A cyberattack on the Ascension health system operating in 19 states across the U.S. forced some of its 140 hospitals to divert ambulances, caused patients to postpone medical tests and blocked online access to patient records...
Long story short: I don’t like iOS but have been using an iPhone for a couple years due to lack of personally viable hardware options on the Android side of things. I’ve gotten tired of waiting and found a good deal on an open box Pixel 8 Pro which arrives in a few days, I’ll be installing GrapheneOS on it....
Assuming our simulation is not designed to auto-scale (and our Admins don’t know how to download more RAM), what kind of side effects could we see in the world if the underlying system hosting our simulation began running out of resources?
Linux needs to grow. Stop telling people it’s ‘tech-y’ or acting like you’re more advanced for using it, you are scaring away people. Linux Mint can be used by a senile person perfectly....
I have written before about the need to stabilize the Monero price to promote wider usage. My idea is to create a service like i mentioned in that post where a product would be listed with a stable price for a week at a time and reserves would be kept to keep the price stable while the spot price is below the stable price. I...
So…yeah. Just this issue. My ancient trusty S8, which has been with me for quite a few years, is my BYOD work phone. It has been for a while, too. But seems now it’s not compliant with the company policies. After some checking, it seems the Play Store is reporting (settings - about) not to be Play Protect certified. But the...
Github isn’t good enough . Everyone should look for more privacy , security based alternatives and support them . You should not give big corpos any more of your money . Besides it goes against every fiber of ethics of foss dev’s . I know most people will not agree with me because it’s hard to make the switch or github is...
Just make sure you know which apps are not supported on GOS such as Netflix, Hulu, Cash App, etc because of the Play Integrity API. Don’t be afraid to use the Play Store as well. Its treated like any other app on the system so it isn’t highly privileged.
Also, one thing that was a problem for me at first was the restore solution (and backup solution). You will have to transfer your files from an external drive whether its the cloud or a local one.
Feel free to join the GrapheneOS Discord/Matrix/Telegram server and ask more questions because they’re very knowledgeable people that can support you.
Im having difficulty finding names I like. I need two - three names that roll off the tongue and wouldn’t be out of place with a long hyphenated surname....
The desktop security model is insecure in general. Phone OSes are much more secure.
Reasonable desktop OS to use is Qubes, Fedora, MacOS, ChromeOS, or Windows pro/enterprise (hardened)
Phones are much more secure especially the Pixel 8/pro with MTE immensely reducing remote exploitation. GrapheneOS is the only distro that enables MTE by default and recently implemented it in their Vanadium browser.
Secure phones (secure elements are important): IPhones and Pixels (GrapheneOS or stock)
Also yes, Chromium is much more secure on Linux than Gecko based browsers because of its great internal sandboxing and site isolation. Firefox on Windows is catching up though, but still bad on desktop Linux and android.
This all doesn’t matter if you’re running an EoL device. Make sure your receiving official security and firmware updates.
Hello there! This is my problem: I’m going to buy a new smartphone, and I’d really like to degoogle myself as much as possible. The idea would be to buy a device compatible with LineageOS, but… Supported devices are usually older models, and often there are newer devices with better specs for the same price, that does not...
I recommend you purchase a Google Pixel 6a or above (minimum security support ends July 2027) and flash GrapheneOS. (Pixel 8/pro preferred)
Aurora Store doesn’t avoid Google since a lot of the apps from the play store include Google’s SDK and libraries. microG also doesn’t avoid Google as it is still running proprietary Google code and has more privacy/security weaknesses
Sandboxed Google Mobile Services is a much better implementation which is featured in GrapheneOS. The services are not privileged and is treated like any other app. They don’t downgrade privacy or security unlike the other alternatives.
microG runs Google Play code just like Aurora Store. It is not fully open source. Here’s more information.. It is still connecting to Googles propriety servers.
microG requires Signature Spoofing and alternative OSes usually ship with microG as a privileged system app. This increases the attack surface as it is not confined by the regular sandbox rules.
Now you’re using a privileged component, which downloads and executes Google code in that privileged unprotected context, and which talks to Google servers because otherwise, how would FCM work for example?
Despite doing both of those things, MicroG doesn’t have the same app compatibility as Sandboxed Google Play despite the extra access it has on your device. Even in some magical universe MicroG worked without talking to Google servers or running Google code (again, in a privileged context), the apps you’re actually using it with (the apps depending on Google Play) have Google code in them.
You can always connect a USB stick or card reader with an SD card via USB-OTG
I will recommend you do use a phone that still receives security updates (Not EoL) because I don’t want you to lose out on security just to deGoogle.
If you are strict on having an SD card slot and your phone is still receiving support, you should use StockOS to receive firmware updates as soon as possible. If the phone you decide to get is EoL, the least bad option would be DivestOS (fork of LineageOS)
The final push to start using Firefox over Chrome on Android might finally be thanks to the enormous selection of add-ons (Firefox’s version of extensions) coming out next month. Chrome doesn’t offer native support for extensions in its mobile app. Also, better security.
I would use Firefox on Android but I’m waiting until the security is on par with Chromium such as having internal sandboxing and site isolation.
Also since Firefox doesn’t have a WebView implementation, it has to be used with the Chromium based one so it doesn’t make sense for me to use two browser engines.
