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There is one more dimension: surveillance and security. Closed source phone could have spyware. It also does not get security updates just 6 months after releas

by qwerta 13y ago

There is one more dimension: surveillance and security. Closed source phone could have spyware. It also does not get security updates just 6 months after release. I simply want some basic privacy and phone which lasts more than 2 years. Commercial vendors failed here, perhaps OSS will deliver.

rimantas 13y ago
Will OSS also deliver cell towers? Otherwise the talk about privacy does not make much sense.
- bad_user 13y ago
  OSS can deliver good encryption solutions and can greatly enhance security. No solution is perfect, but if you read the trail of Snowden-branded leaks and the opinions of security experts, the greatest weapon that the NSA possess are the vulnerabilities and backdoors planted on people's own devices. Plus, NSA is not the only enemy, or the enemy most of us should fear, but rather organized crime syndicates or business competitors, which for many of us are much more immediate threats. You're making the mistake of thinking that just because all security solutions are imperfect, they are somehow equal. You're wrong!
- qwerta 13y ago
  I was talking more about content of the phone: emails, passwords, pictures, contact lists... But proper OSS phone could give answer to GSM location as well. Imagine network similar to Tor, where SIM would be emulated on phone and shared among community members. Phone would automatically rotate SIM and network IDs every hour. The actual voice call would be over encrypted VOIP. I am not saying it would be practical (or even legal), but OSS could solve technical part of it.
hrjet 13y ago
But unless you eliminate all closed-source components (hardware and software) you are still liable to spyware. There was news a few days back of irons from a certain company having spyware! Imagine what could be put in the firmware of a mobile device!
- ISL 13y ago
  Yes, but you're less likely to lose a cow from a pasture if you close most of the gates instead of leaving all of them open.

by qwerta 13y ago

rimantas 13y ago

Will OSS also deliver cell towers? Otherwise the talk about privacy does not make much sense.

bad_user 13y ago
OSS can deliver good encryption solutions and can greatly enhance security. No solution is perfect, but if you read the trail of Snowden-branded leaks and the opinions of security experts, the greatest weapon that the NSA possess are the vulnerabilities and backdoors planted on people's own devices. Plus, NSA is not the only enemy, or the enemy most of us should fear, but rather organized crime syndicates or business competitors, which for many of us are much more immediate threats. You're making the mistake of thinking that just because all security solutions are imperfect, they are somehow equal. You're wrong!
qwerta 13y ago
I was talking more about content of the phone: emails, passwords, pictures, contact lists... But proper OSS phone could give answer to GSM location as well. Imagine network similar to Tor, where SIM would be emulated on phone and shared among community members. Phone would automatically rotate SIM and network IDs every hour. The actual voice call would be over encrypted VOIP. I am not saying it would be practical (or even legal), but OSS could solve technical part of it.

hrjet 13y ago

But unless you eliminate all closed-source components (hardware and software) you are still liable to spyware. There was news a few days back of irons from a certain company having spyware! Imagine what could be put in the firmware of a mobile device!

ISL 13y ago
Yes, but you're less likely to lose a cow from a pasture if you close most of the gates instead of leaving all of them open.