this post was submitted on 05 May 2024
330 points (97.4% liked)

Privacy

31253 readers
653 users here now

A place to discuss privacy and freedom in the digital world.

Privacy has become a very important issue in modern society, with companies and governments constantly abusing their power, more and more people are waking up to the importance of digital privacy.

In this community everyone is welcome to post links and discuss topics related to privacy.

Some Rules

Related communities

Chat rooms

much thanks to @gary_host_laptop for the logo design :)

founded 4 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Simple steps to take before hitting the streets

(page 2) 32 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] [email protected] 14 points 4 months ago

Anything with Bluetooth is a ID vector.

And since Apple AirTag tech is a thing there are other ID capabilities.

Maybe a Faraday bag to cut all radio.

[–] [email protected] 23 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (4 children)

I'm waiting for the first mass protest that utilizes Lora communications

Come on noobs, get with the times!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 months ago (3 children)
load more comments (3 replies)
[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 months ago

Here is an alternative Piped link(s):

Lora communications

Piped is a privacy-respecting open-source alternative frontend to YouTube.

I'm open-source; check me out at GitHub.

load more comments (2 replies)
[–] [email protected] 54 points 4 months ago (2 children)

Just leave your phone at home, and bring a Digital camera, and few SD Cards ... Oh, wait.. < insert company name here > makes Cameras that spy on you... nevermind...

maybe we should hire a fast sketching artist to draw police brutality ... What.!... your pencil can track you now... come...ooooonnn

[–] [email protected] 29 points 4 months ago

No, its better to have a smart device that syncs photos to your encrypted cloud in case you're attacked and your attacker breaks your SD card to destroy the evidence

[–] [email protected] 11 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Burner phone to anything that requires communication. Erase metadata of anything that will be shared and uploaded online.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 months ago (4 children)

Burner phones are a strange concept. If you want to store sensitive data on it, you shouldnt use some cheap android phone or even a dumbphone without encryption support.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 months ago (11 children)

All Androids since 9 at least have been encrypted by default as long as you have a lock screen enabled. Doesn't matter if its cheap, it is there.

load more comments (11 replies)
load more comments (3 replies)
[–] [email protected] 56 points 4 months ago

While leaving it behind is best for privacy, the article touches on some reasons people bring them anyway

Leaving your phone behind means the data it holds and transmits will be the safest it will ever be, but it also means giving up access to important resources. It becomes much more difficult to coordinate with others, or get updates from social media. For many, phone cameras are also the only way they can document what’s happening.

If you have access to a separate phone, whether it’s a “burner” phone, an old smartphone that you can reset, or an old-fashioned camera, you could choose to bring these devices instead of your regularly-used phone. However, not everyone has access to these devices, or can afford to purchase a separate phone just for protesting.

[–] [email protected] 38 points 4 months ago (3 children)

Phones are tracking devices. Do not bring your phone, not even turned off because many phones emit Bluetooth beacons and other data that can be recorded and traced.

If you bring a phone, make sure that phone has no idea who you are.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 4 months ago (1 children)

If everyone followed this advice, we wouldn't have footage of abuse at protests..

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] [email protected] 24 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

Even if the phone doesn't know who you are, the shop that sold you the phone or the SIM, or the credit card company you paid with, can know who you are. So you'd have to use cash. Even without these, your movements can be tracked through a burner phone and informed guesses made about who you are (e.g. if the phone has been at your home or with your friends).

Turning off your phone doesn't necessarily protect you from tracking either:

https://www.androidauthority.com/android-15-powered-off-api-pixel-9-track-switched-off-3425472/

Easiest, as others say, just not to carry a phone.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

In some places, you cant buy a burner with cash, but you could with a gift card that was registered with cash or a prepaid debit.

I would also recommend buying a faraday bag to keep it isolated.

Edit: keep that in the faraday bag untill you need it.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 4 months ago

I wouldn't even bring my phone, or if I absolutely needed something like that, I'd buy a cheapass pre-paid burner. And keep it off until you actually need it.

[–] [email protected] 145 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Leave it at home and, if you need a phone, take a burner that doesn’t have your personal data and isn’t logged into any of your accounts.

[–] [email protected] 44 points 4 months ago (5 children)

You also have better found a way to pay for the burner in cash or with a pre-paid debit card. A lot of places in the US won't let you buy a "burner phone" without a credit/debit card that has your name attached to it.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 months ago (2 children)

Wut? The US is like one of the easiest places to buy anonymous mobile phones and plans.

load more comments (2 replies)
[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago

What about buying second hand?

[–] [email protected] 11 points 4 months ago

Walmart lets you. At least as of October. The only rule was the amount of phones.

load more comments (1 replies)
load more comments
view more: ‹ prev next ›