harder every time it happens in my opinion. On the other hand I didn't mind hitting 42 too much. After all, it's the answer to life, the universe and everything. That should be something to look forward to at 40!
This is actually a rather new feature in the firefox browser unrelated to searx.
I don't know if this is common knowledge, but if you hit 3 on your keyboard after starting a youtube video, it takes you straight to one third of the video played. So the Wadsworth Constant is already integrated into Youtube and has been for years.
If you just want to talk, mumble would be a very lightweight alternative.
I'd say it's best to only buy routing devices supporting openwrt. Some Ubiquity devices seem compatible, so maybe you are in luck. In my opinion it's just best to stay away from preinstalled commercial software and just install Linux. You get away from the whole process of enshitification, gain long term support and an incredible set of features commercial software will never provide (at a reasonable price) imho.