Is there a menu in MATE and XFCE similar to the Cinnamon privacy settings?

[Brubakerantive]

From the Cinnamon privacy settings, I can toggle recent file logging and connectivity checking. However, I haven't found a similar menu yet in MATE or XFCE. Is there a menu in either DE similar to Cinammon's, or does this mean it's impossible to toggle such privacy settings when using either of them?

[xenopeek]

This is the code: https://github.com/linuxmint/cinnamon/b ... privacy.py. For recent files other applets and programs read the org.cinnamon.desktop.privacy settings schema, where these settings are stored. For connectivity checking it uses the NetworkManager API to toggle that setting.

I don't know if MATE or Xfce have a UI for this but otherwise you can work around it. (I'm happy to be surprised if MATE or Xfce do have a UI for this. I don't use either much.)

For recently used files you can use this https://unix.stackexchange.com/a/196004 to disable the feature. Or more brute force this viewtopic.php?p=659998#p659998 to blank the file where recent used files list is stored and then lock it to prevent writing (also root can't write to it).

For connectivity checking if you search for "networkmanager disable connectivity check" you can find solutions. Here is one describing some solutions: https://sleeplessbeastie.eu/2021/04/23/ ... ty-checks/. Either using DBus interface or modifying a system configuration file. I have not tried this.

All that said, only the connectivity checks does something outside your computer. The recently used files list doesn't leave your computer. It's privacy from other people that you let you use your computer.

[Hoser Rob]

As a long term Xfce user I can say pretty confidently that it doesn't have that like Cinnamon, and I don't think Mate does either. That sort of thing is part and parcel of lighter DEs, you just don't get all the features.