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Re: anyone using a privacy-protecting cell phone

On Fri, 22 Jan 2021, Ian! D. Allen wrote:

Anyone out there in Linux-land with experience they are willing to share
using a cell phone with good privacy that doesn't track you?

Cell phone? Privacy? Doesn't track you? Ha, thanks for the laugh on a Friday!

Actually, that's not entirely true. An Apple cell phone might be a bit private if you don't install most apps, don't enable the GPS receiver, also disable app location access, and don't install a SIM card to access the cell phone network unless you want to be subjected to police and MIB's stingrays and court-approved production orders.

Then run wifi (only) over your own private VPN, and block Apple server connections on that. If you want to use the cell phone for voice calls, install something like Groundwire (VOIP softphone) and send your comms to the telephone networks -- however private that is. not.

This is what I do.

For those using Apple phones, I highly recommend running Firefox with tracking protection at the highest level. Mozilla Focus is a great adjunct, which also seems to block the Ottawa Citizen and other sites' RTSP video. (I am always pleased when I pull up a Youtube video on my phone and YT recommends kids shows and pop culture crap.)

I'm not an Apple fan in partcular but it was a significantly better privacy starting point than Android, which is built from the bottom up to spy on users. Some day I'll get a cheap rootable android phone and install something more secure on that too.

Of course all this is still not private.

Or get a pinephone then log into Facebook all the time and use Google for your search engine and Google maps for route planning. For good measure, register your Presto card with your name and financial info. Or save the hassle and just get a modern motor vehicle with extensive tracking and reporting built in! As a lifelong cyclist I never imagined the day where riding a bike would be one the most untrackable ways to travel besides walking.

Be sure to use your rewards card and pay with your debit or credit card too.

To keep this really Linux-focussed, for those of you who don't know yet Ubuntu was booted to the full gnome desktop on an iPhone 7 about 10 days ago, although it is not fully functional yet (early days).

https://www.reddit.com/r/linux/comments/kvmsfd/success_iphone_7_booting_ubuntu_2004_to_full/

But then: "broadband processor". https://www.extremetech.com/computing/170874-the-secret-second-operating-system-that-could-make-every-mobile-phone-insecure

Anyway, why would your friend not want to be "tracked" given all the benefits that a customized and highly networked experience brings. Do they have something to hide?

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