Wow, ok, this is freaky.
New computer. Fedora Silverblue 36. Not signed into anything. Location services is on (using Mozilla location services). I’ve been living in Ireland now for 3+ years.
I open GNOME Maps app. I grant it location access. I press the “Go to current location” button.
It goes to the exact location of the home we had in Malmö, Sweden.
What. The. Fuck?
OK, so I have no idea how that’s possible. Mozilla must have somehow cached that location but how do they know it’s me?
New Consumer Reports research shows that #Ring #doorbell #cameras and similar devices can capture your audio at conversational tones taking place 20-30 feet away. It «really changes the paradigm of privacy».
https://www.consumerreports.org/video-doorbells/video-doorbell-cameras-record-audio-too-a4636115889/
«#Google bans apps with hidden data-harvesting #software»
TL;DR: Researchers caught a data broker tied to US national #security harvesting extensive personal information including precise location via #weather apps, QR readers, speed-trap detectors and #Muslim prayer apps installed on >60m #Android smartphones.
Privacy hack: if you want to share a link to a Twitter thread elsewhere and you don’t want people to be tracked by Twitter, Inc., replace twitter.com with nitter.net
e.g., https://nitter.net/carolecadwalla/status/1509612965011804162
- Gatekeepers will have to provide open and documented APIs to their services, on request, in order to facilitate #interoperability (i.e. so that other services can communicate with their users).
- These APIs must preserve the same level of end-to-end encryption (if any) to remote users as is available to local users.
- This applies to 1:1 messaging and file transfer in the short term, and group #messaging, file-transfer, 1:1 #VoIP and group VoIP in the longer term.
«Deal on #Digital Markets Act: #EU rules to ensure fair competition and more choice for users».
The EU Parliament & Council agreed on the contents of the Digital Markets Act - new legislation from the EU intended to limit anticompetitive behaviour from tech “gatekeepers”.
#privacyMatters #freedom #software #interoperability #europe
«What Data do the Google Dialer and Messages apps on #Android send to Google?»
A research by Trinity College Dublin.
TL;DR: whenever you are calling/messaging someone, you are calling #Google too.
https://www.scss.tcd.ie/doug.leith/privacyofdialerandsmsapps.pdf
Google will be sunsetting the current version of #GoogleAnalytics and will move to #Google Analytics v4, which will stop storing IP addresses.
Don’t be fooled: nowadays IPs are less relevant than other metrics collected (think of #Apple Relay or wider #VPN usage worldwide).
The Italian SA fined the US-based company #Clearview #AI EUR 20 million after finding it applied what amounted to #biometric monitoring techniques also to individuals in the Italian territory and ordered the company to erase the data relating to individuals in #Italy.
https://www.gpdp.it/web/guest/home/docweb/-/docweb-display/docweb/9751323
#Twitter is now available via #onion (#Tor network).
https://help.twitter.com/en/using-twitter/twitter-supported-browsers
This is the onion link: https://twitter3e4tixl4xyajtrzo62zg5vztmjuricljdp2c5kshju4avyoid.onion/
In Romania 2022 is the new 1984
The Senate of Romania just passed a new law that forces all internet and telecom providers to record all encrypted and un-ecrypted traffic, on their cost, and also provide a way for the Romanian Intelligence Service to extract the data "as needed".
The new 100 page law was provided for review 10 minutes before the session and it was passed after 30 minutes of "debate". But there is good news...
https://apti.ro/senatul-adopta-din-nou-largirea-interceptarii
@emanuele
In the past month many use-cases for bitcoin have shown themselves.
From #bankAccounts made inaccessible in #Australia to #Canada, and now in parts of the world where ppl are fighting neoNazis. Its clear that a #censorshipResistant money is needed — even the RubyOnRails creator has come around!
In terms of full privacy for bitcoin, its tough as we don't recommend mixers. Using #BitcoinCore with #I2P or #Tor may help. The more ppl using Tor the better! Monero is also proving helpful.
Seems like #cryptocurrencies are being used to help #Ukraine. Their government setup two addresses (BTC/ETH).
You are welcome to give your support but keep in mind that those chains are not #anonymous. As long you don't use any #mixer your donation could be connected to you one day. Be careful, you #privacy today could be vital in the future.
If you are using #ethereum I would suggest you https://tornado.cash to remove any connection between you and your donation.
Use of #GoogleAnalytics and data transfers to the United States: the CNIL orders a website manager to comply with the #GDPR and, if necessary, to stop using this service under the current conditions.
«I don't know why people are so keen to put the details of their private life in public; they forget that invisibility is a superpower».
- Banksy
«Welcome to the Burner Phone Olympics»
#China’s Winter Games are overshadowed by human rights problems and overreaching state #surveillance.
https://www.wired.com/story/winter-olympics-2022-phones-security/
Computer engineer. Dreamer. Hero.