Re: [libreplanet-discuss] Replicant or LineageOS or ???

[Adam Van Ymeren]

On June 14, 2017 9:00:35 AM EDT, Daniel Pocock <daniel@pocock.pro> wrote:
>
>With CyanogenMod gone, more and more people are looking at which OS to
>use next.
>
>LineageOS[1] is the most well known successor, but how does it compare
>to Replicant[2] when it comes to security and privacy?
>
>Are there other alternatives people should consider?  Various articles
>have popped up[3] with comparisons.
>
>Regards,
>
>
>1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LineageOS
>2. https://www.replicant.us/
>3. https://www.maketecheasier.com/cyanogenmod-alternatives-for-android/
>
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Lineage includes binary blobs and firmware that many peripherals in phones 
require.  Replicant does not.  So that is  +1 on Replicant side.

However the bigger problem with both is that on many phones the cellular modem 
has direct read/write access to the system memory and is running proprietary 
firmware that shipped with the device which can contain backdoors and tracking 
software, some of which can even be activated when the cellular modem claims to 
be "off"

 The best defense against this while still having a smartphone is something 
like the GTA04 project, where the schematics are public and designed to isolate 
the cellular modem such that it does not have full memory access and the power 
is literally cut when you turn off the cellular.

Smartphone privacy is more than a software problem at this point, you also need 
to be careful about the hardware you run it on.