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<!DOCTYPE html> <!DOCTYPE html>
<!-- Inferencium - Website - Blog - #0 --> <!-- Inferencium - Website - Blog - #0 -->
<!-- Version: 9.0.0 --> <!-- Version: 9.0.1 -->
<!-- Copyright 2022 Jake Winters --> <!-- Copyright 2022 Jake Winters -->
<!-- SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause --> <!-- SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause WITH AdditionRef-Inferencium-Personal-exception -->
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">
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</nav> </nav>
<section id="introduction"> <section id="introduction">
<h2><a href="#introduction">Introduction</a></h2> <h2><a href="#introduction">Introduction</a></h2>
<p>The world has become a dangerous, privacy invading, human rights stripping, <p>The world has become a dangerous, privacy invading, human rights stripping, totalitarian
totalitarian place; in order to combat this, people are joining a growing, and place; in order to combat this, people are joining a growing, and dangerous, trend, which I will
dangerous, trend, which I will refer to in this post as the "Free and Open refer to in this post as the "Free and Open Source (FOSS) movement". With that stated, I will
Source (FOSS) movement". With that stated, I will now debunk the misinformation now debunk the misinformation being spread inside of this extremely flawed movement.</p>
being spread inside of this extremely flawed movement.</p>
<p>The <p>The
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_software">FOSS</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_software">FOSS</a>
movement is an attempt to regain movement is an attempt to regain
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privacy">privacy</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privacy">privacy</a>
and and
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Control_(psychology)">control</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Control_(psychology)">control</a>
over our devices and data, but the entire concept of FOSS-only, at the current over our devices and data, but the entire concept of FOSS-only, at the current time, is
time, is severely, and dangerously, flawed. What the FOSS community does not severely, and dangerously, flawed. What the FOSS community does not seem to understand is the
seem to understand is the fact that most FOSS software cares not about fact that most FOSS software cares not about
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security">security</a>. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security">security</a>.
"Security"; keep that word in mind as you progress through this article. What is "Security"; keep that word in mind as you progress through this article. What is security?
security? Security is being safe and secure from adversaries and unwanted Security is being safe and secure from adversaries and unwanted consequences; security protects
consequences; security protects our rights and allows us to protect ourselves. our rights and allows us to protect ourselves. Without security, we have no protection, and
Without security, we have no protection, and without protection, we have a lack without protection, we have a lack of certainty of everything else, including privacy and
of certainty of everything else, including privacy and control, which is what control, which is what the FOSS movement is seeking.</p>
the FOSS movement is seeking.</p> <p>FOSS projects rarely take security into account; they simply look at the surface level,
<p>FOSS projects rarely take security into account; they simply look at the rather than the actual
surface level, rather than the actual
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Root_cause_analysis">root cause</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Root_cause_analysis">root cause</a>
of the issues they are attempting to fight against. In this case, the focus is of the issues they are attempting to fight against. In this case, the focus is on privacy and
on privacy and control. Without security mechanisms to protect the privacy control. Without security mechanisms to protect the privacy features and the ability to control
features and the ability to control your devices and data, it can be stripped your devices and data, it can be stripped away as if it never existed in the first place, which,
away as if it never existed in the first place, which, inevitably, leads us back inevitably, leads us back to the beginning, and the cycle repeats. With this
to the beginning, and the cycle repeats. With this
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ideology">ideology</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ideology">ideology</a>,
privacy and control will <em>never</em> be achieved. There is no foundation to privacy and control will <em>never</em> be achieved. There is no foundation to build privacy or
build privacy or control upon. It is impossible to build a solid, freedom control upon. It is impossible to build a solid, freedom respecting platform on this model.</p>
respecting platform on this model.</p>
</section> </section>
<section id="examples"> <section id="examples">
<h2><a href="#examples">Examples</a></h2> <h2><a href="#examples">Examples</a></h2>
@ -88,107 +84,91 @@
<h3><a href="#examples-smartphones">Smartphones</a></h3> <h3><a href="#examples-smartphones">Smartphones</a></h3>
<p>A FOSS phone, especially so-called <p>A FOSS phone, especially so-called
"<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_for_mobile_devices#Smartphones">Linux phones</a>" "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_for_mobile_devices#Smartphones">Linux phones</a>"
are completely detrimental to privacy and control, because they are completely detrimental to privacy and control, because they do not have the security
do not have the security necessary to enforce that privacy. necessary to enforce that privacy.
