– A hardware kill switch; disconnected completely the microphone and cameras at the circuit level, leaving nothing open for intrusion.
– A software-based switch, to easily turn off all your radio signals, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and NFC.
I feel like it should be reversed? Id be less concerned about camera/microphone if i knew with 100% certainty no data was leaking from the phone (hardware switch for antennae).
It seems like it’d be relatively simple for a bad actor to record something and just… wait until you had a data connection though wouldn’t it? Seems like it’d be more secure to just keep there from being any data to send rather than relying on a bad actor not being able to send it. Am I missing something here?
Overall it was a fun project which introduced me to the company Pine64, which also makes the Pinetime Watch which I wear every day for the last 3-4 years.
Phone just isn’t there for daily usage. Horrible battery life, back then the OS worked but were wonky at best. Maybe things are better now but I wouldn’t hold my breath
That is a point, could someone even do that on something classed as a phone though? Don’t most places have some kind of law about these devices always being able to reach emergency services like 911?
It’s mandated that the service be available without charge (no SIM needed), but I don’t think there’s any regulations on the user disabling cell access themselves.
Maybe, wouldn’t something like a Faraday bag work though? Then you don’t even run the risk of someone trying to twist the meaning of whatever regulation might exist to try to charge you with something.
What exactly does the Hardware killswitch do? I have yet to find an actual explanation.
They say:
I feel like it should be reversed? Id be less concerned about camera/microphone if i knew with 100% certainty no data was leaking from the phone (hardware switch for antennae).
It seems like it’d be relatively simple for a bad actor to record something and just… wait until you had a data connection though wouldn’t it? Seems like it’d be more secure to just keep there from being any data to send rather than relying on a bad actor not being able to send it. Am I missing something here?
I’d want a hw kill switch for the modem/receivers so that I can take it with me to protests.
The pinephone has this, but unfortunately the phone itself is more of a tinker toy than a daily driver
what prevents it from being a daily driver; i use the browser instead of apps for everything except google maps.
Software, OS support and hardware specs.
Overall it was a fun project which introduced me to the company Pine64, which also makes the Pinetime Watch which I wear every day for the last 3-4 years.
Phone just isn’t there for daily usage. Horrible battery life, back then the OS worked but were wonky at best. Maybe things are better now but I wouldn’t hold my breath
I tried using the pinebook as a daily driver and broke it by updating the os; worst $250 paperweight ever. Lol
That is a point, could someone even do that on something classed as a phone though? Don’t most places have some kind of law about these devices always being able to reach emergency services like 911?
It’s mandated that the service be available without charge (no SIM needed), but I don’t think there’s any regulations on the user disabling cell access themselves.
Maybe, wouldn’t something like a Faraday bag work though? Then you don’t even run the risk of someone trying to twist the meaning of whatever regulation might exist to try to charge you with something.
From the product page: