We answer the questions readers asked in response to our guide to anonymizing your phone

About the LevelUp series: At The Markup, we’re committed to doing everything we can to protect our readers from digital harm, write about the processes we develop, and share our work. We’re constantly working on improving digital security, respecting reader privacy, creating ethical and responsible user experiences, and making sure our site and tools are accessible.

This is a follow-up article. Here’s the first piece, if you’d like to read that one as well

  • LainOfTheWired
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    6 months ago

    I have often wondered if you can take an android phone, drill and rip out all the sensors and radio transmitters, and use wired Ethernet through a VPN router and still be able to use just banking apps as that seems to be one thing I keep a proprietary phone around for.

    Edit: I forgot the speaker and the mic though the mic could be classed as a sensor

    • sir_reginald@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      you’re still traceable because every phone CPU is directly associated with it’s IMEI. Although that’s probably not an issue for you since you’re planning on using banking apps anyway.

      • LainOfTheWired
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        6 months ago

        But is that a problem for the threat model of banking as your bank logs everything you’re doing and will gladly share that with the government anyway. My question is is there any other possible data they could gather besides the VPN server’s IP address and what I’m doing with my bank?