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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