Too link; didn’t click (you should though): The accelerometer data in our electronics can be used to map us out like we’re a Roomba vacuum cleaner, among other things.
So can your IMEI, with leaking apps and push notifications our phones are essentially digital snitches in our pockets.
Since Android 10 only System Apps can read critical Device Identifiers.
Use an Android Distro with as little of them as possible, for example GrapheneOS.
Turn on Airplane mode and at least on a trustworthy OS the phone will be as if it had no such antenna
Turn on Airplane mode
At this point, why even bother having a phone?
Or better yet, use libre software that can be verified and forked in the event of a hostile takeover
Yes for sure, but an OS should protect users from malicious apps too.
True, I just think it is better to use apps you can trust instead of proprietary ones
Holeeeshit! All that from an accelerometer?
Yes. GrapheneOS has a sensor permission because of that. Among many many other critical fixes for the tracking platform Android.
For years I’ve rooted, in part to block permissions access to such things.
And on reddit and here the number of people who’ve said I don’t need root or that I’m paranoid 🤦♂️
If you ask Daniel Micay he will probably give you a very good explanation of why root access is a bad idea. I am not sure though and can imagine its sometimes helpful and might be safe if you totally trust the root app like Magisk.
But not every module some random person on the internet writes is safe or makes even sense. For example changing IMEI, IMSI etc. is not possible for the apps that actually use it, i.e. cell connectivity.
