(07-01-2021, 01:21 PM)Mtravel Wrote: Thanks for your reply. I don't know if you have seen it but this corona hoax is perpetrated by bad governments. And they try to spy and harrass anyone who exposes their crimes against humanity. I thought Edward Snowden said they used to take battery out even on dumb phones when he worked for CIA/NSA. If Linux and Pinephone technical components are safe (and third party) then why to have those kill switches on it either? It sounds like more safe option even without the switches in comparison to some old basic phones with fixed firmware and OS like some Nokias or Siemens from 15 years ago or so. Nokia's ex-lawyer( kind of whistleblower) said they were contacted by NSA back in the old days about the NSA's policy to records all phone calls. But to record and listen phone calls is different than listening a phone that is not having a call atm. I wonder how they may hack the system if it's not having a call? Whether on Linux or some of those old dumb fixed OS's.
To be internally consistent with your own narrative you should also be concerned that your dissident opinion might lead to oppression of yourself, your family, or your affinity group if expressed openly. We are happy discussing a technical challenge like helping someone figure out how to improve privacy and avoid oppression or surveillance especially as it relates to the hardware and software this project is working on. Since this is not a forum discussing medical, biotech, or investigating secret state conspiracies it is not wise to expose this forum or yourself to state or corporate surveillance and oppression by discussing your biotech and medical opinions online, we are not working on that topic and it draws trouble. If you have access to the secrets you claim then try to discuss with people exclusively in real life while in an open noisy area where your words cannot be archived and used against you or others. Please improve your infosec habits when on the open internet and stay on topic here.
Back on topic, you would probably get the effect of getting a phone switchably offline from mobile service; is to have a short switch from the antenna line to ground with a 50 or 75 ohm resistor(nto terribly important but try to mach the impedance of the transmitter if you can access the schematics or service documents) to absorb any outgoing transmissions and not damage the radio's finals when it transmits; this will not protect you though if there is software to store your details and transmit them when service is available, for example when you toggle the resistive load off.
When you do not control the software in the CPU and when you do not control the software in the cellular modem and it's processor there is no reason not to suspect that some agency interested in monitoring you would not insert or activate latent code to turn on the microphone, GPS, camera, and other sensors and transmit your information on your phone, smart television, computer, or security system. The switches and add-on interface, both refinements of an idea from another project, are meant to be something anyone with a little technical skill can verify with even a simple voltmeter that the vcc on the modem is disconnected as well as to the wifi, bluetooth, and cameras.
We can hardware toggle the power to the cellular service module, we control and can audit the OS and code running on the CPU, and we can control the code running on the cellular modem with the exception of the firmware for the modem and wifi chips.