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<!-- Copyright 2022 Jake Winters --> <!-- Copyright 2022 Jake Winters -->
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<h1>Blog - #0</h1> <h1>Blog - #0</h1>
<h2>FOSS is Working Against Itself</h2> <section id="blog">
<p class="update_date">Posted: 2022-01-27 (UTC+00:00)</p> <h2>FOSS is Working Against Itself</h2>
<p class="update_date">Updated: 2022-11-09 (UTC+00:00)</p> <p class="update_date">Posted: 2022-01-27 (UTC+00:00)</p>
<!-- Table of contents --> <p class="update_date">Updated: 2022-11-09 (UTC+00:00)</p>
<h2 id="toc"><a href="#toc" class="h2" <!-- Table of contents -->
>Table of Contents<a/></h2> <section id="toc">
<ul> <h2 id="toc"><a href="#toc" class="h2"
<li><a href="#introduction" class="body-link" >Table of Contents<a/></h2>
>Introduction</a></li>
<li><a href="#examples" class="body-link"
>Examples</a></li>
<ul> <ul>
<li><a href="#examples-smartphones" class="body-link" <li><a href="#introduction" class="body-link"
>Smartphones</a></li> >Introduction</a></li>
<li><a href="#examples" class="body-link"
>Examples</a></li>
<ul>
<li><a href="#examples-smartphones" class="body-link"
>Smartphones</a></li>
</ul>
<li><a href="#solution" class="body-link"
>Solution</a></li>
<li><a href="#conclusion" class="body-link"
>Conclusion</a></li>
</ul> </ul>
<li><a href="#solution" class="body-link" </section>
>Solution</a></li> <section id="introduction">
<li><a href="#conclusion" class="body-link" <h2 id=introduction"><a href="#introduction" class="h2"
>Conclusion</a></li> >Introduction</a></h2>
</ul> <p>The world has become a dangerous, privacy invading, human rights stripping, totalitarian place;
<h2 id=introduction"><a href="#introduction" class="h2" in order to combat this, people are joining a growing, and dangerous, trend, which I will refer to
>Introduction</a></h2> in this post as the "Free and Open Source (FOSS) movement". With that stated, I will now debunk the
<p>The world has become a dangerous, privacy invading, human rights stripping, totalitarian place; misinformation being spread inside of this extremely flawed movement.</p>
in order to combat this, people are joining a growing, and dangerous, trend, which I will refer to <p>The
in this post as the "Free and Open Source (FOSS) movement". With that stated, I will now debunk the <a class="body-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_software"
misinformation being spread inside of this extremely flawed movement.</p> >FOSS</a> movement is an attempt to regain
<p>The <a class="body-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privacy"
<a class="body-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_software" >privacy</a> and
>FOSS</a> movement is an attempt to regain <a class="body-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Control_(psychology)"
<a class="body-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privacy" >control</a> over our devices and data, but the entire concept of FOSS-only, at the current time, is
>privacy</a> and severely, and dangerously, flawed. What the FOSS community does not seem to understand is the fact
<a class="body-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Control_(psychology)" that most FOSS software cares not about
>control</a> over our devices and data, but the entire concept of FOSS-only, at the current time, is <a class="body-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security"
severely, and dangerously, flawed. What the FOSS community does not seem to understand is the fact >security</a>.
