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Xiaomi Recording ‘Private’ Web and Phone Use

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Re: Xiaomi Recording ‘Private’ Web and Phone Use

#81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you are a native English speaker kudos for writing "huevos" and not "Cahones" or other of its similar cringy misspellings. But 90% chance you are from the south cone so carry on.

To be fair, they both appear on the wikipedia page for Spanish profanity[0]. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_profanity#References_t...

You misunderstood, it is not the word "cojones" I was mocking, just the hilarious misspeling some people use, I have seen "Cohones","Cahones", "Koojonehs" and so on

Re: Xiaomi Recording ‘Private’ Web and Phone Use

#82
post #46

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

>Netflix

Hah. If properly paying for films requires you to install quasi-rootkits that spy 24/7 on your personal life, and pirating gives you a high-quality .mkv you can play anywhere you want, I damn fucking well know which one I'll choose. "Brave but big sacrifice"? That's just devaluing those words.

Re: Xiaomi Recording ‘Private’ Web and Phone Use

#83

Just wait till they: - start encrypting all the data they collect (with real encryption, not base64 encoding) - saving up the data for hours or days at time and sending it in bursts (so there is no immediate connection to a remote server) - sending the data to plausible U.S.-registered domains (rather than to Singapore and Russia) - monitoring at the kernel or firmware level so that it doesn't matter what browser or…

Why would they go to all that trouble? Just 1. keep sending any and all data without any obfuscation 2. blanket denial of any wrong doing, regardless of how obvious 3. decent hardware for zero down on a contract profit!!! your way is so much more work...

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.

Re: Xiaomi Recording ‘Private’ Web and Phone Use

#84

On a Xiaomi device myself. Recently I've setup Nextdns.io to resolve all the DNS requests through it. Very frequent callbacks to Xiaomi servers for tracking. Blocked a bunch of them now, but it's half a solution.

I would never dream of using a Xiaomi phone without Lineage. Or Huawei. Or Samsung. Or any phone, actually.

Re: Xiaomi Recording ‘Private’ Web and Phone Use

#85

Many comments here boil down to “if you want privacy, buy an iPhone.” While true, this is another exhibit of privacy now being only for people who can afford it.

>While true

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

Re: Xiaomi Recording ‘Private’ Web and Phone Use

#86

Stuff like this is why without fail, every phone I own gets LineageOS installed immediately. Xiaomi phones have a bootloader unlock timer to try and mitigate sites reselling their phones with modified software, so I had to leave my Mix 2s alone for a few days before I could make it safe to use.

Are there any resources describing what you lose and gain by installing LineageOS?

I'd like to know what will stop working before I try it out...

Re: Xiaomi Recording ‘Private’ Web and Phone Use

#87
post #85

Many comments here boil down to “if you want privacy, buy an iPhone.” While true, this is another exhibit of privacy now being only for people who can afford it.

>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.

Re: Xiaomi Recording ‘Private’ Web and Phone Use

#88
post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

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.

This is why people need to start rejecting closed ecosystems. If you own the hardware you can control everything that happens on it including companies trying to force their will upon you

Re: Xiaomi Recording ‘Private’ Web and Phone Use

#89
post #32

i didn't know for sure that such things would happen but expected it. one of the reasons i'm on an iphone for 2+ years. i've got zero trust in chinese manufacturers, in my mind they're just extensions of the CCP.

Same. I found this wiki page with a list of smartphone manufacturers by Country.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mobile_phone_brands_...

I’ve visited Taiwan for work quite a few times and met with some of the big tech manufacturers. Very professional teams of engineers and a beautiful country.

It would be super interesting if a Taiwanese manufacturer developed a smartphone + ecosystem whose selling point was no spyware and openness, at the price point of the Chinese manufacturers.

Re: Xiaomi Recording ‘Private’ Web and Phone Use

#90
Just following the surveillance model pioneered by Google, Facebook etc. I'm glad tech surveillance is being covered and some awareness and opposition is visible here. Xiaomi aren't the only ones taking a mile of advantage from the inch of 'good telemetry' promoted by some companies.
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