I have had instances where previously "archived" photos reappeared among my regular photos on Android devices. It's a faith-shattering moment. Let's face it, most of us have some amount of photos or screenshots we don't want unexpectedly popping up when other people may be able to see them. In my case, it may have been user error resulting from the confusing interplay between my camera app, the default Samsung photo album, and Google Photos. I guess. Ultimately, I removed permissions for accessing photos from every app except for Google Photos to reduce the chance for confusion.
Does anyone have a simple, cross-platform solution for storing (yet easily accessing) private photos and videos? Or do most people just resort to living dangerously?
You have two choices if you take a photo you don't want others to see - do it on a point-and-shoot (without any wireless capability) camera, and only import the photos to a permanently air-gapped computer with all I/O ports disabled, ideally encrypting them on the computer and destroying the original digital copy. Or use 35mm film and develop the film your self and store the photos inside a safe.
I think that's a little extreme and there is a 3rd option that would be adequate for most people: using software on a normal non-airgapped computer that simply doesn't exfiltrate your data.
Most people do NOT need security from state level threat actors, they just need software that respects them, which of course no longer includes mainstream operating systems or applications, today.
There are plenty of exploits for all kinds of devices that can let an average hacker siphon off someone's data - and people often help them do it. There is no such thing as an internet connected device that will keep your data from prying eyes.
Does anyone have a simple, cross-platform solution for storing (yet easily accessing) private photos and videos? Or do most people just resort to living dangerously?