OpSec Lounge (Security, Privacy, etc.)

Vas Incrementum said:
If you can afford it, I'd advise you to get an 8a so as to have a few years updates.
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Because of this and the future, I might buy a pixel just as a phone to have anyway, since I'm in the market for a new one. I can then convert it if I want. Maybe a black friday deal will be available, so I'm in no rush (9 looks very nice). Is "AI" or tracking an issue with these new pixel phones?

edit - I read Based's comments above. Thanks!
 
Blade Runner said:
Because of this and the future, I might buy a pixel just as a phone to have anyway, since I'm in the market for a new one. I can then convert it if I want. Maybe a black friday deal will be available, so I'm in no rush (9 looks very nice). Is "AI" or tracking an issue with these new pixel phones?

edit - I read Based's comments above. Thanks!
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No, you would have essentially the most non-pozzed device possible with graphene in regard to "AI" and tracking. You could go the linux phone route, but I think graphene is the most complete offering for a "mainstream device" to date.
 
I have a question please. I play in a band and the boys ask me to get social media, so I can be tagged on the band posts. Currently I have 0 social media accounts & prefer to keep it that way. I wish to know this forum's opinion about getting one. I've been thinking about opening a FB page. That has a dual purpose, because I've used my wife's FB account in order to access FB marketplace. I despise social media in general, especially IG. But our page has both IG & FB. I don't like the idea of getting attached the big tech. I'm kinda torn but perhaps my obstinace is unwarranted. Thank you for your feedback.
 
Kido Butai said:
I have a question please. I play in a band and the boys ask me to get social media, so I can be tagged on the band posts. Currently I have 0 social media accounts & prefer to keep it that way. I wish to know this forum's opinion about getting one. I've been thinking about opening a FB page. That has a dual purpose, because I've used my wife's FB account in order to access FB marketplace. I despise social media in general, especially IG. But our page has both IG & FB. I don't like the idea of getting attached the big tech. I'm kinda torn but perhaps my obstinace is unwarranted. Thank you for your feedback.
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Think about it this way: Is it really necessary to be "tagged" by Globalhomo and multiple AI scrapers for a hobby due to peer-pressure?
 
Blade Runner said:
Which lowest level pixel phone would be the best to use?
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I stilll have and use an outdated Pixel 3A phone with GrapheneOS since 2020/2021.

1.) Before buying a Pixel phone, review the list of GrapheneOS supported Pixel devices.

grapheneos.org

GrapheneOS Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to frequently asked questions about GrapheneOS.
grapheneos.org grapheneos.org

2.) Once you know the supported Pixel devices, look for a used Pixel phone to buy.

When buying a Pixel phone, make sure it is an UNLOCKED device. This is important!

https://www.backmarket.com/en-us/l/...a3e-6e95f39101dd#compatible_carriers=Unlocked

3.) When you receive the unlocked Pixel phone, you can then start installing GrapheneOS. Just go to their website and follow their installation instructions.

grapheneos.org

GrapheneOS installation

Installation instructions for GrapheneOS, a security and privacy focused mobile OS with Android app compatibility.
grapheneos.org grapheneos.org
 
I used to run CyanogenMod OS on Galaxy devices. Now I'm on a OnePlus device running their OxygenOS with root via Magisk and haven't felt the need to do much else with it. I have ad blocking, firewall, etc. and I generally use Brave browser with settings tweaked for maximum security & privacy. I would be very careful and hesitant buying used devices from the Internet but maybe I'm just paranoid.

Anyway I'm not quite ready for an upgrade just yet as my current 6+ year old device still does everything I need it to do competently, the battery is solid, it's fast; but I'm curious about new OnePlus and Xiaomi devices. I probably won't buy another Korean device ever again though. I had a first gen Samsung Galaxy S (the very first one in the series) which was pretty good at the time, and I've had numerous other Galaxy devices over the years, but they've gotten so bloated and are among, if not the, worst when it comes to unlocking and rooting, and are ridiculously expensive, so my next smart phone will likely be Chinese again.

My current OnePlus device has been the best performing and least problematic smart phone I've ever owned and I'd have to go back to the old Nokia brick phones to think of something that was as robust, and probably Motorola Razr a close second, but neither were really "smart phones" so apples and oranges. The Chinese phones have really come a long way and imho are now ahead of everyone else in mobile technology, performance, reliability, etc. Compare the latest Xiaomi and One Plus vs iPhone, for example. Although I suppose the SnapDragon/Adreno chips they are using are American (Qualcomm), but built in China (TSMC).



 
TruckDriver9 said:
Question to our Euro bros.
I'm hearing that EU is working on something called chat control, which, from what I understand, would monitor all digital communication including encrypted messaging apps.
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Make sure you totally don't setup a XMPP server for your friends with OMEMO encryption. That would be the worst thing you could possibly do. Also don't use PGP in your emails.
 
I don't have deep knowledge of the current situation with our eu bros but from what I've seen here and there it sounds terrible. It seems like europe is pretty far along in the process of self-destructing. I saw this coming a while ago which is why one of the first things I did when I took over CiK was to move us to a non-eu domain.

Honestly at this point you're probably better off trying to move somewhere else that doesn't have such ridiculous "laws", though I hesitate to suggest the US because we have our own problems, but it's probably still better than anywhere else at this point. Plus I hate to say it but I think WW3 is coming and the eu seems to be hell bent on fighting russia and they are probably going to eat some nukes if they keep going. Sorry if that isn't very helpful.
 
Thefinalepic said:
Make sure you totally don't setup a XMPP server for your friends with OMEMO encryption. That would be the worst thing you could possibly do. Also don't use PGP in your emails.
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It was more of a generic question about the emerging digital surveillance state, not a search for technical solutions (which I don't understand). In hindsight, I should have posted it in the Euro politics thread.
Still appreciate the effort, tho.
 
Blade Runner said:
Time frame?
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Don't want to go too far off topic. My point was simply that for those living in europe rather than trying to focus on security and privacy, they may want to look at leaving while they can. Just my 2 cents from an uneducated and not very smart sinning human. Re: WW3 is there a thread for this somewhere? If not, there should be. I'll look and post there, or if not create a new thread.
 
Should we start looking for phones that are better for privacy, like de googled phones or grapheneOS based rips that can be used with a pixel?

What about that Erik Prince phone?

edit - haha, it's made in Israel and is closed source. lol

Does anyone have a Dell Linux computer (out of the box)?
 
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Blade Runner said:
Should we start looking for phones that are better for privacy, like de googled phones or grapheneOS based rips that can be used with a pixel?

What about that Erik Prince phone?

edit - haha, it's made in Israel and is closed source. lol

Does anyone have a Dell Linux computer (out of the box)?
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Linux phones will be one of the most important devices in the coming years. If GrapheneOS can continue on without Google Pixel phones, then that will be an interesting alternative as well.

Some of these manufacturers charge MORE to put linux on their machines. Don't pay more, just get windows version and wipe the drive.
 
Thefinalepic said:
Linux phones will be one of the most important devices in the coming years. If GrapheneOS can continue on without Google Pixel phones, then that will be an interesting alternative as well.

Some of these manufacturers charge MORE to put linux on their machines. Don't pay more, just get windows version and wipe the drive.
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Yeah best of all worlds right now is GrapheneOS but in the coming years it all depends how they adapt to Android becoming more closed-source.

Second-best option are Android ROMs like LineageOS since despite not being as secure as GrapheneOS are still miles ahead in terms of security and usability than Linux-based phones. Though in the long-term I expect Linux-based phones may win out if there's some new companies that make decent investments in the space.
 
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