My computer won't be hijacking my mind today – Puffer
My computer won't be hijacking my mind today
23 Aug, 2026
The internet and computers have become pretty addictive. I use Cold Turkey Blocker to block apps, sites, make my iPhone a dumb phone, and harden it all. This way, I don't let my brain get hijacked, and I can use my computer however I want. Which includes deciding what I can't use. It feels good to use a computer this way, and I think you should try it. I got the metaphor of hijacking from Andrew Kelley's Talk. A good watch/read.
Overview
I just finished going back to this defensive computer setup for the 5th to 10th time. It breaks occasionally, but it's pretty fine-tuned now. I realized what's happening is hijacking of the brain, and then forgetting your original intentions. Bam, you're back in a rut for days or weeks or years until you convince yourself it isn't one. Unauthorized control over my mind? No thanks.
Cold Turkey Blocker does most of the work (free tier and lifetime license for advanced features, best purchase I've ever made). If I hadn't been using this app for the past 7 years, my life would be much worse, in many ways. It blocks sites, apps, and beyond, enabling preemptive blocking with some tricks. This works on windows and macOS.
Websites and Apps
Cold turkey blocks websites and apps easily using a browser extension. Like YouTube and Reddit, or whatever you want. It also blocks apps.
Next, I don't want to use LLMs, ever. I'm not a purist but personally I have a bad pattern using them and don't need them for anything. AI hypelords have done a good job convincing us that they're god's gift, but I am not convinced even after playing around with them heavily. I find them pretty useless and even harmful for me most of the time. I am not a coder, so I'm pretty lucky in that sense that I don't have to manage LLMs for work. I ironically asked an agent to generate a list of AI sites to block, and it works well.
Phone
I use Apple Configurator thanks to this post: iPhone dumbphone. No browser or App Store. Becomes pretty darn boring to use it. I won't get a true dumb phone because it's just not practical, whatever the dumb phone purists may say (I know because I used to be one). Then I block the Apple Configurator app behind a time delay in Cold Turkey Blocker, so I can't remove the profile. You can see how this is starting to work.
Bypasses
The hardest part.
I use Cold Turkey Blocker in specific ways. I don't have sudo access on my Mac (ask me how I got to this point :) ). I created a separate admin account, and locked its password behind a time delay in the Apple Freeform app (can't be uninstalled, so it's safe, local only). Then I made my personal account a standard user so it can't really do anything, like install a bypass, use Opencode to brick Cold Turkey Blocker, etc.
There are various ways to harden Cold Turkey Blocker and website lists which you will figure out. The app has good ways to patch bypasses, but removing sudo is the rock-solid path.
I used Firefox until I realized they inserted AI that can't be blocked by CTB so that's great, thanks Mozilla. I now use Safari. I use Mac because I want my computer to work (no Linux) and not be crappy (Windows).
Summary
I now control what enters my mind through the computer, so I will not be hijacked by any site or app or other software. I own my computer. I want to decide what I access and what I can't access. Like the saying goes, you wouldn't have a drug addict live near a store selling crack, and a lot of us are becoming addicts to one thing or the other online.
Counter-arguments and extras
Just use self-control.
Anecdotally, and I guess scientifically this is pretty debunked. Even quite smart people agree(d). David Foster Wallace on TV and<br>Christopher Nolan on Smartphones
Resolve your underlying emotional issues / try to go outside.
Life is fine even when bad use. And I want to be able to sit at home alone and not feel any itch to use my computer for something addictive. For a lot of people, emotional/social issues cannot be magically resolved, so you need a hot fix. In a lot of cases, computer addiction is what causes emotional issues in the first place. It can be a positive feedback loop.
Using my computer like this is so enjoyable. I feel in control, I can choose to block addictive sites, AI, and things I don't want to use but get sucked into in the moment. Instead, I use a computer to expand my thinking just a bit. I feel great like this. Also it helps me go outside more.
What if you need to use ____?
I set delays so I can unblock anything if I need to. It requires me to plan ahead. Sadly, when it's unlocked, you convince yourself you don't need the controls and the cycle repeats, so I try to have things I might need installed just in case.
Bonus
I also blocked Apple Music and went back to offline music. So satisfying double clicking a song and playing it in MPV, fully offline, good quality, no music...