This is the de-Googled, more secure version of the Android Open Source Project. GrapheneOS, the modified version of Android that is devoid of Google while...
The obsession with security chips is what allows Pixels and iPhones to be the most secure devices on the planet.
I remember the govt trying to muscle Apple into unlocking someone’s iphone, til they suddenly stopped because they found Cellebrite could unlock it instead. There have been several new iphone generations since then but I haven’t heard about govt muscling anytime recently. So I have to infer they can still unlock iphones. As for Pixels, this is in Dutch but very recent: https://www.omroepbrabant.nl/nieuws/6023856/drievoudige-moord-in-oosterhout-telefoon-van-verdachte-gekraakt
Machine translation of main paragraphs:
The Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI) has unlocked the Google Pixel phone belonging to 29-year-old Veronica K., according to the prosecutor. “A large number of images of weapons and stacks of cash were found on her phone. There are also a large number of chat messages that can now be read.” K. is alleged to have facilitated the murder by supporting the perpetrators.
The prosecutor expects to receive the first results from the NFI on Thursday. During the hearing, the prosecutor also said there is good reason to hope that the NFI will be able to unlock the Google Pixel phones belonging to the other two suspects as well.
So I think you’re putting too much faith in this stuff. I will ask my crypto homies if they have any recent info about phone attacks though.
More relevantly, most secure devices AGAINST WHAT? You’re talking about a locked phone attack which is the absolute least of most users’ worries. The phone is so insecure in everyday use that the border patrol is near irrelevant. Plus users including paranoids like me don’t have any opsec to speak of. When was the last time you crossed a border with an Android phone anyway? I don’t think I’ve ever done that. Like most people I don’t leave the country that often. Last time I did was before I switched to Android, IIRC. I might have had an analog or 2G flip phone or something. If I travel somewhere again it’s not that big a deal to leave my Android phone at home, as I mentioned before.
Even in the border patrol picture, Graphene and TPM won’t protect you from what used to be called rubber-hose cryptanalysis (xkcd.com/538). They’re defending from the wrong threat.
Look, I understand the advantages of crypto hardware. I’ve programmed it and written simulators for it. But, the way to really keep cryptography in people’s hands is to make it not require special hardware. Thus I’m skeptical that the government hates Graphene, but it really did hate PGP back in the day.
If I get to add new hardware to phones, TPM would be on my list but not at the top. First might be something like POCSAG (plus build out the pager network again) so you can receive text messages without transmitting anything or revealing your location. Second, third, etc. would be in a similar vein.
This is a start: https://grapheneos.social/@GrapheneOS/117140352254892456
I remember the govt trying to muscle Apple into unlocking someone’s iphone, til they suddenly stopped because they found Cellebrite could unlock it instead. There have been several new iphone generations since then but I haven’t heard about govt muscling anytime recently. So I have to infer they can still unlock iphones. As for Pixels, this is in Dutch but very recent: https://www.omroepbrabant.nl/nieuws/6023856/drievoudige-moord-in-oosterhout-telefoon-van-verdachte-gekraakt
Machine translation of main paragraphs:
So I think you’re putting too much faith in this stuff. I will ask my crypto homies if they have any recent info about phone attacks though.
More relevantly, most secure devices AGAINST WHAT? You’re talking about a locked phone attack which is the absolute least of most users’ worries. The phone is so insecure in everyday use that the border patrol is near irrelevant. Plus users including paranoids like me don’t have any opsec to speak of. When was the last time you crossed a border with an Android phone anyway? I don’t think I’ve ever done that. Like most people I don’t leave the country that often. Last time I did was before I switched to Android, IIRC. I might have had an analog or 2G flip phone or something. If I travel somewhere again it’s not that big a deal to leave my Android phone at home, as I mentioned before.
Even in the border patrol picture, Graphene and TPM won’t protect you from what used to be called rubber-hose cryptanalysis (xkcd.com/538). They’re defending from the wrong threat.
Look, I understand the advantages of crypto hardware. I’ve programmed it and written simulators for it. But, the way to really keep cryptography in people’s hands is to make it not require special hardware. Thus I’m skeptical that the government hates Graphene, but it really did hate PGP back in the day.
If I get to add new hardware to phones, TPM would be on my list but not at the top. First might be something like POCSAG (plus build out the pager network again) so you can receive text messages without transmitting anything or revealing your location. Second, third, etc. would be in a similar vein.