Hans-Christoph Steiner @eighthave@librem.one
Joined Aug 2019
@elly and @domi outline how #Google has structured their firmware to make it incompatible with the standard methods of booting an OS. So even though it is open source and #Google upstreams their #Linux changes, lots of key functionality like audio, USB ports, etc does not work when booting any other OS (e.g. GNU/Linux or even Windows). This serves to lock the hardware to #Chrome, and thereby generate lots of e-waste when Google drops support for hardware which #Debian supports.
I'm happy to see more attention given to freeing #Chromebook hardware. They already are built on free software, so with some focused attention on supporting them well with #FreeSoftware distros like #Debian, the number of good GNU/Linux laptops can be greatly expanded. #Depthcharge should be as well understood as other BIOS things. Thanks to @elly and @domi for your #37c3 talk: https://media.ccc.de/v/37c3-11929-turning_chromebooks_into_regular_laptops
Hans-Christoph Steiner
boosted
Amnesty to all countries: Ban the use and export of invasive spyware! https://securitylab.amnesty.org/latest/2023/12/india-damning-new-forensic-investigation-reveals-repeated-use-of-pegasus-spyware-to-target-high-profile-journalists/ #Staatstrojaner
Our current situation resembles right before World War One: there are many governments that their people want to change, and those governments are drumming up wars to stay in power. #Putin, Ukrainian oligarchs, #Netanyahu & co, #Hamas, #Saudi and Gulf Monarchies, the current regime in #Iran, status quo elites in #US and #EU. We need louder voices representing all the people, regardless of nationality, religion, class, etc to organize the large majority who want to get along and live in peace.
Hans-Christoph Steiner
boosted
Der Export und Einsatz solcher Spyware muss verboten werden! Regierung in Indien hackt Journalisten und Opposition mit #Staatstrojaner #Pegasus https://www.derstandard.at/story/3000000201146/indien-ueberwacht-journalisten-mit-pegasus-software
@glynmoody It looks like they are using the same playbook as the US did against Vietnam, and I can't imagine it will be any more successful.
@newstik @noname @Mer__edith Signal actually already decided to support Google-free devices, the problem is their implementation. Signal provides direct download links and does not require Play Services. Using #UnifiedPush would be a big improvement in what they already support. So we should focus on real world solutions that exist right now: keep Google push for those with Play Services, and use an existing FOSS solution for those without.
Hans-Christoph Steiner
boosted
@newstik
There is a bunch of metadata that is made available when Signal links your Signal account to your Google device ID (which is needed to send push notifications):
- If your device has a Google account signed in (most do to install Signal from the Play Store) your Signal account will be linked to your Google account
- If you connect your phone to any wifi network, your Signal account will be linked to that wifi's IP address, often revealing your exact location to authorities
Hans-Christoph Steiner
boosted
@newstik
- If you have any other apps installed that use push notifications, those would be linked to your Google device ID and thus your Signal account as well. Authorities can then link any data they get from those other apps also to your Signal account (and thereby phone number and identity).
Hans-Christoph Steiner
boosted
Hey! We've been thinking a lot about what's next for the postmarketOS project,
we have a lot of ideas, but we can't do it without your help. We've decided to
join OpenCollective, this makes it possible for us to be financially supported
by and beholden to you - our community.
If you like postmarketOS and want to help us continue on our quest of true
ownership, we would highly appreciate your donations!
More info here 👇
Hans-Christoph Steiner
boosted
This week in F-Droid (TWIF) was just published.
We have new alpha versions for F-Droid 1.19., and something about the Epic vs. Google trial.
On the app side, we talk about Threema, Xmp Mod Player, Orion Viewer, Transdroid, Minetest and Syncthing-Fork.
Last but not least, we had another 6 added apps, 109 updated apps and one removed app.
@glynmoody I've had that thought also, maybe this current crop of AI will make social media so bad that people will go back to meeting up and talking to each other 😃
Hans-Christoph Steiner
boosted
I've just published a blog post on a new sample of Android/BianLian botnet which uses (1) an intentionally bad formed ZIP, and (2) uses a new packer.
https://cryptax.medium.com/bad-zip-and-new-packer-for-android-bianlian-5bdad4b90aeb
By the way, this will be covered in my @ringzer0 training.
Hans-Christoph Steiner
boosted
🎉 Best News Of The Year! 🎉
Google confirms they will disable uBlock Origin in Chrome in 2024: Finally everyone understands it's time to quit Google. 😎
Here are our favorite browser alternatives:
➡️ https://tuta.com/blog/best-private-browsers
Which one did you pick?
🦊 Firefox
🦆 DuckDuckGo
🕵️ Tor Browser
Mullvad
Pale Moon
Puffin
GNU IceCat
WaterFox
Brave
Hyphanet
Hans-Christoph Steiner
boosted
Dropbox was caught enabling "Third-party AI" as an opt-out default to all user accounts.
Meanwhile users were deeply uninformed of the changes..
This is our new world: If your privacy matters, keep your data yours!
Our friends @arstechnica explore the debacle:
@glynmoody I agree that copyright is a monopoly that is hugely overused and abused but I think it is also a useful tool to slow down and restrict #AI #LLM development. I don't think creators are going to really win much either way with this particular copyright battle, but it is pretty clear that the current AI methods will be hindered, and they are another iteration of tech like cryptocurrencies, where the vast majority of the users are harmful, but the tiny useful features are heavily promoted
Hans-Christoph Steiner
boosted
The jury in Epic v. Google has delivered its verdict — and it found that Google turned its Google Play app store and Google Play Billing service into an illegal monopoly.
https://www.theverge.com/23994174/epic-google-trial-jury-verdict-monopoly-google-play
Also need to address Apple’s monopoly too. https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/investigation-into-apple-appstore
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/es/ip_20_1073
Hans-Christoph Steiner
boosted
Google verliert App-Store-Prozess gegen Fortnite-Macher Epic
Im Rechtsstreit mit dem Spieleentwickler Epic hat Google eine Niederlage erlitten. Der Internet-Riese betreibe mit seinem App-Store ein illegales Monopol, so das Gericht. Das Urteil könnte branchenweite Folgen haben.
@Mer__edith Here is one thing Signal could be doing that it is not: the Signal fork @mollyim has already implemented #UnifiedPush support, Signal can help there, or even integrate that work https://github.com/mollyim/mollysocket
@Mer__edith @unifiedpush @fdroidorg and since you mentioned the world, there are 1.4 billion mobile phone users in China without Apple or Google push. There are half a billion #Huawei users around the world who do not have access to Apple or Google push. #AppGallery devices are sold around the world, including here in Austria. Signal's stance on push really only works in North America. 2/2
Joined Aug 2019