that most FOSS software cares not about "Security"; keep that word in mind as you progress through this article. What is security? Security
<a class="body-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security" is being safe and secure from adversaries and unwanted consequences; security protects our rights
>security</a>. and allows us to protect ourselves. Without security, we have no protection, and without protection,
"Security"; keep that word in mind as you progress through this article. What is security? Security we have a lack of certainty of everything else, including privacy and control, which is what the
is being safe and secure from adversaries and unwanted consequences; security protects our rights FOSS movement is seeking.</p>
and allows us to protect ourselves. Without security, we have no protection, and without protection, <p>FOSS projects rarely take security into account; they simply look at the surface level, rather
we have a lack of certainty of everything else, including privacy and control, which is what the than the actual
FOSS movement is seeking.</p> <a class="body-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Root_cause_analysis"
<p>FOSS projects rarely take security into account; they simply look at the surface level, rather >root cause</a> of the issues they are attempting to fight against. In this case, the focus is on
than the actual privacy and control. Without security mechanisms to protect the privacy features and the ability to
<a class="body-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Root_cause_analysis" control your devices and data, it can be stripped away as if it never existed in the first place,
>root cause</a> of the issues they are attempting to fight against. In this case, the focus is on which, inevitably, leads us back to the beginning, and the cycle repeats. With this
privacy and control. Without security mechanisms to protect the privacy features and the ability to <a class="body-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ideology"
control your devices and data, it can be stripped away as if it never existed in the first place, >ideology</a>, privacy and control will *never* be achieved. There is no foundation to build privacy
which, inevitably, leads us back to the beginning, and the cycle repeats. With this or control upon. It is impossible to build a solid, freedom respecting platform on this model.</p>
<a class="body-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ideology" </section>
>ideology</a>, privacy and control will *never* be achieved. There is no foundation to build privacy <section id="examples">
or control upon. It is impossible to build a solid, freedom respecting platform on this model.</p> <h2 id="examples"><a href="#examples" class="h2"
<h2 id="examples"><a href="#examples" class="h2" >Examples</a></h2>
>Examples</a></h2> <section id="examples-smartphones">
<h3 id="examples-smartphones"><a href="#examples-smartphones" class="h3" <h3 id="examples-smartphones"><a href="#examples-smartphones" class="h3"
>Smartphones</a></h3> >Smartphones</a></h3>
<p>A FOSS phone, especially so-called <p>A FOSS phone, especially so-called
<a class="body-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_for_mobile_devices#Smartphones" <a class="body-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_for_mobile_devices#Smartphones"
>"Linux phones"</a> are completely >"Linux phones"</a> are completely
detrimental to privacy and control, because they do not have the security necessary to enforce that detrimental to privacy and control, because they do not have the security necessary to enforce that
privacy. privacy.
<a class="body-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bootloader_unlocking" <a class="body-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bootloader_unlocking"
>Unlocked bootloaders</a> prevent the device from >Unlocked bootloaders</a> prevent the device from
<a class="body-link" href="https://source.android.com/docs/security/features/verifiedboot/" <a class="body-link" href="https://source.android.com/docs/security/features/verifiedboot/"
>verifying the integrity of the boot chain</a>, including the OS, meaning any adversary, whether a >verifying the integrity of the boot chain</a>, including the OS, meaning any adversary, whether a
stranger who happens to pick up the device, or a big tech or government entity, can simply inject stranger who happens to pick up the device, or a big tech or government entity, can simply inject
malicious code into your software and you wouldn't have any idea it was there. If that's not enough malicious code into your software and you wouldn't have any idea it was there. If that's not enough
of a backdoor for you to reconsider your position, how about the trivial of a backdoor for you to reconsider your position, how about the trivial
<a class="body-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evil_maid_attack" <a class="body-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evil_maid_attack"
>evil maid</a> and data extraction attacks which could be executed on your device, without coercion? >evil maid</a> and data extraction attacks which could be executed on your device, without coercion?
With Android phones, this is bad enough to completely break the privacy and control the FOSS With Android phones, this is bad enough to completely break the privacy and control the FOSS
movement seeks, but "Linux phones" take it a step further by implementing barely any security, if movement seeks, but "Linux phones" take it a step further by implementing barely any security, if
any at all. any at all.
