Ask HN: What smartphone should I get if I'm concerned about privacy?

Posted by padobson on Monday June 11, 2018 @02:29PM
from the ask-hn dept.

I refuse to buy an Amazon Echo or Google Home because I don't want anything listening to me constantly. I would also like to be able to carry my smartphone around without worrying about it listening to me either.

I know this sounds a bit paranoid and may be irrational, but I like being paranoid and irrational.

Which phone will best suit my paranoia and irrationality? Are Android and iOS devices immediately disqualified?

( 9 comments | 7 points | on HN )

Re:Ask HN: What smartphone should I get if I'm concerned abo... by BjoernKW on Monday June 11, 2018 @03:21PM (#17287594)

The truly paranoid answer probably is burner phones with no personally identifiable information on them but that might not exactly be practical or useful in many cases.

iOS devices fare pretty well in terms of privacy. Siri operates on your data entirely locally, for instance (which some people argue puts Apple's AI efforts at a disadvantage).

Apple's software isn't open source, of course. So admittedly, you can't be a hundred percent sure they really do what they claim to do. Still, I think within a reasonable margin of doubt, iOS devices can be trusted.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: What smartphone should I get if I'm concerned abo... by nextos on Monday June 11, 2018 @07:48PM (#17289600)

Probably a Pixel or a Pixel 2, and install Copperhead OS which is an open source Android with all Google stuff removed and many extra hardening options. It's really security focused.

Use only F-Droid applications.

For extra level of paranoia, carry a portable hotspot, and connect your phone to the internet through your hotspot via wifi. This would avoid baseband attacks.

Obviously phones are very insecure, but depending on your threat model this is a very good option.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: What smartphone should I get if I'm concerned abo... by sandov on Monday June 11, 2018 @10:02PM (#17290175)

Copperhead just died

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: What smartphone should I get if I'm concerned abo... by richardthered on Monday June 11, 2018 @04:56PM (#17288510)

Check out this TED talk : He says that android phones are inherently less secure, and also cheaper. So, poor people are more at risk of police scraping data off your phone.

https://www.ted.com/talks/christopher_soghoian_your_smartpho...

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: What smartphone should I get if I'm concerned abo... by sandov on Monday June 11, 2018 @10:04PM (#17290181)

Buy an android phone and install LineageOS, it's Android but without Google's crap. I use it daily and it's great.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: What smartphone should I get if I'm concerned abo... by Mononokay on Monday June 11, 2018 @02:38PM (#17287077)

I'd recommend to either go with an iOS device or wait until the Librem comes out.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: What smartphone should I get if I'm concerned abo... by ubporter on Wednesday June 13, 2018 @08:46PM (#17308344)

check out the Ubuntu phone: now maintained by the community (ubports.com) It's a full Ubuntu linux distro with touch and phone extensions. Hence, you can tweak privacy to your heart's content.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: What smartphone should I get if I'm concerned abo... by miguelrochefort on Monday June 11, 2018 @02:48PM (#17287202)

You can't have your cake and eat it too.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: What smartphone should I get if I'm concerned abo... by PaulHoule on Monday June 11, 2018 @02:37PM (#17287065)

Think different.

If you care about privacy you should own a computer, not a smartphone.

People use this infantile language when it comes to phones, it is "our smartphones". As in, "our smartphones killed the people on MH 370 when a pallet of lithium batteries burned up."

Don't let people get away with that. It is "Verizon's smartphones", "Google's smartphones". They own them, they make you pay rent.

[ Parent | on HN ]