Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Xiaomi Recording ‘Private’ Web and Phone Use

forbes.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

201–210 of 254 posts

Re: Xiaomi Recording ‘Private’ Web and Phone Use

#201

Post by RealStickman_ »

boomboomsubban wrote: post #146
climb_stealth wrote: post #112

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hah, getting rid of manufacturer specific apps is half the reason for me to install Lineageos in the first place. That as well as much better battery life and more control over what apps are and aren't allowed to access.

Sometimes those apps are actual features, I believe some phones that advertise special cameras or audio quality need them. Most of the time it's a beneficial loss though.

The original Camera app is the only thing I really missed on my OnePlus 3, before I found somebody on XDA distributing the apk.

Re: Xiaomi Recording ‘Private’ Web and Phone Use

#202

Post by floatboth »

IIAOPSW wrote: post #68
xiii1408 wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Other than the tracking, would you recommend it? Is LineageOS available? I've been curious about trying a Chinese phone for a while, but would only do it if Lineage is available, since I'm annoyed by anything more busy than stock Android.

I have lineage on my xiaomi. The bootloader is locked by default but if you ask for it to be unlocked they will do it. The process is intentionally manual to prevent hacking, but ultimately smooth.

On the Android One models, the unlock is just via settings + fastboot, like on Nexuses/Pixels

Re: Xiaomi Recording ‘Private’ Web and Phone Use

#203

Post by RealStickman_ »

i_am_nomad wrote: post #87
andrepd wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>While true Is it? I never understood the reasoning. What makes you think Apple is better than Xiaomi/Samsung/Google/whatever?

Maybe I should qualify that with, “outside of China.” If you’re using Apple phones in China, you should assume your data are available to the CCP. Otherwise, I have yet to see any evidence or indication that Apple collects data in a manner similar to what’s described in this article.

So basically Apple only protects you when they think they won't loose too much? No thanks, I'll take LineageOS + microG every day.

Re: Xiaomi Recording ‘Private’ Web and Phone Use

#204

Post by CuriousSkeptic »

t-writescode wrote: post #170
CamperBob2 wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe those innocent content creators will think twice at contract renewal time, then.

Or just ... buy the DVD / other content type legally available?

And then you still need to “root” the DVD-player so you get to skip the commercials and legal threats...

Re: Xiaomi Recording ‘Private’ Web and Phone Use

#205

Post by NicolaiS »

Larrikin wrote: post #113
NikolaeVarius wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Systemless root + root hiding is a thing. I run a custom rom and pass safety check and have access to all my apps including banking.

Any information on this. I thought rooting was essentially dead

Google can turn Safetynet validation up or down w/o updating your Droid. Currently it is possible to bypass SafetyNet, but they did turn it up a notch lately, and if they require strong "Key Attention" then neither Magisk nor custom "rootless root" will work (and it will also mean that custom roms Will fail SafetyNet).

https://developer.android.com/training/articles/security-key...

Re: Xiaomi Recording ‘Private’ Web and Phone Use

#206

Post by devit »

Are there going to be legal consequences for this?

I would expect this to carry the heaviest penalties possible including massive penalties against China if they fail to enforce them, but I guess nothing is going to happen given the current state of society.

Re: Xiaomi Recording ‘Private’ Web and Phone Use

#207

Post by MaxBarraclough »

djrogers wrote: post #94

Wow, just... Wow. > Xiaomi said, “The research claims are untrue,” and > When Forbes provided Xiaomi with a video made by Cirlig showing how his Google search for “porn” and a visit to the site PornHub were sent to remote servers, even when in incognito mode, the company spokesperson continued to deny that the information was being recorded. “This video shows the collection of anonymous browsing data, which is one of…

I'm reminded of something Christopher Hitchens once wrote about this sort of 'defence in depth', which I'll try to recount as best I can:

One often hears from undemocratic regimes that they aren't torturing people in the manner accused, and that if they were it wouldn't be so bad, and that if it were bad it would still be well justified. On hearing these three in combination, little doubt should remain that the accusers have it right.

Re: Xiaomi Recording ‘Private’ Web and Phone Use

#208

Post by arcturus17 »

nickff wrote: post #96
thelittleone wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Parents option would likely get around privacy regulations in some countries. So they can do the “much more work” you mentioned and also sell decent hardware for zero down on a contract, getting a bigger total market and more surveillance info.

Well the EU and Canada seem to be terrified of putting a foot wrong with the CPC, so my guess is that Chinese companies will violate people's privacy until it becomes so blatant that they get a polite request to tone it down (and obfuscate the collection).

Americans are not?

Look at how they bent the knee with Huawei and ZTE. Also can’t figure out how to produce hardware in their home soil, as much as they’d like to.

Re: Xiaomi Recording ‘Private’ Web and Phone Use

#209

Post by zimmerfrei »

amoshi wrote: post #46
curiousgal wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is why I root my device and only allow apps I trust internet access.

Root and then get flagged by Google's SafetyNet, preventing you from Netflix, banking apps etc? That's a brave but big sacrifice

Can SafetyNet calls be proxied to another unrooted phone?

Re: Xiaomi Recording ‘Private’ Web and Phone Use

#210

Post by baq »

ThatPlayer wrote: post #168
cobookman wrote: post #149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wow, didn't realize android got that bad recently. Makes me not want to leave the iPhone ecosystem. The only benefit Android had was the control. You take that away and make it a walled garden, its just an iPhone...but worse

You still have more control compared to iPhone where you cannot change your default SMS messaging app, or even your default browser. And you have no choice in browser engine either. And it's hardly a walled garden when I can sideload any app on any Android phone. Xiaomi even has their own store that's not Google Play.

The assumption is that bad guys have a much harder time swapping out the SMS app for a trojan.
Post reply on HN