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FSF announces Librephone project

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Re: FSF announces Librephone project

#31

Post by ttoinou »

SoftTalker wrote: post #27
bigstrat2003 wrote: post #4

Ultimately, I don't think the most important challenge is in binary firmware blobs, but the software which people depend upon to run their lives. What does it matter if you can run a completely free software stack on your phone, if your bank software (or your required government ID, as is looking depressingly likely) requires you to run a Big Tech approved phone OS? Perhaps the FSF can't do much about that, but that…

Use the website. I’ve never seen a bank where a mobile app is the only option for remote access. If my bank did that, I’d switch banks.

They more and more force you into 2FA through banking app

Re: FSF announces Librephone project

#32

Post by SoftTalker »

SchemaLoad wrote: post #12
bombcar wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you really NEED to be forced to attest if you can make your phone look like any damn PC using a browser?

These days browsers are becoming increasingly distrusted. My bank logs my browser out after 30 minutes inactivity and then to log back in I have to confirm the login on my phone.

This seems desirable? Is your phone the only 2FA available?

Re: FSF announces Librephone project

#33

Post by kennywinker »

SchemaLoad wrote: post #12
bombcar wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you really NEED to be forced to attest if you can make your phone look like any damn PC using a browser?

These days browsers are becoming increasingly distrusted. My bank logs my browser out after 30 minutes inactivity and then to log back in I have to confirm the login on my phone.

That… seems reasonable? My bank does that with their website and their mobile app. I was able to setup 2fa using a totp app, so i don’t rely on sms for that part

Re: FSF announces Librephone project

#34

Post by bitmasher9 »

ray_v wrote: post #14
kube-system wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can’t tap my PC to buy a burrito at Chipotle.

This sounds like a challenge to me.

It’s actually super easy and not a challenge. The lowest tech way to do it would be the tape a cc with tap functionality to the inside of a laptop.

Re: FSF announces Librephone project

#35

Post by tmtvl »

charcircuit wrote: post #17

>Librephone aims to close the last gaps between existing distributions of the Android operating system and software freedom I am so happy they are focusing on Android, one of the most popular operating systems widely used by every day people. This is important work for providing user friendly, free software to users. Let's just hope they don't fall into the trap of disqualifying binary blobs sent as part of drivers v…

Are you hoping the Free Software Foundation _doesn't_ prioritize Free Software? For people who are okay with random bits of proprietary software doing who-knows-what on their devices there are various alternatives already.

Re: FSF announces Librephone project

#36

Post by hdseggbj »

kube-system wrote: post #7
bombcar wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you really NEED to be forced to attest if you can make your phone look like any damn PC using a browser?

I can’t tap my PC to buy a burrito at Chipotle.

So you pay more money and also give up your privacy for what you could pay cash for. I don't think you're the target market for this phone.

Re: FSF announces Librephone project

#37

Post by crossroadsguy »

bsimpson wrote: post #11

Interesting that they chose Android as a base and not one of the desktop-Linux-for-mobile ports like postmarketOS.

If they wouldn’t have then X years later there would have been first beta release and zero apps on it except for a calculator app, a notes app, a calendar app, and maybe a mail app developed by the core developer team. The post would have definitely reached the top of hn, so that’d be a plus.

Re: FSF announces Librephone project

#38

Post by Bender »

bigstrat2003 wrote: post #4

Ultimately, I don't think the most important challenge is in binary firmware blobs, but the software which people depend upon to run their lives. What does it matter if you can run a completely free software stack on your phone, if your bank software (or your required government ID, as is looking depressingly likely) requires you to run a Big Tech approved phone OS? Perhaps the FSF can't do much about that, but that…

I hope all the things you mention never become mandatory some day because I currently use my phone for voice and text only. Sooner than later I plan to get rid of my phone all together. I'm gonna surprise the phone company and get a land line. That means any online service that uses SMS/text to verify me will fail.

Re: FSF announces Librephone project

#39

Post by kennywinker »

ttoinou wrote: post #31
SoftTalker wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Use the website. I’ve never seen a bank where a mobile app is the only option for remote access. If my bank did that, I’d switch banks.

They more and more force you into 2FA through banking app

Every bank i’ve used (2, so ymmv) allowed 2fa using a totp app, they just don’t make that choice obvious you have to dig around in the settings

Re: FSF announces Librephone project

#40

Post by brewdad »

koolala wrote: post #24
jojobas wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some banks require app confirmation for PC-initiated transactions, using play integrity requiring apps. Cause security, you know.

What kind of transactions require this? Normal bank transactions don't, right?

My brokerages require it every time I login from a computer. My bank will require it if it can't find a cookie from a previous login session. Occasionally, my bank will require it seemingly randomly since I usually log in at least once a week from my laptop yet every couple of months or so I have to reconfirm on the app or another secondary method.
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