Privacy advocates got access to Locate X, a phone tracking tool which multiple U.S. agencies have bought access to, and showed me and other journalists exactly what it was capable of. Tracking a phone from one state to another to an abortion clinic. Multiple places of worship. A school. Following a likely juror to a residence. And all of this tracking is possible without a warrant, and instead just a few clicks of a mouse.

  • Jtotheb@lemmy.world
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    22 days ago

    That was possible over a decade ago.

    Link Link Link Link

    Also to be clear, you suggested that you bring a burner phone and set up call forwarding. That implies a phone that’s on. If you’re carrying a burner phone that’s off, I do have a novel solution, just don’t bring it

    • midnightblue@lemmy.ca
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      22 days ago

      No that’s not easily possible on every phone. It’s a specifically crafted FakeOff malware, used by the NSA for targeted attacks. This is not something that just randomly gets deployed on every phone, it’s only used against individual targets. Use GrapheneOS to harden your Android device as much as possible, to defend against such malware getting installed in the first place.

      You really think the NSA will get involved to track someone who wants to get an abortion?

      That was possible over a decade ago.

      You know what also existed over a decade ago? Faraday bags. This concept of physics isn’t new.

      Just stop spreading fear and misinformation.

      • Zink@programming.dev
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        22 days ago

        You really think the NSA will get involved to track someone who wants to get an abortion?

        Probably not, unless it’s an exceptional case where they are already interested for another reason.

        But if, say, county sheriffs across the country also got access, I would be surprised if I didn’t hear about women’s and doctors’ lives being ruined by them.

      • Jtotheb@lemmy.world
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        21 days ago

        Yes, yes. If you want to avoid being tracked by the government buy a Faraday bag. Thank you for the valuable information. I’m in awe.

    • capital@lemmy.world
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      22 days ago

      Hm. I said without power. Not switched off.

      Judging by the upvotes you’re far from the only one who forgot about simply removing the battery.

      I suggested no power but not for the entire trip. Put the battery in when you’re sufficiently far from your house so as not to be associated with it. Remove it again when you’re sufficiently close to your house.

      Use your imagination. It helps.

      • Jtotheb@lemmy.world
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        21 days ago

        You know, we can talk about how batteries aren’t removable in most phones anymore, about whether or not the act of suddenly buying prepaid phones isn’t itself incriminating, any number of factors, but I really only replied to you because you were rude, not because I wanted to talk about it.

        • capital@lemmy.world
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          21 days ago

          Strange. You wanna be done so suddenly after being shown how obvious the solution is.

          we can talk about how batteries aren’t removable in most phones anymore

          So don’t buy those. Buy one with a removable battery….

          whether or not the act of suddenly buying prepaid phones isn’t itself incriminating

          Go use cash, in person.

          Again, use your imagination. I refuse to believe I’m smarter than you or anyone else. These seem like obvious solutions.

          My incredulity that the person further up the thread couldn’t think of a simple solution to the issue they posed came across as rude. I’m not sorry about it. Think for a minute….

          I think everyone in the thread ultimately wants women to be able to get abortions without fear of prosecution.

          • Jtotheb@lemmy.world
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            19 days ago

            Okay, so we’re quoting and refuting line by line then.

            I refuse to believe I’m smarter than you or anyone else.

            It is highly unlikely that you’re the dumbest person alive. Amusing sentence though!

            These seem like obvious solutions.

            Everything you suggest seems self evident because you supply the evidence yourself.

            wanna be done so suddenly

            I’ve regretted talking to you ever since I started! You’re rude and I would never choose to continue interacting with you in real life if this was the first time I ever heard you talk.

            • capital@lemmy.world
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              19 days ago

              Everything you suggest seems self evident because you supply the evidence yourself.

              It should be obvious to anyone who knows the first thing about how cell phones work.

              Remember, you replied to me. You seemed quite proud of your comment and all your links. Unfortunately you completely missed the point.