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Ask HN: What Apple alternatives are you switching to?

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Re: Ask HN: What Apple alternatives are you switching to?

#231

Post by vbezhenar »

scoopertrooper wrote: post #71
gjsman-1000 wrote: post #26

To be honest... None. It's a choice. You might wholly disagree, but recent events aren't enough to get me to switch yet, because I think the competition has too many tradeoffs. I can get my photos scanned against a CSAM database... or I can have Google tracking my location constantly regardless of what they say (as they've been proven to be misleading in the past)... or I can use a Linux phone and say goodbye to batt…

Exactly, I think people are just getting a little too worked up over this whole thing. Apple computes a hash of each image you upload to iCloud then check it against a list of CP hashes. Of all the things in the world to get worked up over, this is ridiculous. I get it, the mechanism they're using has apparent flaws, and maybe some whacko could somehow get access to your phone and start uploading things that trick th…

> I get it, the mechanism they're using has apparent flaws, and maybe some whacko could somehow get access to your phone and start uploading things that trick the algorithm into thinking you have CP.

Whatsapp by default adds all received images into Photos. So all it takes is to send you few dozens of pictures while you're sleeping.

Re: Ask HN: What Apple alternatives are you switching to?

#232

Post by beders »

sigmar wrote: post #94
gjsman-1000 wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Google has been scanning photos for CSAM for... what, almost a decade now? Also, as an iPhone user, contrary to the recent Hacker News fight, I actually view this CSAM scanning with a sign of hope, because this hints that we could get end-to-end encryption on iCloud Storage. The CSAM scanning is rumored to be just a prerequisite to get the government to shut up with their biggest critique of E2E, so that Apple can th…

Oh yes, I'm sure the FBI will be satisfied with using the backdoor to only find CSAM, they definitely will not use the access for 'anti-terrorism' and drug enforcement. That sounds just like the FBI. What good is E2E encryption when they can scan your client with a backdoor? All Apple is doing with this hashing is giving themselves plausible deniability when this access gets abused down the road. "Oh we didn't know t…

There is no privacy on the internet and on your phone. People really need to get over this.

Re: Ask HN: What Apple alternatives are you switching to?

#233

Post by istingray »

mullingitover wrote: post #159
vorpalhex wrote: post #119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When you criticize the TSA, nobody thinks you're a terrorist. You can criticize invasive measures and most people get it.

This is a pretty flimsy analogy because we're not talking about criticism, we're talking about taking pretty onerous, inconvenient steps to avoid having CSAM detected on your devices. You might not have it on your devices, but if you tell someone you're doing all this the average knee-jerk reaction is going to be suspicion.

I don't refer to it as CSAM. I say I'm switching because of Apple's surveillance of my files so they can find stuff to report to the police. People get it.

Re: Ask HN: What Apple alternatives are you switching to?

#234

Post by IncRnd »

scoopertrooper wrote: post #212
IncRnd wrote: post #191

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Exactly, I think people are just getting a little too worked up over this whole thing. Apple computes a hash of each image you upload to iCloud then check it against a list of CP hashes. If that is what is supposed to happen, then it makes no sense for any new code to run on the device! > Of all the things in the world to get worked up over, this is ridiculous. Well, it is not crazy to get worked up over Apple sayi…

> If that is what is supposed to happen, then it makes no sense for any new code to run on the device! The new code calculates the hash as part of the upload process. The comparison of the hash against known CP hashes happen on the server. > Well, it is not crazy to get worked up over Apple saying they will check uploads to iCloud by checking what's on your phone - instead of simply adding code to iCloud. They're sti…

You simply repeated back to me what I wrote without addressing any of it.

Re: Ask HN: What Apple alternatives are you switching to?

#235

Post by yabones »

Computer - Thinkpads with Linux or BSD flavours - enough to run web apps, and a capable SSH client.

Phone - Nokia 225 (dumbphone) - enough to call 911 or my partner/mother/pizza shop.

I'm keeping my iPhone SE, but it's essentially going to stay in one or two rooms at home, only used for things that need a mobile device.

The key is adjusting your expectations. I don't get apps at easy reach anymore, but I don't need them and never should have had them in the first place. My personality is far too prone to addiction, and physical control is easier than self control. That it's going to have a positive impact on my privacy/security/safety is just a nice plus.

Re: Ask HN: What Apple alternatives are you switching to?

#236

Post by lazzurs »

I’ve bought a Google Pixel 4a today to do some testing with Graphene OS.

I already have my data in Nextcloud so that makes the switch easier but some things like WhatsApp are going to be harder and for that it appears the Matrix bridge is the thing.

What ever path I go down my partner is going to follow so it has to just work and take great photos. If the Pixel 4a as a test device works I’m excited about the Pixel 6 Pro.

On the desktop, just got the new Mac Mini and not looking to jump yet but Linux is a decent desktop OS. All I need is Firefox, a Terminal and Jetbrains to get the job done.

Re: Ask HN: What Apple alternatives are you switching to?

#237

Post by lucideer »

Happily Linuxing on a Dell Precision 5550

Very surprisingly decent touchpad for a PC, lighter than my last MBP, same usbc/thunderbolt 3 ports & charger I've now become familiar with and have peripherals for littered around the house (plus — and this may seem dumb ̄— but something so small as the fold-out HDMI/USBA dongle included in the box just drives home that little bit further how actively user-hostile Apple are).

Re: Ask HN: What Apple alternatives are you switching to?

#239

Post by nicce »

NationalPark wrote: post #209
nicce wrote: post #158

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is not conspiracy. There is literally an option on your Google account to stop using mic for collecting data. On older accounts, it is enabled by default.

Are you referring to the voice assistant telemetry? That's not passively recorded according to Google, but if you have evidence to the contrary I can think of a number of news outlets (and prosecutors in 2 party consent states) that would love to have it.

The option was there before voice assistant existed in 2013 or something. That is when I figured it out myself. I don't know how the description of that is changed during the years.

Re: Ask HN: What Apple alternatives are you switching to?

#240

Post by scoopertrooper »

randomdata wrote: post #202
scoopertrooper wrote: post #144

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple have said what they're going to do. If the number of hash hits reaches 30, then they'll scale the image down and send it off to their manual review team. If they confirm it's CP, then they call the police.

Exactly. They're not going do much of anything. It is what happens after the final step outlined that actually concerns people, and that is where the real problem lies. Apple is simply exposing the problem; or perhaps more accurately bringing the problem we all understand exists into the limelight. Had Apple not implemented this feature, or implemented it differently (scanning server-side, for example), the problem w…

If a pedophile takes their computer (loaded with CP) to a repair shop and they find CP they call the police.

If a pedophile uploads CP to the internet and the host finds CP they call the police.

Both seem like reasonable responses to me.

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