Cellular Carrier Discussion Thread
https://blog.google/products/google-fi/automatic-privacy-protection/
Interesting blog post with a white paper as well. Thoughts on what this means regarding Google Fi's security and privacy compared to alternatives?
Can someone post a relatively detailed list of the kind of phone information, usage, and data carriers can access?
From my research, carriers have:
- IMSI
- IMEI
- Phone number
- Location
- Phone call records
- SMS/MMS records
- Calendar events
- 911 emergency contacts/information
- "About" device information (which can also be used to identify someone over WiFi)
- PIN codes for telephony services (such as voicemail)
- Number/key presses used during telephony services
It is crazy how much information carriers get. I think many people make the mistake of using the same PIN code for insecure services like voicemail and for secure services like Signal and/or for unlocking the phone itself.
I know for a fact that local (US) cops had far more issues intercepting, eavesdropping, and monitoring Google Fi network compared to local T-Mobile network. It seems counter-intuitive because Google is basically anti-private, but Google Fi somehow ties its Google Account login infrastructure into cellular network, even for normal telephony usage.
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Calendar events
Would this be calendar events in some sort of carrier calendar app? They can't get data from my FOSS calendar app can they?
911 emergency contacts/information
Is this data that one would add to the owner emergency information in settings or something else?
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I don't know exact details carriers get about calendar events. The information you add in Emergency Settings is what carriers can see.
Access list I mention earlier (courtesy of local communications officers) is far from everything. A lot of it can be deduced by looking at Android developer and SDK information. It lists code examples for access and permissions of telephony services. I am not a developer and don't understand much of it, which is why I am asking here.
OpenSource-Ghost would spoofing the IMEI or changing it every hour resolve the tracking of a person by the carrier and agencies even when you change the phone number or sim card?
Is it possible to spoof the IMEI with GrapheneOS?
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tinymce_goudreau
I'm pretty sure internal modem does not permit changing IMEI's. Also in many countries its forbidden by the law to change IMEI.
Correct, sort of. no subpoena required to utilize Mobile Ad ID data just as Fog Reveal does for your local, state, and federal law enforcement departments.
I think/assume that your wireless carrier (VZW, ATT, TMo, etc) DOES require a subpoena as this is essentially "wiretapping". GrapheneOS specifically enables us to block MAID tracking and App specific tracking.
From Fog article:
"What distinguishes Fog Reveal from other cellphone location technologies used by police is that it follows the devices through their advertising IDs, unique numbers assigned to each device. These numbers do not contain the name of the phone’s user, but can be traced to homes and workplaces to help police establish pattern-of-life analyses."
I would assume the Google Fi utilizes everything they can, perhaps even cell tower data, to track your every move (but this is assumption.
Mrxst Does your statement apply to all all European countries, just those in the EU, or some other subset? And is this a recent development? Several years ago, while in the Ukraine, I was able to buy a prepaid SIM with cash, without being asked any personal information.
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Kamaehuakanaloa Does your statement apply to all all European countries, just those in the EU, or some other subset?
Not OP but plenty of European countries do not require any kind of registration with your prepaid SIM. Top up options can be somewhat limited for those based outside of their target markets though, depending on the service provider.
phil-p What's your source for that? From what I've read, Mint Mobile is owned by Ultra Mobile and Ryan Reynolds.
This service accesses both AT and T and T-Mobile through a prepaid only data sim.
Is there any reason I don't use this? It's prepaid for a year with no contract......
EIOTCLUB Data SIM Card for 360 Days - Compatible with AT&T and T-Mobile Networks for Unlocked Security Solar and Hunting Trail Game Cameras IoT Device(USA Coverage, Triple Cut 3-in-1)
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Very interesting thread. I've gotten interested in this strictly for hobby sake from watching Niomi Brockwell haha, kinda like a game to see what its all about. I still Don't understand the part of someone changing sims monthly if the IMEI an IMSI instantly links you from the old sim to the new sim anonymously or not. Whats the advantage from a month to month lets say Mint mobile compared to their 12 month anonymous sim. Also I've heard of apps that would change the IMEI, before the sim swap, this wouldn't work in G-OS?