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bootloader_unlocking">Unlocked bootloaders</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bootloader_unlocking">Unlocked bootloaders</a>
prevent the device from prevent the device from
<a href="https://source.android.com/docs/security/features/verifiedboot/">verifying the integrity of the boot chain</a>, <a 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 stranger who including the OS, meaning any adversary, whether a stranger who happens to pick up the
happens to pick up the device, or a big tech or government device, or a big tech or government entity, can simply inject malicious code into your
entity, can simply inject malicious code into your software and software and you wouldn't have any idea it was there. If that's not enough of a backdoor
you wouldn't have any idea it was there. If that's not enough of for you to reconsider your position, how about the trivial
a backdoor for you to reconsider your position, how about the
trivial
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evil_maid_attack">evil maid</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evil_maid_attack">evil maid</a>
and data extraction attacks which could be executed on your and data extraction attacks which could be executed on your device, without coercion?
device, without coercion? With Android phones, this is bad With Android phones, this is bad enough to completely break the privacy and control the
enough to completely break the privacy and control the FOSS FOSS movement seeks, but "Linux phones" take it a step further by implementing barely
movement seeks, but "Linux phones" take it a step further by any security, if any at all.
implementing barely any security, if any at all.
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privilege_escalation">Privilege escalation</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privilege_escalation">Privilege escalation</a>
is trivial to achieve on any Linux system, which is the reason is trivial to achieve on any Linux system, which is the reason Linux
Linux
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardening_(computing)">hardening</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardening_(computing)">hardening</a>
strategies often include restricting access to the root account; strategies often include restricting access to the root account; if you
if you
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rooting_(Android)">root your Android phone</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rooting_(Android)">root your Android phone</a>,
or use a "Linux phone", you've already destroyed the security or use a "Linux phone", you've already destroyed the security model, and thus privacy
model, and thus privacy and control model you were attempting to and control model you were attempting to achieve. Not only are these side effects of
achieve. Not only are these side effects of FOSS, so is the FOSS, so is the absolutely illogical restriction of not being able to, or making it
absolutely illogical restriction of not being able to, or making unnecessarily difficult to, install and update critical components of the system, such
it unnecessarily difficult to, install and update critical as proprietary
components of the system, such as proprietary
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firmware">firmware</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firmware">firmware</a>,
which just so happens to be almost all of them. "Linux phones" which just so happens to be almost all of them. "Linux phones" are not as free as they
are not as free as they proclaim to be.</p> 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 href="https://lineageos.org/">LineageOS</a>?", <a href="https://lineageos.org/">LineageOS</a>?",
to which I answer with "What's not bad about it?". to which I answer with "What's not bad about it?".</p>
<ul> <ul>
<li>LineageOS uses <li>LineageOS uses
<a href="https://github.com/LineageOS/hudson/blob/master/lineage-build-targets">debug builds</a>, <a href="https://github.com/LineageOS/hudson/blob/master/lineage-build-targets">debug builds</a>,
not safe and secure release builds.</li> not safe and secure release builds.</li>
<li>LineageOS requires an unlocked bootloader. <li>LineageOS requires an unlocked bootloader. Even when installed on devices
Even when installed on devices which support which support custom Android Verified Boot (AVB) keys, the bootloader cannot be
custom Android Verified Boot (AVB) keys, the locked due to lack of the OS being signed.</li>
bootloader cannot be locked due to lack of the <li>LineageOS does not install critically important firmware without manual
OS being signed.</li> flashing, requiring users to perform a second update to install this firmware;
<li>LineageOS does not install critically this likely causes users to ignore the notification or miss firmware
important firmware without manual flashing,
requiring users to perform a second update to
install this firmware; this likely causes users
to ignore the notification or miss firmware
updates.</li> updates.</li>
<li>LineageOS does not implement <li>LineageOS does not implement
<a href="https://source.android.com/docs/security/features/verifiedboot/verified-boot#rollback-protection">rollback protection</a>, <a href="https://source.android.com/docs/security/features/verifiedboot/verified-boot#rollback-protection">rollback protection</a>,
meaning any adversary, from a stranger who meaning any adversary, from a stranger who physically picks up the device, to a
physically picks up the device, to a goverment goverment entity remotely, can simply downgrade the OS to a previous version in
entity remotely, can simply downgrade the OS to order to exploit known
a previous version in order to exploit known
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vulnerability_(computing)">security vulnerabilities</a>.</li> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vulnerability_(computing)">security vulnerabilities</a>.</li>
</ul> </ul>
</p> <p>LineageOS is not the only Android OS (commonly, and incorrectly, referred to as a
<p>LineageOS is not the only Android OS (commonly, and "ROM") with such issues, but it is one of the worst. The only things such insecure OSes
incorrectly, referred to as a "ROM") with such issues, but it is can provide you are customisation abilities, and a backdoor to your data. They are best
one of the worst. The only things such insecure OSes can provide suited as a development OS, not a production OS.</p>
you are customisation abilities, and a backdoor to your data.
