[off-topic] Dumb mobile phones
gavinwc
gavin.chester at gmail.com
Tue Jan 2 23:25:08 AWST 2024
Hi Dan,
We have to accept compromises, but running an Android phone wasn't one I
was prepared to accept anymore. So, I chose a non-android OS phone that
still has some functionality demanded of modern times (as outlined by Bill
K in a separate reply). Apple was never going to be an option on my list.
So, that's why I chose a non-Android feature phone over a dumb phone. The
Nokia I use runs KaiOS, which is another trimmed down Linux variant. The
browser is only text based with hyperlinks activated via the physical
keypad, which has proven the minimum necessary to respond to doctor
appointments, etc. Yes, it has cookies and cache, but I clear these
frequently, I have "do not track" set, have never seen any sort of advert,
and always keep "location" off even though it offers little function with
this device.
If you're old enough, I guess you could call this a "Clayton's smart phone"
- that's the smart phone you have when you don't have a smart phone! Haha.
(If you're under about 55 you will have to search up how a "Clayton's"
description of something entered the Australian vernacular around about
1970s/80s with an expensive marketing campaign)
HTH.
Gavin :-)
On Tue, 2 Jan 2024 at 09:32, Daniel Cottmain <vegancaffeineaddict at gmail.com>
wrote:
> Hi Gavin
> I’m conscious that my theories on this are from interest and not knowledge
> so I’m looking forward to seeing what you think …
>
> I believe if you buy any simple phone with a browser even if you only use
> it occasionally you are relying on security through obscurity and chance
>
> If you buy a google pixel phone you pay a lot more but security updates
> come to that group of Android phones first before cascading down the food
> chain sometimes never arriving to lesser cheap phones
>
> I listened to Security Now at one stage and heard many stories of Android
> phone flaws not being addressed but I have not heard of any of these flaws
> being used successfully to get money from users in Australia and many of my
> friends proudly sport Android phones that have been on their last legs for
> years and never been updated
>
> Good discussion thanks
>
> Daniel
>
> On 1 Jan 2024, at 16:38, gavinwc <gavin.chester at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> Hi Bill,
> Yes, my categorical statement of your "error" was too harsh, so sorry
> about that :-)
> It is a worry, ie, the growing need for authentication and app use you
> cite, and why I carry a tablet VERY occasionally when I suspect a need for
> a better screen experience without the smartphone.
> But, getting back to Margeret's stated need, I see a feature phone serving
> all her needs in a candybar or flip-phone format with large buttons and a
> small screen. These are still readily available at many retailers.
> :-)
> Gavin
>
> On Mon, 1 Jan 2024 at 16:26, William Kenworthy <billk at iinet.net.au> wrote:
>
>> I dont see it as wrong as some of the entities I have dealt with in the
>> last 6 months are getting beyond allowing simple acccess - and this
>> applies especially if you are looking to the future - as of now you are
>> already mentioning having to enable browsers and functions beyond the
>> basic sms auth codes that were mentioned. Its only going to get worse!
>> My point is that if you get a too low end phone, its just not going to
>> be adequate in the (near) future.
>>
>> BillK
>>
>>
>> On 1/1/24 15:57, gavinwc wrote:
>> > Sorry, Bill but you're wrong. See my posting that would just have come
>> > through :-)
>> >
>> > Best regards,
>> > Gavin
>> >
>> > On Mon, 1 Jan 2024 at 15:53, William Kenworthy <billk at iinet.net.au
>> > <mailto:billk at iinet.net.au>> wrote:
>> >
>> > Hi Margaret, I am thinking you have left it too late to get a dumb
>> > phone. Some of the financial entities I deal with now require an
>> > authenticator app to deal with logins and I can see plain sms 2
>> factor
>> > auth going away at some point - some still have it as optional or
>> > use it
>> > as well, but its changing. The auth app uses a closed system to
>> verify
>> > its really you/your device being used by you. Some apps also check
>> the
>> > phone to make sure its up to date etc. Google/MS/Apple are also
>> > inserting themselves into this process as they see a financial
>> benefit
>> > (to them) as well as the improved security. Even dealing with
>> > mygov/centrelink (via their apps) is getting irksome. Its fast
>> > becoming
>> > a case of participating or being sidelined and have to move to
>> Tasmania
>> > ** :(
>> >
>> > BillK
>> >
>> > * a trip to India in December was an eye opener - to get two sim
>> cards
>> > valid for 1 month took an hour and a half with photographs of us,
>> > passports and visas being sent via the shop assistants smart phone
>> to
>> > the InGov servers. The shop assistant had to photograph us to
>> > verify us
>> > against the passport/evisa data they hold from our entry into the
>> > country, then use the selfie mode every step to confirm by photo
>> > that it
>> > was them using their phone. A long, painful, slow and error prone
>> > process - but no simcard unless you do it. And to add to the
>> weirdness
>> > of it, there had to be physical printouts of the electronic
>> > documents to
>> > go on file as well! 1984 anyone!
>> >
>> > ** Apologies to Tasmanians!
>> >
>> >
>> > On 1/1/24 14:33, Daniel wrote:
>> > > Hi Margaret
>> > > If you get a cheap smart phone and turn wifi and data off … I
>> > think you still get text messages but not fancy ones with pictures
>> > and I suspect that stops voip with faked numbers?
>> > >
>> > > Will you just get a number and not a url for authentication?
>> > >
>> > > Is that adequate security that would allow you to confidently get
>> > a low priced smartphone (sold without updating the operating system
>> > and already out of date and despite suggestions that security would
>> > be enhanced many may never get updates made for it let alone made
>> > available )?
>> > >
>> > > You may be quite sensibly flinching at the cost of a smart phone
>> > you don’t intend to use much …
>> > >
>> > > Daniel
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >> On 1 Jan 2024, at 11:53, M S R Wood <msrwood at gmail.com
>> > <mailto:msrwood at gmail.com>> wrote:
>> > >>
>> > >> I don't want a smart phone, but I have reluctantly decided it
>> > is time
>> > >> for me to get a moblle phone. The main reason is to receive
>> > codes from
>> > >> banks and other organisations who think this is the best/only
>> method
>> > >> of two-factor authentication. I only expect to make outgoing
>> > calls in
>> > >> a emergency (e.g. car breakdown), and will hardly ever send
>> texts.
>> > >>
>> > >> So my ideal phone would be voice calls and text only - no
>> > internet, no
>> > >> apps, no camera, no torch, no music. It would have keys/buttons
>> > rather
>> > >> than a touchscreen, and a display in muted colours - preferably
>> text
>> > >> only, rather than icons. That's probably impossible to find
>> > nowadays,
>> > >> but is there anything that comes close?
>> > >>
>> > >> I'm also looking for a low cost, pre-paid phone plan, where
>> unused
>> > >> credit lasts as long as possible,
>> > >>
>> > >> Any recommendations?
>> > >>
>> > >> Margaret
>> > >> _______________________________________________
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