Faraday mode

x3b

I use grapheneOS operating system, but to avoid tracking, my Pixel 7a is almost always in a Faraday cage, a metal box, with the major disadvantage that the phone then emits very strong radiation because it has no connection to the network. I tried to solve this with “Tasker,” an app that taps into system information such as the reception signal and then performs actions such as activating or deactivating airplane mode and/or the entire SIM card.
However, “Tasker” would only work (if at all) if the security concept of grapheneOS were weakened or circumvented.
How can I ensure that my mobile phone switches off or at least stops emitting radiation when it is in a tin can, i.e. when the signal is very poor, without compromising security?
--> Why not simply activate flightmode before putting the device into the Box? Because I forget it so often. Part of my work is confidential and I have to verify myself 5-8 times a day via my mobile-ID. Such a Faraday mode is also useful for people who prefer to save energy in areas with a bad signal instead of wasting it or simply don't want to be trackable.

Sigismund

x3b Wifi calling is a thing that could solve most of things you list here. As mentioned use auto kill switch for most services when not connected and keep the phone in airplane mode all the time.

Keep it simple.

BeepBeep

x3b

Scheduling Battery Saver and Data Saver might help, for the times when you forget. Also, restrict background usage for non system apps. Maybe also turn off 5G.

Bimmy

Welcome to the community!

I wonder whether the following was a workaround or even a reasonable (partial) solution:

[Owner Profile] > Settings > Security and privacy > Exploit protection > Turn off [Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, respectively] automatically > , then select a timespan long enough to "survive" ordinary, undesired no Wi-Fi periods, but short enough to not waste energy for too long after closing your faraday box around the phone.

It might not be called Faraday mode, but effectively it's a feature that can at least turn of Wi-fi and Bluetooth, after their connection is gone. If the same existed for Mobile Phone network, all settings combined might be a sort of "faraday mode".

Can you effort to only use Wi-Fi and keep Mobile Network already disabled in advance? Would the above workaround then be sufficient for you?

x3b

Sigismund
Before I started to put my mobile into a box I had no SIM in my phone. It was more like a tablet and I used exclusively WiFI (incl. WiFi-Calling). But an activated SIM means tracking - if you use the mobile net or not.

x3b

Thanks for your reply.
I generally have Bluetooth and WiFi turned off. However, my job requires GSM/mobile network identification (mobile-ID just work with SIM. More details: www.mobileid.ch ). However, I will try out your helpful tips.
Putting your cell phone in a tin can has caught on with manly older people who still remember that GDR-style surveillance is not a good thing. People are also already using tin cans to protect themselves from 5G cell phone radiation (more precisely: from their own devices).

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

Bimmy

x3b

Regarding mobile tracking it's even worse for a device that has a functionality for mobile connection -- even when no SIM card is inserted (or no eSIM configured, respectively) -- unless the mobile radio can be really powered off. Since emergency calls are generally supposed to work in absence of mobile phone subscriptions, I'd expect that even a SIM-less phone regularly communicates with base stations, unless in Airplane mode.

Actually, the whole mobile network is designed in a way that locations of mobile equipment are tracked precisely enough, so that successful connections between phones, etc. and nearby base stations can be established and held.

x3b

Bimmy
I agree with you about location tracking. It's a problem these days. I'm aware of the issue with emergency calls - witch is just good in a case of an emergency (How many did your experience the last 30 years? ;-) ). That's exactly why I have the tin can (In German wie say "Klappe zu - Affe tot"). Simply open the tin can and emergency calls and everything else works again. It's just a bit stupid that the device uses so much battery power. Who could program such a mechanism for me? Would it generally be possible with the root restrictions on grapheneOS?

MineralWater

x3b Why don't you simply turn off the phone. Leaving it on in the tin box only cost you energy, but you don't receive anything.

Phone providers get your position anyways each time you take it out, for emergency calls it will connect to the networks.

So just turn it off instead of putting it in the Box.

x3b

MineralWater

I have to execute 5-8 may be 10 times a day a mobile_id authentification, witch solely works with SIM. So a new start take time and when I'm busy I also forget to switch the device off.