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Are Xiaomi browsers spyware? Yes, they are (2020)

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Re: Are Xiaomi browsers spyware? Yes, they are (2020)

#481

Post by ignoramous »

africanboy wrote: post #469
ignoramous wrote: post #243

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are a lot of binaries other than Android that run on Smartphones that you cannot possibly control from within Android even with fully-privileged apps (let alone restricted user-space apps). And, even within Android, because Blokada doesn't support "Block connection without VPN", there's no guarantee that apps don't bypass the VPN it sets up. Besides, Blokada leaks DNS requests over TCP (only handles the UDP one…

that's a very interesting analysis what's the name of the app you co-developed?

> what's the name of the app you co-developed?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26133661

Re: Are Xiaomi browsers spyware? Yes, they are (2020)

#482

Post by giantrobot »

baybal2 wrote: post #478
giantrobot wrote: post #454

Earlier quoted context omitted.

47 CFR.

What rule in particular?

Part 2 covers recertification of changes to radio equipment (everything touching the front end of the radio). Part 24 cover broadband PCS while Part 15 covers WiFi and Bluetooth since they're ISM band components.

If you're actually interested read the regulations and look up some FCC IDs for devices.

Re: Are Xiaomi browsers spyware? Yes, they are (2020)

#483

Post by esyir »

Havoc wrote: post #252
walrus01 wrote: post #7

I truly don't understand, from a security and privacy perspective, why would anyone outside of China would voluntarily choose to run closed-source software from a company that's subject to domestic laws and regulations in China. The MSS is no joke. https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=china+mss... This is the same reason that Zoom is banned at my workplace and many other partner companies. You've actual…

I’m running a Xiaomi air filter. Not connected to wifi. Even without wifi access it is vastly superior to previous choices. At similar pricing to my previous one. I’m quite wary of the whole monitoring scene but my next air filter purchase will be a Xiaomi again. Can’t really speak to their other products but on that front they have made a convert out of me despite my aversion to questionable data practices. Also app…

From what I recall, the Xiaomi air filter is known to underperform heavily.

https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/xiaomi-purifier-auto-mod...

Re: Are Xiaomi browsers spyware? Yes, they are (2020)

#485

Post by CountSessine »

goodells wrote: post #294

Related to Xiaomi, the company is also doing some sketchy things in the smart home space under their brand "Aqara". I use HomeKit in my apartment and opted for Aqara branded wireless buttons and temp/humidity sensors because of the attractive hardware and good reviews. The devices require a wi-fi connected hub, not too strange for things that use Zigbee, so I gave that a go. Well, on cursory examination, the Aqara/Xi…

Really, it’s probably just telemetry data. It’s probably for QA and maybe even follow-up sales.

Not that that is at all ok - it’s really not. But China is a country where there’s no concept of privacy - when companies are actually required to keep tabs on their customers and report data back to the state on a regular basis without legal oversight from an independent judiciary, the notion that the company isn’t entitled to peek in on you must be an alien idea.

Re: Are Xiaomi browsers spyware? Yes, they are (2020)

#486

Post by melomal »

osmarks wrote: post #474
mmmmmk wrote: post #464

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is a big difference. An open, democratic government can be peacefully corrected. A closed, totalitarian government cannot be. If the chinese and russian governments were open, then we could worry less about them.

Western governments operate mass surveillance programs seemingly without any public open oversight or democratic input.

The United Kingdom has more CCTV activity than any other European country, per capita. No-one bats an eyelid. They have also been using facial recognition to find people in the crowd with a really poor rate of success. No one seems to batter an eye lid, China does the same and everyone is going crazy.

Re: Are Xiaomi browsers spyware? Yes, they are (2020)

#487

Post by melomal »

yumraj wrote: post #459
melomal wrote: post #353

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> was talking to a bunch of Chinese servers constantly Out of curiosity do you want Chinese companies to use US servers? Or where would servers be ideally placed for a Chinese brand to be accepted? I genuinely am curious to know.

If Chinese companies place servers in US, then these servers would just be a proxy to feed data to Chinese servers. To each there own, but I think China will have to fundamentally change at this point for me to have any trust in any Chinese companies. Just look at Alibaba. If they are not safe from CCP influence, then it is safe to assume that all Chinese companies are just shells, or under influence of, the CCP.

I get the fear but what do you imagine would happen to you and your data if the Chinese government got their hands on it? Will they create an internal credit system for the West? If so, how would this affect you.

I'm genuinely curious what people fear will happen to them and their data if it went to a Chinese server. What are the consequences? What is the difference between Amazon running A/B tests to get as much money from you as quickly as possible VS TikTok trying to improve their suggestion algo to improve their engagement for increased ad revenue?

Re: Are Xiaomi browsers spyware? Yes, they are (2020)

#488

Post by fsflover »

giantrobot wrote: post #461
fsflover wrote: post #395

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People should push for open source as much as possible. At some point it will be easier to lobby for the new regulations when everything else is fully open source. See also: https://forum.pine64.org/showthread.php?tid=11815

The regulations around radios exist because the spectrum is limited and emissions propagate over a wide area. You and I (assuming you're in the US) have the same standing to use radio spectrum. If I go and modify my phone's firmware to increase the power output I could literally jam communications from your phone. It's very different than if I modified the firmware on my hard drive or UEFI on a PC. I might fuck up my…

Using wrong spectrum and jamming communications of others can be illegal without forcing proprietary firmware. It's like making all cars illegal, because someone blocks access roads for a fire brigade.

Re: Are Xiaomi browsers spyware? Yes, they are (2020)

#489

Post by kwanbix »

melomal wrote: post #486
osmarks wrote: post #474

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Western governments operate mass surveillance programs seemingly without any public open oversight or democratic input.

The United Kingdom has more CCTV activity than any other European country, per capita. No-one bats an eyelid. They have also been using facial recognition to find people in the crowd with a really poor rate of success. No one seems to batter an eye lid, China does the same and everyone is going crazy.

The big difference is that you can say President USA is this and that and nothing will happen to you. But speak badly of the Chinese government and you would end up in a shithole for life. Or worst. Or say something bad about the N Korean leader for example. This is totally different.

Re: Are Xiaomi browsers spyware? Yes, they are (2020)

#490

Post by madacol »

nextos wrote: post #466
ornornor wrote: post #362

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I use some xiaomi connected lamps. First thing I did was connect them to home assistant via a dedicated VLAN that has no internet access. I see pages and pages of denied connections in the firewall from the smart lamps. They work with HA just fine, I just wonder what they’re trying to do with these servers. This is pure speculation but I’m convinced that all these smart devices from China are the largest state sponso…

I love some of their non-smart devices that can't spy me. For example, their Mijia precision screwdrivers are exceptionally good quality (Wiha heads) and the price is fair. Their phones running Android One are also fine and can be reflashed. But the rest of the items are quite shady. I have sniffed on the network traffic some devices generate and it's quite scary. The same thing applies to other Chinese industrial eq…

How do you reflash those androids?, It's been hard for me trying to find a trustworthy ROM for an Mi A2 Lite
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