I've been thinking about this a lot lately. I recently purchased an iPhone 6S (fuck the 7 and their dongles) and I can't help feeling that I'm being watched and listened to all the time, not because I'm special, just because the technology exists and people in power are corrupt.
I know I know, sounds like the beginnings of schizophrenia. I don't think it's that. It's more of a reasonable worry about where technology is headed - I carry my phone with me all the time, I rarely turn it off, and I know that it is physically impossible for me to turn off the microphone and/or camera.
I've searched for a way to solve the "Big Brother is watching you" camera problem. I found this:
https://eyepatchcase.com/products/eyepatch-iphone-6-case-cleans-camera-lens-and-covers-your-camera-for-privacy
I emailed these guys and told them I was excited to find their product, but that the reviews said the silicon case caused it to stick in a pocket. I've always been a fan of smooth cases. Nit-picky of me? Yes.
However, even if they produced a case that I liked, that wouldn't solve the microphone problem. Aside from building my own desktop, I have yet to find a PC or phone that allows me to physically disable the camera and/or microphone.
That's why I have come to the conclusion that I want modular technology. I'm sure a few of you remember this idea, PhoneBloks:
https://phonebloks.com/
Seems like Google bought it, then killed it. Gee, I wonder why...
It's really sad because we have the technology to make these things. We could build phones, PCs, and someday we could even make vehicles using modular parts. How cool would that be!? Can you imagine an open API for a mobile phone platform that would allow any company to create modules for your phone? I think it would be really cool.
This is more of a rant than an argument or a question. Just curious what the rest of you guys think.
Some bright inventor or entrepreneur is going to make a boatload of money when they realize all the cool business opportunities in giving the power back to the people.
I understand the "magic" of a closed system, the ability to control for vulnerabilities and style gaffs, but we've been in the "iPhones are amazing!" era for long enough. It's getting old and stale, and a lot of privacy issues are being overlooked big time.
I'm looking forward to a new wave.
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[–] Water 0 points 8 points 8 points (+8|-0) ago
ctrl+f baseband
You are not talking about the most important part of the phone. The part the phone with proprietary software from the FCC and on Qualcomm chips this is integrated with the CPU. Librem hopes to crowd fund an Intel based phone where the baseband can be toggled off. Hopefully this can go through and be successful. The OS on the phone is irrelevant as long as the baseband is active, even if that OS is FOSS.
[–] cthulian_axioms 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
If the FCC is a Governmental entity, and the Government cannot hold copyright, how can the code that makes the baseband work be anything other than open-source?
Is it kept secret because of "muh terrorism" fears?
[–] Water 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago
I am not a legal expert nor really a phone expert, just an OSS enthusiast shit posting online about the government/companies tracking me. I do not believe code without source code released is copyright but I do not really know what legally is copyrighted code. Also I think I may have misspoke, I think the chip manufacturer gets their code approved by the FCC. It is probably the companies arguing their work is contained. I would at least like phones where it it could be isolated from the chip so that it could be disabled or work more like a firmware than a second CPU. I found this link before if you would like to learn more.
http://osmocom.org/projects/baseband/wiki/LegalAspects#Usingmodifiedphonesoncarriernetworks
[–] Donbuster 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
its to keep phone makers from intentionally making their phones impossible to migrate, to enforce spectrum limitations (gotta make sure I don't transmit at crazy high power on military reserved bands) and other stuff of the sort
[–] 8925570? 0 points 4 points 4 points (+4|-0) ago
Check out the fairphone 2
https://shop.fairphone.com/en/
[–] Donbuster 0 points 3 points 3 points (+3|-0) ago
Well, for phones, my advice? Keep a dumbphone, take the battery out when not using it. For the laptop, its possible to configure enterprise machines where they don't even COME with a camera or mic. (I know either the dell precision 5520 or 3520 developer editions come with those options if you configure them). I've never seen a desktop with a built in mic in the tower.
[–] Super_Cooper 0 points 3 points 3 points (+3|-0) ago
Modular technology is awesome. Make it happen dude. You can do it. You can be the next Steve Jobs.
[–] dannym 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago (edited ago)
That's because most likely you are.
And the NSA, GCHQ and BND exist and have those tools for mass surveillance. They don't need probable cause. Since the NSA can't officially do that to Americans (ha! as if they care) they'll just ask their buddies, the GCHQ - those can watch Americans. This has all been documented.
Also, they track their spouses etc.
Don't.
Do.
Yeah, that bothers me, too.
A lot of cases have that problem. I have another one that definitely makes things stick to it - so if I take the phone out it will often pull something else out of my pocket with it.
If nothing else, the Lenovo X200 PC allows you to replace the BIOS so even if the camera/microphone is not physically disabled, no one is there to use it without you seeing it (in principle). It's definitely not for the faint of heart to set it up (better know electrical engineering basics and have some tools like clamps etc). There exists a company, Minifree, that does it for you, though.
As for phones, there's Replicant and FreeCalypso, two projects that are trying to make the privacy situation better. They are not in a finished state, though.
Yes. Not sure how reliable the snaps would be, though. It would probably be a warranty nightmare.
I wish that was true but the vast majority doesn't care. It has always been that way.
For example, look at FreeCalypso, there's like 8 people in the project mailing list - and probably fewer that provide funding. Doesn't scream business opportunity to me.
[–] Thissandwich 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago
I think I would like to transfer the +1/+1 counters from my old phone to my new one.
[–] sbt2160p 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
We already do this. Want to bolt on new wheels, suspension, air intake, turbo, seats, steering wheel, audio system, throttle bodies, or body panels? Be my guest!
[–] qpwt [S] 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
Good point. I was thinking more along the lines of electric vehicles. Still, not much different at all from what you are pointing out.
[–] Wowbagger 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
Check out the Dragonbox Pyra.