Listening

Ooops

An interesting phenomenon, whether through paranoia or reality, is the finding of social media feeds or adds based on conversations not over but near cell phones such as iOS or Google Androids. If these anecdotal scenarios are based in some function of the OS’s or third party apps, does GrapheneOS mitigate or try to address this in some way that is different that the standard iOS and Google Android OS?

Panda-na

These companies know an extreme amount about everyone, they don't need to listen to conversations that people have with eachother. Remember, you don't live in a vacuum, whatever you were having a discussion about stems from some source. Maybe your conversation partner searched something online related to what you were talking about? Facebook, Google, Apple etc. know who you are interacting with at any time, and probably knew exacly who you were conversating with. It's easy to draw lines between people and their connections.

Lots of technologies can enable this, for example if you are on the same wifi (same IP), if you had GPS enabled, bluetooth (nearby devices) etc.

Ooops

So you don’t believe there is anything to the Mic being used by apps or portions of the OS to listen in on conversations? Because there are some seriously coincidental things that have happened.

de0u

Ooops So you don’t believe there is anything to the Mic being used by apps or portions of the OS to listen in on conversations?

I have not observed anything like that with my GrapheneOS device. But I don't install a lot of apps (and essentially all are open-source). Zero social media.

I have observed "the network brain" showing me ads for things that have been searched for by other people on my home network, including people who are occasional visitors, including people who use social media apps.

Ooops It appears to me that there is use of the hardware by apps or the OS that we are unaware of. But what you’re saying is it merely appears that way because we are fed info based on our use of social medial and how those social media companies categorize each one of us.

"It merely appears that way" would match my personal experience.

Ooops

My point being that I do not use WiFi, NFC or Bluetooth at all. I post on no social media other than Signal but do use YouTube and I know YouTube has asked for access to my microphone. How is it that following in person conversations with others, my YouTube he’s fed me things discussed and the other people’s X account has fed them links to bizarre crap we were just speaking about. Do understand what you are saying as far as if we are discussing current events that others are also discussing on social media and my friend is getting feeds for these items based on his interest in similar posts. It appears to me that there is use of the hardware by apps or the OS that we are unaware of. But what you’re saying is it merely appears that way because we are fed info based on our use of social medial and how those social media companies categorize each one of us.

So I’m being paranoid, correct?

mmmm

Ooops So I’m being paranoid, correct

Almost definitely yes, you are. The internet is littered with these types of concerns. Non have valid evidence other than circumstantial, and given the infiltration of the internet into our lives, its not substantiated in the slightest. Its either coincidence or profiling by another means, and there are plenty.

The caveat to this is if you specifically have a listening service monitoring you. Alexa, siri, google via some kind of speaker. Even then I dont suspect it always listening. As the other poster said, they dont need to do that when almost no one can avoid profiling by just using the internet.

Panda-na

Ooops So I’m being paranoid, correct?

Probably, yes. But it is possible to capture sound without the microphone permission:

https://www.directdefense.com/is-this-thing-on-privacy-and-your-smartphone-microphone/

Luckily, you are using GrapheneOS and that means that you can disable the Sensors-permisson for all social media apps 😃 You don't need this permission for most apps (note that automatic screen rotation works without Sensors-permission 👌). The Sensors-permission will disable accelerometer, compass, barometer etc. for each app.

Ooops

Thanks everyone. I sincerely appreciate your time and knowledge. I will stay on my meds, I promise.

Panda-na

Ooops Juust remember that you have the best starting point of everyone you know. GrapheneOS is the best tool. Privacy and security is an ever evolving field, so it's important that you stay curious. I hope the best for you in the future!

RandomlyGeneratedName1

Sometimes I make fun in front of brother's iPhone and talk about random topics. Last time I was talking about "debt execution."

I think it's Siri. Poor brother and his ads.

I believe your iOS/android listen to you. I do not believe GOS listen to you.