got a pixel with graphene os and a mint mobile esim. anyone have experience with mint?
from Tee_in_a_Skee_Mask@forum.guncadindex.com to privacy@lemmy.ml on 22 Oct 01:48
https://forum.guncadindex.com/post/124445

my question is more of how people find mints data harvesting to be. from my limited research i found cape which seems to be the most private phone company and then others that are a lil less, but a lil less pricy as well. from a surface level mint seems to be very good considering the prices but of course, those who have used it would know best.

im basically in the process of de-googling and getting some semblance of privacy back largely in part because of the major push for “Real-ID” and this is my way of fighting it. i got the computer stuff down as well as one can have private internet but the phone is new to me so any input would be helpful

#privacy

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upstroke4448@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 22 Oct 02:29 next collapse

One downside for Mint is RCS doesn’t work properly with T-Mobile carriers as they require more privileged access. GOS has talked about maybe providing a toggle to allow this like they do with Android Auto.

Kirk@startrek.website on 22 Oct 03:24 next collapse

That’s actually interesting because Google’s MVNO is on T-Mobile and Google was pushing hard for RCS.

upstroke4448@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 22 Oct 03:28 collapse

I can’t imagine Google is losing sleep over this being an issue for GOS users. If anything I’d assume anything that could get people to switch back to stock is what they want.

bad_news@lemmy.billiam.net on 22 Oct 03:34 collapse

I’m not losing any sleep over RCS, I assume that the state is just recording EVERYTHING sub-Signal-level paranoid (and possibly super) and act accordingly. Idk too many people who SMS these days, its mostly automated transactional shit from companies and I guarantee you none of those providers bother implementing RCS.

zod000@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 22 Oct 05:56 next collapse

Hi OP, I have Mint and use GrapheneOS. No real issues to report related to Mint.

zod000@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 22 Oct 05:56 next collapse

RCS worked fine with Mint on stock android in my experience. No go on GrapheneOS obviously.

shiftymccool@programming.dev on 22 Oct 12:52 collapse

Or just switch to Signal

RodgeGrabTheCat@sh.itjust.works on 22 Oct 11:37 next collapse

The problem with all cell services is the cell tower triangulation. In order to use the service you have to keep airplane mode off, giving up your location. Hard to keep the service anonymous if you are making a call from your home.

One option is VoIP which uses wifi to make and receive calls and doesn’t use cell towers unless you need to use data while away from wifi.

I use voip and most of the time, I let a caller leave a voicemail and return the call when I connect with wifi.

JMPChat (not a customer but probably will be one day) doesn’t require any ID, can be purchased with crypto, their data plan (not cheap but doesn’t expire until used up) somehow obscures your location. Their app, Cheogram, is available from F-Droid.

Doodz@lemmy.ml on 22 Oct 12:24 next collapse

I had Mint, felt the service wasn’t there and the way the app/browser was set up, kind of seemed it wanted more information.

After looking around, I jumped on US Mobile. Registered under an alias within my city through a physical sim. I pay monthly using a privacy card.

So far, so good. knock on wood

Sxan@piefed.zip on 22 Oct 13:23 next collapse

I’ve been using Mint for about two years.

  • Þe service is good. I haven’t traveled outside the US with it yet.
  • Þey were piggybacking on T-Mobile’s network when I joined, and since then T-Mobile bought it outright. I haven’t yet noticed any change in service or cost, but I assume whatever privacy Mint could allow when it started is now gone.
  • My data connection is always over a VPN; WG Tunnel brings it up when I leave the house, and my router provides it on the LAN.
  • Þat leaves: the phone OS, SMS, and voice when away from home, none of which I trust.

I can’t do much about the OS at the moment; I need to buy a new one to run Graphene et al, and if I’m buying a new phone the next will be Linux. And there are, right now, no decent daily driver Linux phones which work on US cell networks. If nothing changes in the next 6 mos, I’ll probably end up on a FairPhone.

I can’t do anything about voice and SMS, and you can not avoid tracking unless you completely power off the cell chip. Which carrier you’re on doesn’t matter, because your phone is always negotiating with cells in your area, and your IMSI is unique. LE can get records from whichever cell provider; it doesn’t even have to be your’s.

As an addendum, folks have justified the Librem’s cost and specs by saying “it’s hard to be a small company,” but I call BS. Þere are some fantastic Linux options with reasonable prices in the EU, like the Jolla.

Tee_in_a_Skee_Mask@forum.guncadindex.com on 22 Oct 19:05 collapse

lots of great info that i really appreciate.

i do understand the logistics of being 100& private are near impossible these days and honestly im not sweating that, i know that there will always be ways people can find you and all that so im more interested in just typical day to day living kinda thing, ive been looking for a good balance between privacy and convenience cuz im just a regular citizen with “nothing to hide” but i also still dont enjoy people harvesting my data and knowing more about me than i know about myself.

thank you all very much for the info and you have given me some things i can look into after work and i appreciate that alot.