They are best suited as a development OS, not a production
OS.</p>
</section> </section>
</section> </section>
<section id="solution"> <section id="solution">
<h2><a href="#solution">Solution</a></h2> <h2><a href="#solution">Solution</a></h2>
<p>What can you do about this? The answer is simple; however, it does require <p>What can you do about this? The answer is simple; however, it does require you to use logic,
you to use logic, fact, and evidence, not emotion, which is a difficult pill for fact, and evidence, not emotion, which is a difficult pill for most people to swallow. Use your
most people to swallow. Use your adversaries' weapons against them. The only way adversaries' weapons against them. The only way to effectively combat the privacy invasion and
to effectively combat the privacy invasion and lack of control of our devices lack of control of our devices and data is to become a
and data is to become a
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turncoat">renegade</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turncoat">renegade</a>
and not take sides. Yes, that means not taking sides with the closed-source, and not take sides. Yes, that means not taking sides with the closed-source, proprietary, big
proprietary, big tech and government entities, but it also means not taking tech and government entities, but it also means not taking sides with any FOSS entities. The
sides with any FOSS entities. The only way to win this war is to take only way to win this war is to take <em>whatever</em> hardware and software you can, and use it
<em>whatever</em> hardware and software you can, and use it tactically.</p> tactically.</p>
<p>The best solution for device security, privacy, and control, is to use a <p>The best solution for device security, privacy, and control, is to use a Google Pixel
Google Pixel (currently, Pixel 5a or newer) running (currently, Pixel 5a or newer) running
<a href="https://grapheneos.org/">GrapheneOS</a>. <a href="https://grapheneos.org/">GrapheneOS</a>.
Google Pixel devices allow you complete bootloader freedom, including the Google Pixel devices allow you complete bootloader freedom, including the
<a href="https://android.googlesource.com/platform/external/avb/+/master/README.md#pixel-2-and-later">ability to lock the bootloader after flashing a custom OS</a> <a href="https://android.googlesource.com/platform/external/avb/+/master/README.md#pixel-2-and-later">ability to lock the bootloader after flashing a custom OS</a>
(GrapheneOS includes a custom OS signing key to allow locking the bootloader and (GrapheneOS includes a custom OS signing key to allow locking the bootloader and enabling
enabling verified boot to prevent verified boot to prevent
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malware">malware</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malware">malware</a>
persistence, evil maid attacks, and boot chain persistence, evil maid attacks, and boot chain
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_corruption">corruption</a>), <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_corruption">corruption</a>),
<a href="https://support.google.com/nexus/answer/4457705">long device support lifecycles</a> <a href="https://support.google.com/nexus/answer/4457705">long device support lifecycles</a>
(minimum 3 years for Pixel 5a, minimum 5 years for Pixel 6-series and 7-series, (minimum 3 years for Pixel 5a, minimum 5 years for Pixel 6-series and 7-series, and minimum 7
and minimum 7 years for Pixel 8-series and newer), and years for Pixel 8-series and newer), and
<a href="https://source.android.com/docs/security/bulletin/pixel/">guaranteed monthly security updates</a> <a href="https://source.android.com/docs/security/bulletin/pixel/">guaranteed monthly security updates</a>
for the entire support timeframe of the devices.</p> for the entire support timeframe of the devices.</p>
</section> </section>
<section id="conclusion"> <section id="conclusion">
<h2><a href="#conclusion">Conclusion</a></h2> <h2><a href="#conclusion">Conclusion</a></h2>
<p>Use what you can, and do what you can. By neglecting security, you are, even <p>Use what you can, and do what you can. By neglecting security, you are, even if
if unintentionally, neglecting exactly what you are trying to gain; privacy and unintentionally, neglecting exactly what you are trying to gain; privacy and control.</p>
control.</p>
</section> </section>
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