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Ask HN: Why can’t I block all incoming calls that aren’t in my contact list?

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Re: Ask HN: Why can’t I block all incoming calls that aren’t in my contact list?

#131

Post by avh02 »

m463 wrote: post #34
WestCoastJustin wrote: post #5

I just put my iphone on "do not disturb" full-time and use my favourites list to only allow calls though (from a selected list). People who double call are also allowed through. Then you are not constantly distracted by notifications, emails, texts, spam calls [1]. My thinking is, my phone should serve me, not the other way around, so I only check when I'm not focused on something else. Personally, I find useless not…

This still lets people on that list wake you up after hours unless you take manual action. I believe apple has a new call fitering API, but of course you don't have a way of really knowing what apps do with their permissions. Apple should give you the ability to firewall apps from any net access.

Personal habit that's worked for me for years: turn off all data when I go to bed - only calls and sms can wake me up (of course this works if you don't use sms as a regular communication medium)

I end up syncing in the morning when I turn Wi-Fi back on

Re: Ask HN: Why can’t I block all incoming calls that aren’t in my contact list?

#132

Post by cco »

CamperBob2 wrote: post #80
IgorPartola wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Custom ringtone that is silent and individual ring tones for the select few contacts?

I've done this since the original iPhone first started to support custom ringtones. I used a quiet passage from a recording of Beethoven's 7th. Why Apple doesn't include a silent ringtone -- a feature found on pretty much every 'feature phone' I've ever seen or used -- is just one of life's dumb mysteries.

Surprised you didn't use 4'33".

Re: Ask HN: Why can’t I block all incoming calls that aren’t in my contact list?

#133

Post by lowlevel »

WestCoastJustin wrote: post #5

I just put my iphone on "do not disturb" full-time and use my favourites list to only allow calls though (from a selected list). People who double call are also allowed through. Then you are not constantly distracted by notifications, emails, texts, spam calls [1]. My thinking is, my phone should serve me, not the other way around, so I only check when I'm not focused on something else. Personally, I find useless not…

I've wanted a whitelist only setting for a very long time... and I have also resorted to using the iPhones DND feature but instead of favorites I just use contacts.

Havn't heard from the fake CRA, chinese immigration or duct cleaners for ages... I do still get text messages so I'm not sure what people are talking about by 'all or nothing' ...

As far as I can tell, the only downside is anyone in my contact list can wake me up at 4am...

Re: Ask HN: Why can’t I block all incoming calls that aren’t in my contact list?

#134

Post by bscphil »

max76 wrote: post #21
kazinator wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The carriers should pick up the ball a little bit and deal with the spam call problem at the network level, rather than leaving it to apps. How can the tech be broken that call display can be spoofed; like someone obviously from outside of your area spoofs a number in your area. I can't believe that can't be intercepted. They just don't care beyond collecting a monthly bill from you.

T-Mobile is the front runner carrier for dealing with spam and fraud phone calls in the US. I'll link some official marketing about one of their features, but they are doing a lot in this space. I suspect they find that these features increase brand loyalty per dollar more than the coverage arms race, which they can never win against their deep pocketed opponents. https://www.t-mobile.com/resources/call-protection

I've been on Google Fi for a few years, and I don't believe I have received a single spam call, ever. I don't know if that's because Google is just good at filtering, because they operate over T-Mobile's networks, or just a coincidence.

Re: Ask HN: Why can’t I block all incoming calls that aren’t in my contact list?

#135

Post by diminoten »

joshka wrote: post #127

I'm more inclined to say that the real solution to this is to make it expensive for the callers by having a service that answers the call every time and tries to keep the caller on the line wasting their time. There's obviously an asymmetric principal at play here. Imagine for a sec a situation where: 1. I receive a robocaller message. 2. I press a button on phone indicating spam 3. Software Agent takes over, presses…

I've found the Google Call Screening feature to do a much better job at this than anything more malicious.

I tap a button, and the call screener takes its time to explain that I've enabled that call screening service, while I continue on my day. No spam I've ever gotten has waited for the voice to finish its 3rd word.

Re: Ask HN: Why can’t I block all incoming calls that aren’t in my contact list?

#137

Post by crispytx »

Hey Tones411, I actually created an app that does this for Android called RoboStop. Check it out! Unfortunately Google will be removing the app from the Play Store on March 9th due to increased restrictions regarding access to user's data (call logs), but I plan on moving the app over to RoboStop.org in about a month from now.

Re: Ask HN: Why can’t I block all incoming calls that aren’t in my contact list?

#138

Post by avh02 »

simonCGN wrote: post #136

Seems to be a US problem. I als never get unsolicited calls in my country.

Had plenty of robocalls during my year in the UK - mainly the same message that tries to get you to speak first then goes on a spiel about being involved in a car accident that wasn't my fault (given I don't have a car that was pretty moot)

Re: Ask HN: Why can’t I block all incoming calls that aren’t in my contact list?

#139

Post by djohnston »

dest wrote: post #122
djohnston wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

i feel like it would be effective but i worry about requiring payment information for sending emails. it seems like a privacy nightmare

Also, this gives a way to entities who control the payments control who can send emails. Might be a concern in authoritarian regimes. Weren't there a project with proof of work?

blockchain-based emails would definitely be a zesty solution

Re: Ask HN: Why can’t I block all incoming calls that aren’t in my contact list?

#140

Post by [deleted] »

deathanatos wrote: post #117

Or why isn't the law enforced? Why is the FCC and do-not-call.gov asleep on the job? Why are scammers even allowed to spoof caller IDs from local area-code numbers that don't even exist? (Thankfully, this makes them blissfully easy to spot. But I fear someday the fraudsters will get up to speed on that heuristic.) Don't get me wrong, I'm all for a technical measure like the one you suggest — it appears to be sorely n…

[deleted]
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