Cellphone security
 

One small portable device has replaced so many other bulky ones in an extraordinary way, and now everything is being put into that single device for safekeeping.

I was kind of amazed and nervous about the weakness in new biometric security in how easily it can be hacked.
Add to that the software backdoor provisions government has put in place by law, the expansion of surveillance capitalism, the reliability of the foreign companies which make the chips everything run on, the ones that assemble them, and the growth of 'easy' automatic banking and proximal checkout by just swiping it at a point of sale and proximal phone pairing.
All of these factors together seem like a long chain of weak links...which could break in a bad way for a lot of people.

Most modern phones can be unlocked using a face photo:
https://www.theregister.co.uk/2019/01/04/photos_trick_smartphones/

Phone or other security devices can be unlocked using just a photo of the thumb:
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/hack-phone-fingerprint-photographs_n_6395730
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/samsung-galaxy-s10-fingerprint-scanner-tricked-with-3d-print/


It seem old school luddite that covering up the camera, disabling all bio-loggin functions or browser password storage etc, and simply using a plain old memorized long password string might be the most secure means of keeping your data more safe.

My smart phone is.... a phone!
Call and text, sure. But never any financial transactions. Not linked to any bank accounts.

If someone stole my phone and had complete access, they'd have a few worthless pictures.

I think for many people the phone has not just replaced their electronic gadgets, but also their wallet.

In New Zealand Huawei are trying to bully us into buying their 5g cellular network. It means they can spy on anyone, or in a time of crisis; remotely switch off our network.

I don't use a smartphone. GF has one so she can do all the stuff that they are so handy for.

I have mobile deposits on my phone. I can take a picture of a check and deposit it from home. I think it's pretty secure for me, but I don't know about photos of a check floating around with the account number clearly visible - especially on a device from the same people who brought us iTunes.

5G is supposed to be like sticking the head in a microwave:
https://www.electricsense.com/12399/5g-radiation-dangers/

It's starting to happen here also but I feel pretty bad for you gents on that side of the pond with everything nameless happening.

:(

Mobile phones are not secure and never have been. I only use mine to make calls and occasionally listen to music.

That's already happening in Aus & Canada.