<a class="body-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privilege_escalation" <a class="body-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privilege_escalation"
>Privilege escalation</a> is trivial to achieve on any Linux system, which is the reason Linux >Privilege escalation</a> is trivial to achieve on any Linux system, which is the reason Linux
<a class="body-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardening_(computing)" <a class="body-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardening_(computing)"
>hardening</a> strategies often include restricting access to the root account; if you >hardening</a> strategies often include restricting access to the root account; if you
<a class="body-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rooting_(Android)" <a class="body-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rooting_(Android)"
>root your Android phone</a>, or use a "Linux phone", you've already destroyed the security model, >root your Android phone</a>, or use a "Linux phone", you've already destroyed the security model,
and thus privacy and control model you were attempting to achieve. Not only are these side effects and thus privacy and control model you were attempting to achieve. Not only are these side effects
of FOSS, so is the absolutely illogical restriction of not being able to, or making it unnecessarily of FOSS, so is the absolutely illogical restriction of not being able to, or making it unnecessarily
difficult to, install and update critical components of the system, such as proprietary difficult to, install and update critical components of the system, such as proprietary
<a class="body-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firmware" <a class="body-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firmware"
>firmware</a>, which just so happens to be almost all of them. "Linux phones" are not as free as >firmware</a>, which just so happens to be almost all of them. "Linux phones" are not as free as
they proclaim to be.</p> they proclaim to be.</p>
<p>You may ask "What's so bad about using <p>You may ask "What's so bad about using
<a class="body-link" href="https://lineageos.org/" <a class="body-link" href="https://lineageos.org/"
>LineageOS</a>?", to which I answer with "What's not bad about it?".<br> >LineageOS</a>?", to which I answer with "What's not bad about it?".<br>
<ul> <ul>
<li>LineageOS uses <li>LineageOS uses
<a class="body-link" href="https://github.com/LineageOS/hudson/blob/master/lineage-build-targets" <a class="body-link" href="https://github.com/LineageOS/hudson/blob/master/lineage-build-targets"
>debug builds</a>, not safe and secure release builds.</li> >debug builds</a>, not safe and secure release builds.</li>
<li>LineageOS requires an unlocked bootloader. Even when installed on devices which support custom <li>LineageOS requires an unlocked bootloader. Even when installed on devices which support custom
Android Verified Boot (AVB) keys, the bootloader cannot be locked due to lack of the OS being Android Verified Boot (AVB) keys, the bootloader cannot be locked due to lack of the OS being
signed.</li> signed.</li>
<li>LineageOS does not install critically important firmware without manual flashing, requiring users <li>LineageOS does not install critically important firmware without manual flashing, requiring users
to perform a second update to install this firmware; this likely causes users to ignore the to perform a second update to install this firmware; this likely causes users to ignore the
notification or miss firmware updates.</li> notification or miss firmware updates.</li>
<li>LineageOS does not implement <li>LineageOS does not implement
<a class="body-link" href="https://source.android.com/docs/security/features/verifiedboot/ <a class="body-link" href="https://source.android.com/docs/security/features/verifiedboot/
verified-boot#rollback-protection" verified-boot#rollback-protection"
>rollback protection</a>, meaning any adversary, from a stranger who physically picks up the device, >rollback protection</a>, meaning any adversary, from a stranger who physically picks up the device,
to a goverment entity remotely, can simply downgrade the OS to a previous version in order to to a goverment entity remotely, can simply downgrade the OS to a previous version in order to
exploit known exploit known
<a class="body-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vulnerability_(computing)" <a class="body-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vulnerability_(computing)"
>security vulnerabilities</a>.</li> >security vulnerabilities</a>.</li>
</ul> </ul>
<p>LineageOS is not the only Android OS (commonly, and incorrectly, referred to as a "ROM") with such <p>LineageOS is not the only Android OS (commonly, and incorrectly, referred to as a "ROM") with such
issues, but it is one of the worst. The only things such insecure OSes can provide you are issues, but it is one of the worst. The only things such insecure OSes can provide you are
