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Lithuania says throw away Chinese phones due to censorship concerns

reuters.com

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Re: Lithuania says throw away Chinese phones due to censorship concerns

#141

Post by reginold »

hef19898 wrote: post #124
reginold wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, rather than "it doesn't matter", something like "typing in a phrase yourself isn't relevant as this feature is likely disabled for you". Believe that's why you're being downvoted. The way HN moves comments around also so yours was not right next to the comment you replied to, which didn't help.

Reading my comment again, I do see the problem... On the positive side, it teaches clear, consive writing. Even in quick, short comments. Or thinking, as far as that's concerned. I would have used the same words verbally as well.

Pronouns in particular seem problematic. "It", "they", "he", "her" seem to be on their way out because they are less and less useful at communicating information.

Re: Lithuania says throw away Chinese phones due to censorship concerns

#142

Post by systemvoltage »

titzer wrote: post #107
EMM_386 wrote: post #98

I just helped someone remove the built-in Chinese malware from a US Government provided phone. It's insane. https://blog.malwarebytes.com/android/2020/07/we-found-yet-a...

This is what kinda terrifies me about today's digital landscape. Now it's so cheap to hide surveillance capabilities (spyware, hidden microphones or cameras) that bad actors can just embed surveillance into every cheap device, hoping just by sheer numbers to get one into a sensitive area (e.g. Pentagon, Langley), and then remotely activate surveillance. With the computational capabilities of today's data centers, the…

It’s underrated but DJI drones sold by millions is a great way to spy on what could not be gathered through satellite imagery. If not now then during war time, CCP has a million remote cameras in form of DJI drones and can turn it on in a snap. It would require nationwide firewall to stop. Of course, DJI drones require DJI flight app to even take off.

Why isn’t US Gov putting together legislation for this sort of a thing is beyond me.

Re: Lithuania says throw away Chinese phones due to censorship concerns

#143

Post by stickfigure »

game_the0ry wrote: post #128

I'm really not sure how serious I should take the threat of Chinese made electronics - almost all electronics are made China, not just Xaiomi and Hauwei. My iphone is made in China by Chinese contract manufacturer (Foxconn) - does that mean all iphones could be compromised with Chinese malware? It could be possible, but how can you tell? Is it possible to observe network packets going form my phone to a Chinese or Ch…

Presumably Apple ensures there is nothing nefarious in the hardware, but it seems an unlikely avenue for compromise. Most of the "phone" is Apple-provided software.

In theory sure, you could have a chip snooping on the bus. But it would have to have a lot of OS-level knowledge and then how would it exfiltrate the data without OS-level access to the IP stack?

Like the Bloomberg/Supermicro story, I am extremely skeptical.

A Chinese-built phone that comes supplied with an OS, that's a totally different matter.

Re: Lithuania says throw away Chinese phones due to censorship concerns

#144

Post by tombert »

abakker wrote: post #130
reginold wrote: post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You are more powerful than you may realize. Work on supporting open source hardware and software options. 1. If you are a developer, consider buying a Pinephone [1] and contributing to the codebase. 2. If not a developer, you can submit bug reports and test fixes. Same for Purism Librem phone as well [2]. 3. If you are neither, or have no time to spare but do have money, you can always purchase one for kicks or donat…

I hate to say this, but OSS anarchism is not going to work. Most people cannot really work or live with those devices. This is a problem that needs to be solved with legislation, lobbying, superPACs, and candidates who are not ethically flexible. The solution to bad government is not "no government" and the solution to bad company behavior is better rules.

I don't disagree at all with what you're saying, but shouldn't we still what little we can? Even if it's incremental, doesn't it at least send a tiny signal to manufacturers and companies and government if they see an increase in the demand of open hardware and open-source software?

The end solution will definitely require something more systemic, no question, but I don't think that should stopping the common person from doing what what they can.

I bought an iPhone less than a year ago (to use up a discount code before I left Apple), but a part of me already regrets not biting the bullet and purchasing something open, like a PinePhone.

Re: Lithuania says throw away Chinese phones due to censorship concerns

#145

Post by systemvoltage »

abakker wrote: post #130
reginold wrote: post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You are more powerful than you may realize. Work on supporting open source hardware and software options. 1. If you are a developer, consider buying a Pinephone [1] and contributing to the codebase. 2. If not a developer, you can submit bug reports and test fixes. Same for Purism Librem phone as well [2]. 3. If you are neither, or have no time to spare but do have money, you can always purchase one for kicks or donat…

I hate to say this, but OSS anarchism is not going to work. Most people cannot really work or live with those devices. This is a problem that needs to be solved with legislation, lobbying, superPACs, and candidates who are not ethically flexible. The solution to bad government is not "no government" and the solution to bad company behavior is better rules.

This is the correct answer. Legislation and outright bans of products that require any sort of internet connection to work.

Furthermore, legislation that explicitly prevents gathering of any data, user account or coercion to use the product in any way without explicit consent of the user.

OSS is not going to cut the mustard.

Re: Lithuania says throw away Chinese phones due to censorship concerns

#146

Post by no_way »

oseityphelysiol wrote: post #139
trasz wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most people don't have Xiaomi phones. And it's worth noting that the document only mentions some of those, from over 300 entries. What are the others and why were they redacted out?

Thet are very common in Lithuania, to the point where I’d say around 20% of new phones being sold are from Xiaomi. They expanded heavily into other industries, like home automation, with prices that are a fraction of what other manufacturers would ask for their hardware.

I am not sure how accurate this information is but quick google search says Xiaomi have 24% phone market share in EU, not just Lithuania.

Re: Lithuania says throw away Chinese phones due to censorship concerns

#147

Post by [deleted] »

harikb wrote: post #129
gpderetta wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was stupid enough to buy a Xiaomi phone without enough due diligence. Aside from all spying that is going on, the software is abysmal. The problem with replacing the OS is that I believe most banking apps I use will stop working. Might just need to write this phone off.

Even apps like Netflix are configured not to be available on Google play if the device is not a certified one. That certification is lost AFAIK on rooting. I have two perfectly good android tablets that can’t run Netflix

[deleted]

Re: Lithuania says throw away Chinese phones due to censorship concerns

#149

Post by vbezhenar »

reginold wrote: post #122
EMM_386 wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It's downright dystopian. It sure is. No stopping it now though. I'm old enough to remember being able to go to someone's place and expect privacy. These days literally anything can have an HD cam. Not great for paranoia but what can you do? > They could just be monitoring everyone, They are. Snowden already proved this, and we apparently got into that particular situation to keep pace with China. Not my job.

You are more powerful than you may realize. Work on supporting open source hardware and software options. 1. If you are a developer, consider buying a Pinephone [1] and contributing to the codebase. 2. If not a developer, you can submit bug reports and test fixes. Same for Purism Librem phone as well [2]. 3. If you are neither, or have no time to spare but do have money, you can always purchase one for kicks or donat…

Technically capable person can easily protect himself. It's not that hard. At least from ordinary threats. Use dedicated firewall device, use software firewalls, periodically check out running services.

Issue is with rest 99.9% of people who will share whatever you say, because their phone happened to be nearby and you can't really do anything about it.

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