Protecting your anonymity – smart phones
Posted by jack1776 1 month, 1 week ago to Technology
Because of a post by nonconformist I have become emboldened to share what I’m doing to protect my anonymity and replace my digital online presence. Hopefully others will join in on their solutions as well. I’ll include desktop and open-source solutions and it seems that nonconformist has a lot to add.
I’m sure almost everyone here knows the smart phone is a device to market you, much like the famous Yakov Smirnoff, In America, you use your smart phone but in Soviet Russia the phone uses you. Its sad that we are now Soviet Russia… Most people I ask if they have noticed items in which they spoke about but never search for online being marketed to you, most will say yes. I found a solution and I’ve been using this solution for about 6 months and I’m very happy with the results.
I switched from an Android based phone to Graphene OS based phone and I’m never looking back. I have almost everything I had before but without the spyware, bloat, forced software that can’t be uninstalled and with incredibly useful security features, baked in out of the box. Since I switched, I have stopped being the product and now I’m the owner of my phone.
The process is incredibly easy to set up, just a few steps. You purchase an unlocked Google Pixel phone and connect it to your PC, then start here, with the web installer documentation: https://grapheneos.org/install/web
It comes with nothing installed… You must set up everything but that is a positive. You install Google Play and set up an anonymous account for Google Play, or you can use an account you own, it’s up to you.
Graphene OS takes a different approach to security, everything on the phone runs in its own isolated space called a sandbox, even the Google Play runs in its own sandbox. Full details on sandboxed Google Play: https://grapheneos.org/features#sandb...
Android auto will not work on Graphene OS, Android auto is the only application I have found not to work, it requires too many privates to the OS and is incapable of working without destroying the security features of Graphene OS. I haven’t missed it as it really didn’t function all the well to begin with.
Graphene OS has the ability to shutdown phone features when not in use, the microphone, camera and location services can be turned off as needed.
The OS can have multiple profiles with different software installed for different occasions, these are isolated from each other.
By removing our ability to be controlled and monitored by the big tech companies, we are regaining our freedom.
I’m sure almost everyone here knows the smart phone is a device to market you, much like the famous Yakov Smirnoff, In America, you use your smart phone but in Soviet Russia the phone uses you. Its sad that we are now Soviet Russia… Most people I ask if they have noticed items in which they spoke about but never search for online being marketed to you, most will say yes. I found a solution and I’ve been using this solution for about 6 months and I’m very happy with the results.
I switched from an Android based phone to Graphene OS based phone and I’m never looking back. I have almost everything I had before but without the spyware, bloat, forced software that can’t be uninstalled and with incredibly useful security features, baked in out of the box. Since I switched, I have stopped being the product and now I’m the owner of my phone.
The process is incredibly easy to set up, just a few steps. You purchase an unlocked Google Pixel phone and connect it to your PC, then start here, with the web installer documentation: https://grapheneos.org/install/web
It comes with nothing installed… You must set up everything but that is a positive. You install Google Play and set up an anonymous account for Google Play, or you can use an account you own, it’s up to you.
Graphene OS takes a different approach to security, everything on the phone runs in its own isolated space called a sandbox, even the Google Play runs in its own sandbox. Full details on sandboxed Google Play: https://grapheneos.org/features#sandb...
Android auto will not work on Graphene OS, Android auto is the only application I have found not to work, it requires too many privates to the OS and is incapable of working without destroying the security features of Graphene OS. I haven’t missed it as it really didn’t function all the well to begin with.
Graphene OS has the ability to shutdown phone features when not in use, the microphone, camera and location services can be turned off as needed.
The OS can have multiple profiles with different software installed for different occasions, these are isolated from each other.
By removing our ability to be controlled and monitored by the big tech companies, we are regaining our freedom.
How about Calyx, is that another good alternative to humanity's ogre, Gulag Google?
https://calyxos.org/features/
Noticed the sandbox wasn't a feature, which is the major feature disallowing.one application from knowing what you're doing with other applications. The Google Play store is still available in Graphene but its running in a sandbox while Calyx seems to have a replacement.
I have a TCL, and boy do I sure miss my BlackBerry!!!
Blackberry was before big tech got its fingers into you to make money. You are the product; the phone is the leash.
If all I did was tell you how to disable it. They could project it over as many phones as they could assume did it... And I never see daylight again.
That's the ONLY problem with these solutions.
But with that said. THIS IS STILL better than than letting the Govt and ALL Major Tech Companies have full access...
I've heard they bugged Assange laywer (or somebody) phone but they had to get physical access to it and solder something in.
Using an always on modem on a device that you are constantly carrying around everywhere is a security risk anyway. It allows you to be constantly tracked. What we need is an 'open source' community wireless network built by everyone putting up antennas and hardware on their property that runs open source software. That way, no one entity controls it and the tracking wouldn't be possible to organize. Although, you guys might not like that idea because it is 'collectivism'.
Burner phones, for example, when Charged, ping towers, even if off. Because most people are dumb enough to charge the phone in their car, or their house.
The problem is that our government doesn't want people knowing what is happening.
Just like "it takes 2 minutes to trace a phone call" (only in the movies...)
Remember, the govt goals and big tech goals are 100% in alignment.
I know the White Hat Hacker who published it refused to come to a Vegas convention as he found out the Feds were coming after him.
At this point, it may no longer be a specific chip, but a feature of the chipset.
But My 10 minutes of searching could not find it.
Interesting that ChatGPT was QUICK to point out it was a conspiracy theory. That BOTHERED me.
It was in years, near the one episode where one of the hackers ordered an ATM delivered to his house. Learned he could connect a bluetooth keyboard and gain access to the ATM... LOL
I used to follow those...
But I did not keep a trail...