customisation abilities, and a backdoor to your data. They are best suited as a development OS, not customisation abilities, and a backdoor to your data. They are best suited as a development OS, not
a production OS.</p> a production OS.</p>
<h2 id="solution"><a href="#solution" class="h2">Solution</a></h2> </section>
<p>What can you do about this? The answer is simple; however, it does require you to use logic, </section>
fact, and evidence, not emotion, which is a difficult pill for most people to swallow. Use your <section id="solution">
adversaries' weapons against them. The only way to effectively combat the privacy invasion and lack <h2 id="solution"><a href="#solution" class="h2">Solution</a></h2>
of control of our devices and data is to become a <p>What can you do about this? The answer is simple; however, it does require you to use logic,
<a class="body-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turncoat" fact, and evidence, not emotion, which is a difficult pill for most people to swallow. Use your
>renegade</a> and not take sides. Yes, that means not taking sides with the closed source, adversaries' weapons against them. The only way to effectively combat the privacy invasion and lack
proprietary, big tech and government entities, but it also means not taking sides with any of control of our devices and data is to become a
FOSS entities. The only way to win this war is to take *whatever* hardware and software you can, and <a class="body-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turncoat"
use it tactically.</p> >renegade</a> and not take sides. Yes, that means not taking sides with the closed source,
<p>The only solution for phone security, privacy, and control, is to use a Google Pixel (currently, proprietary, big tech and government entities, but it also means not taking sides with any
Pixel 4a-series or newer) running FOSS entities. The only way to win this war is to take *whatever* hardware and software you can, and
<a class="body-link" href="https://grapheneos.org/" use it tactically.</p>
>GrapheneOS</a>. Google Pixel phones allow you complete bootloader freedom, including the <p>The only solution for phone security, privacy, and control, is to use a Google Pixel (currently,
<a class="body-link" href="https://android.googlesource.com/platform/external/avb/+/master/README.md#pixel-2-and-later" Pixel 4a-series or newer) running
>ability to lock the bootloader after flashing a custom OS</a> <a class="body-link" href="https://grapheneos.org/"
(GrapheneOS includes a custom OS signing key to allow locking the bootloader and enabling verified >GrapheneOS</a>. Google Pixel phones allow you complete bootloader freedom, including the
boot to prevent <a class="body-link" href="https://android.googlesource.com/platform/external/avb/+/master/README.md#pixel-2-and-later"
<a class="body-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malware" >ability to lock the bootloader after flashing a custom OS</a>
>malware</a> persistence, evil maid attacks, and boot chain (GrapheneOS includes a custom OS signing key to allow locking the bootloader and enabling verified
<a class="body-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_corruption" boot to prevent
>corruption</a>), <a class="body-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malware"
<a class="body-link" href="https://support.google.com/nexus/answer/4457705" >malware</a> persistence, evil maid attacks, and boot chain
>long device support lifecycles</a> (minimum 3 years for Pixel 4a-series to Pixel 5a, minimum 5 <a class="body-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_corruption"
years for Pixel 6-series and newer), and >corruption</a>),
<a class="body-link" href="https://source.android.com/docs/security/bulletin/pixel/" <a class="body-link" href="https://support.google.com/nexus/answer/4457705"
>guaranteed monthly security updates</a> for the entire support timeframe of the devices.</p> >long device support lifecycles</a> (minimum 3 years for Pixel 4a-series to Pixel 5a, minimum 5
<h2 id="conclusion"><a href="#conclusion" class="h2">Conclusion</a></h2> years for Pixel 6-series and newer), and
<p>Use what you can, and do what you can. By neglecting security, you are, even if unintentionally, <a class="body-link" href="https://source.android.com/docs/security/bulletin/pixel/"
neglecting exactly what you are trying to gain; privacy and control.</p> >guaranteed monthly security updates</a> for the entire support timeframe of the devices.</p>
</section>
<section id="conclusion">
<h2 id="conclusion"><a href="#conclusion" class="h2">Conclusion</a></h2>
<p>Use what you can, and do what you can. By neglecting security, you are, even if unintentionally,
neglecting exactly what you are trying to gain; privacy and control.</p>
</section>
</section>
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