1 yr. ago • 96%

Murena 2 is a de-Googled Android phone with a privacy kill switch that disconnects mic and camera

liliputing.com Murena 2 is a de-Googled Android phone with a privacy kill switch that disconnects mic and camera (crowdfunding) - Liliputing

Murena 2 is a de-Googled Android phone with a privacy kill switch that disconnects mic and camera (crowdfunding)

65 comments

Only mic and camera? It should also turn off GPS, accelerometer, etc. Filming the inside of my pocket isn't the biggest tracking concern. People are just afraid someone's watching them masturbate all the time.

51
- The article states that there is second switch to diaable wifi, data, gps etc that is essentially an airplane mode.
  
  25
  
  That's only a soft switch. A compromised device could turn them back on.
  
  6
- Isn't GPS just 3 sattelites passively shouting their clock to any who could listen? There's no GPS kill switch because there's nothing transmitted. WIFI kill switch is more understandable.
  
  5
  
  Your point is solid. But GPS position requires a signal from at least 3 satellites to work. There are a whole lot more than 3 in the sky.
  
  2
  
  Privacy isn't just about your device not emitting signals... If you don't want your device and apps to track your location, you also don't want to receive those GPS signals.
  
  1
- I really like having the mic off so Google doesn't try to sell me something I mentioned a private conversation
  
  1
Like other phones, this most likely won’t have open source firmware.

33
- What are you talking about? It's using e/OS
  
  -2
  
  Firmware, as in the drivers that control the hardware, like the radio, the Bluetooth, the NFC, the SIM decryptor, etc.
  
  15
Better off with a used pixel and grapheneos

33
- Poorly yes. Even though
  
  no headphone jack
  
  super expensive
  
  damn huge
  
  no SD card slot
  
  no hardware switches
  
  repairable? Idk
  
  40
  
  yeah no headphone jack is a bummer
  
  a used pixel is cheaper than than
  
  my pixel 5 seems pretty small, but idk what they are now or what that is so you're probably right
  
  even bigger bummer than no headphone jack imo
  
  I don't think those are that important, a piece of tape over the camera is fine imo
  
  you're probably right there too, I wish fairphone could run grapheneos 😞
  
  20
  
  Add very shitty on-screen-fingerprint reader to that list...
  
  4
  
  Pixels are some of the cheapest phones
  
  -3
There's no better kill switch than the ability to remove battery

28
- Permanently Deleted
  
  13
  
  Exactly.
  
  10
  
  I don't believe you. Tim Cook told me so.
  
  3
- Fairphone 5. Just got mine. Love it. I'm now waiting for the /e/ or, at least Lineage image to be released for it.
  
  5
  
  I went with the Galaxy XCover 6 Pro instead because it comes with a headphone jack. It also has a software switch to disable microphones, but I wouldn't put too much faith on that.
  
  2
i really don't care about degoogling trusting some random ass company and their VPN.

28
- It's an e/ OS spin-off. Quite a trustable project.
  
  20
  
  E/os is not that trustable, they have no verified boot or relockable bootloader, and integrated signature spoofing
  
  1
Interested in the built in VPN. Is that going to a monthly cost? If not, how are they funding it?

15
- By stealing and selling your private data, the cycle continues!
  
  37
  
  Or, its this: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jun/08/anom-encrypted-app-fbi-afp-australia-federal-police-sting-operation-ironside-an0m
  
  Worked well the first time, why not try again :D
  
  22
For anyone wondering how to get the same feature on your device (not only mic-camera)

Go to developer settings (after )

Quick settings developer tiles

(enable) sensors off

Open your quick settings

(for Samsung) you will find the tile in the 1st row 1st position

(for aosp) you may need to add the sensors tile

now turn this tile on

now your camera, mic, gyroscope, etc... are off and apps will think that there's an error with the camera or some privacy policy rule being applied

⚪ Note: this does not turn off GPS, Bluetooth, wifi, or mobile networks

EDIT: forgot to mention (as comments said)

🔴 Warning: core system services can override this setting...

a phone call will have the mic working while app calls (Whatsapp..etc) will be muted
12
- Core system services will still override that setting, just something to keep in mind
  
  9
  
  Permanently Deleted
  
  0
- To further expand at least for samsung:
  
  the mic will be re-enabled for regular phone calls
  
  the mic won't be re-enabled for other calls, e.g. WhatsApp, Telegram, Whatsoever
  
  7
No 5G is a deal breaker for me.

11
- You just get two COVID vaccinations instead, should kind of work the same
  
  19
Does it have a hardware switch to prevent apps from taking screenshots? I hate so much that they can do it at any time without you ever knowing.

7
- That's a software problem
  
  0
  
  I was being snarky
  
  1
Where can I get more information? Is the software open sourced? Has it been independently audited?

4
- Its /e/OS, a softfork of LineageOS, mostly superficial. Only GrapheneOS is extremely secure, although to be fair really degoogled LineageOS will probably be very nice too
  
  8
  
  Permanently Deleted
  
  2
  
  really degoogled LineageOS
  
  Also called DivestOS
  
  2
For privacy-minded people, hardware switches are a nice thing. I remember when I had a Xiaomi Mi 9T with its popup camera, and it was interesting to see that some websites would trigger said popup camera. While the camera was never actually used, the thing would go up and down. This was even with an ad blocker installed.

2
- I have a Mi 9 t pro. Never experienced anything like that.
  
  While I do have hardened my settings, debloat with adb etc. privacy whise and use the EU MIUI rom.
  
  Do you rememher said websites?
  
  1
  
  My friend had one, and Instagram would often pop it out and back in quickly. That was way back when though.
  
  1
  
  Man, it has been a while, as I don't use the 9T as the daily phone now. I think I recall The Verge as one of the sites, because I wasn't expecting it from them. It happened only a few times, and it wasn't site-wide. Can't remember which pages triggered it though.
  
  1
No audio jack --> nope.

1

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