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cybernews.com

Google’s latest flagship smartphone raises concerns about user privacy and security. It frequently transmits private user data to the tech giant before any app is installed. Moreover, the Cybernews research team has discovered that it potentially has remote management capabilities without user awareness or approval.

Cybernews researchers analyzed the new Pixel 9 Pro XL smartphone’s web traffic, focusing on what a new smartphone sends to Google.

“Every 15 minutes, Google Pixel 9 Pro XL sends a data packet to Google. The device shares location, email address, phone number, network status, and other telemetry. Even more concerning, the phone periodically attempts to download and run new code, potentially opening up security risks,” said Aras Nazarovas, a security researcher at Cybernews…

… “The amount of data transmitted and the potential for remote management casts doubt on who truly owns the device. Users may have paid for it, but the deep integration of surveillance systems in the ecosystem may leave users vulnerable to privacy violations,” Nazarovas said…

    • sleepyplacebo@rblind.comEnglish
      2·
      1 month ago

      Schools even have Cellebrite devices now, that is how prolific they have become. GrapheneOS has a duress password to wipe the phone and you can block all data or even power to the USB port while the phone is running. If you blocked all power to the USB port while the phone is on the only way to charge it is if it is fully turned off putting your encrypted data at rest. You can just disable data on the USB port options menu in GrapheneOS if you don’t want to completely turn off the whole port.

      You probably already know this stuff I was just mentioning it for people reading this comment section. :)

    • Chulk@lemmy.mlEnglish
      2·
      3 months ago

      In my country, it’s the law that a cop is allowed to examine a phone during a traffic stop.

      One underrated feature of the Graphene OS is that you can set a duress PIN that wipes your entire phone when entered.

        • Chulk@lemmy.mlEnglish
          1·
          3 months ago

          Oh, I was mostly leaving the comment for other people who might be interested in the feature.

          the pin is written on a post-it in the case.

          That’s not a bad idea. If someone steals the phone, they might inadvertently erase it for you if they find that post-it.