AOSP does get security updates first because GrapheneOS is based on unmodified AOSP. They are quick to port over updates though and they have extra features like hardened malloc and better user profile support.
Non pixel phones aren’t secure because GrapheneOS doesn’t support them. They aren’t secure because they either don’t have secure elements, broken verified boot, or don’t properly support alternative operating systems. This makes phones like OnePlus, Fairphone, etc not secure enough for GrapheneOS.
DivestOS I would say is the least worst option when it comes to supporting EoL phones. They’re at least honest about what they do and don’t provide unlike what other OSes do. On their website, they tell you they aren’t a secure OS and they can only try their best to reduce harm on an EoL device. DivestOS Security.
I looked up a solution for this with no luck…I want to use The PF app with grapheneos but with all the configurations with both the app and gp services it still asks me to update the gp services and it force closes…any of u guys figured how to get the app working?
There does not seem to be really any good FOSS SMS apps. I really like the UI of Simple SMS by SimpleMobileTools but the group chats are so glitchy that I have no clue how that application is anyhing but an alpha release. Is there anything similar to Simple SMS that works? I know QKSMS got abandoned
A cyberattack forces a big US health system to divert ambulances and take records offline (abcnews.go.com)
A cyberattack on the Ascension health system operating in 19 states across the U.S. forced some of its 140 hospitals to divert ambulances, caused patients to postpone medical tests and blocked online access to patient records...
A Crash Course Guide to Nostr (wedistribute.org)
Switching back to Android (GrapheneOS), anything cool I've been missing out on?
Long story short: I don’t like iOS but have been using an iPhone for a couple years due to lack of personally viable hardware options on the Android side of things. I’ve gotten tired of waiting and found a good deal on an open box Pixel 8 Pro which arrives in a few days, I’ll be installing GrapheneOS on it....
What music video do you wish was a full movie?
Ones that come to mind for me are Telephone by Lady Gaga and Money by Cardi B
If we all exist in a simulation, what will happen once we start running out of RAM?
Assuming our simulation is not designed to auto-scale (and our Admins don’t know how to download more RAM), what kind of side effects could we see in the world if the underlying system hosting our simulation began running out of resources?
Stop being elitist, spread Linux!
Linux needs to grow. Stop telling people it’s ‘tech-y’ or acting like you’re more advanced for using it, you are scaring away people. Linux Mint can be used by a senile person perfectly....
pitching an idea
I have written before about the need to stabilize the Monero price to promote wider usage. My idea is to create a service like i mentioned in that post where a product would be listed with a stable price for a week at a time and reserves would be kept to keep the price stable while the spot price is below the stable price. I...
Galaxy S8 with work profile. Normal profile shows Play Protect certified, but work profile not?
So…yeah. Just this issue. My ancient trusty S8, which has been with me for quite a few years, is my BYOD work phone. It has been for a while, too. But seems now it’s not compliant with the company policies. After some checking, it seems the Play Store is reporting (settings - about) not to be Play Protect certified. But the...
Everyone should stop using microsofts github and look for better alternatives.
Github isn’t good enough . Everyone should look for more privacy , security based alternatives and support them . You should not give big corpos any more of your money . Besides it goes against every fiber of ethics of foss dev’s . I know most people will not agree with me because it’s hard to make the switch or github is...
What's the best strategy for changing to GrapheneOS?
I have a google pixel, and I know I could install grapheneOS on it. But I’m very, very hesitant, since I depend so much on my phone....
What should I call my son (due at the end of April)
Im having difficulty finding names I like. I need two - three names that roll off the tongue and wouldn’t be out of place with a long hyphenated surname....
Security advise collection - what do you recommend?
I use Linux for quite a while and would like to gather some security advice, well known and lesser known....
My internal fight over what device to buy
Hello there! This is my problem: I’m going to buy a new smartphone, and I’d really like to degoogle myself as much as possible. The idea would be to buy a device compatible with LineageOS, but… Supported devices are usually older models, and often there are newer devices with better specs for the same price, that does not...
It's never been a better time to switch to Firefox on Android (www.androidpolice.com)
The final push to start using Firefox over Chrome on Android might finally be thanks to the enormous selection of add-ons (Firefox’s version of extensions) coming out next month. Chrome doesn’t offer native support for extensions in its mobile app. Also, better security.
Android adware apps on Google Play amass two million installs (www.bleepingcomputer.com)
Switching to custom rom on android device with data
Hello all,...
What is your favorite cybersecurity tool and why? (discuss.tchncs.de)
Samsung joins Google in RCS shaming Apple (www.theverge.com)
Planet fitness app with GrapheneOS
I looked up a solution for this with no luck…I want to use The PF app with grapheneos but with all the configurations with both the app and gp services it still asks me to update the gp services and it force closes…any of u guys figured how to get the app working?
What are some apps that are very very slow for no reason?
I already see the electron apps coming!
FOSS SMS App?
There does not seem to be really any good FOSS SMS apps. I really like the UI of Simple SMS by SimpleMobileTools but the group chats are so glitchy that I have no clue how that application is anyhing but an alpha release. Is there anything similar to Simple SMS that works? I know QKSMS got abandoned